 In July 2013, Esparza starred in a production of "The Cradle Will Rock" at the New York City Center.In February 2018, Esparza played Freddie Trumper (the American) in the Kennedy Center's revival of Sir Tim Rice's "Chess".From October to December 2018, Esparza played the title role in Classic Stage Company's Off-Broadway production of "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui."