Esparza first drew attention with his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of "The Rocky Horror Show", which won him the Theatre World Award. Esparza's other Broadway credits include "Cabaret" (2001), "Taboo" (2003), "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (2005), and Sondheim's "Company" (2006). He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for his performance in "Taboo". His performance in "Company" earned him a second Tony nomination, this time for Best Actor in a Musical, as well as his second Drama Desk award. Beginning in November 2007, he appeared in Harold Pinter's play "The Homecoming" and was Tony-nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Play. In 2008, he played Charlie Fox in the revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" co-starring Jeremy Piven and Elisabeth Moss on Broadway. His performance in "Speed-the-Plow" earned him a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Play, making him the second performer (after Boyd Gaines) to be nominated in all four acting categories a performer is eligible for at the Tonys, although he has yet to win one.