Mr. Panaro began performing professionally at the age of 13. He made his Broadway debut in Les Misérables as Marius, the role he originated in the first national company. Hugh created the roles of Buddy in Side Show and Julian in Jules Styne’s last musical, The Red Shoes. He made his West End debut in the original London Company of Harold Prince’s Show Boat as Ravenal, the role he played on Broadway and in Toronto. At Avery Fisher Hall, he performed with the Radio City Rockettes in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel and also in The Stephen Sondheim Gala, the culmination of the Kennedy Center’s "Summer of Sondheim," where Hugh was Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd. In L.A., Hugh was Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along and received an Ovation nomination for his performance as Kenneth in Call Me Madam, both for Reprise! Hugh made his feature film debut in Broadway Damage and episodic tv credits include Law & Order.He also created the role of Jonathan in the pre-Broadway workshop of Alan Menken/Tim Rices’ King David and was Tom Martin in Jerome Kern’s Sweet Adeline at the nationally celebrated City Center Encores.  As a concert artist, Hugh has performed with symphony orchestras across the U.S. and abroad He also performed in the world premiere of Penderecki’s Te Deum at Carnegie Hall. This past year he co-starred with Bernadette Peters, Michael Crawford and Lea Salonga in a benefit tribute to Broadway and West End producer, Sir Cameron Mackintosh.Mr. Panaro can be heard on many recordings including the Jerome Kern Treasury (EMI/Angel), the original Broadway cast album of Sideshow (Sony), and on The Prince of Egypt soundtrack (DreamWorks). 

Mr. Panaro who is a graduate of Temple University, is currently recording his first solo album with SONY Classical.