In 1999, Giordano was a member of a small troupe of deaf and hearing actors when he won his first professional role as a member of the Chorus in the Arena Stage production of The Miracle Worker. In 2001, he enrolled in Deaf West Theatre's summer school program, and that fall he was cast in the lead role of Huckleberry Finn in the critically acclaimed Big River in Los Angeles. Big River was a hit at Deaf West Theatre and made a second run at the Mark Taper Forum. Big River continued its journey, returning to Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in the summer of 2003, retaining some of its original cast members from 2001 and 2002. For his Broadway performance, Giordano was nominated for a 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, losing out to Hugh Jackman. The Broadway cast of Big River was honored with a 2004 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. Giordano remained with Big River for most of its year-long national tour (June 2004-June 2005) as well as its run in Japan.