{{short description|American actor (born 1995)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Colton Ryan | image = Colton Ryan headshot.jpg | caption = Ryan in October 2017 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|6|10}} | birth_place = Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. | education = Baldwin Wallace University (BM) | occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|singer}} | years_active = 2015–present }}
'''Colton Ryan''' (born June 10, 1995)<!--From the Internet Broadway Database in external links; maintained by The Broadway League--> is an American actor and singer. He is known for his performance as Conrad Roy in Hulu's miniseries, ''The Girl from Plainville'' (2022), for which he garnered critical acclaim, and for playing Connor Murphy, a role which he understudied in the Broadway musical ''Dear Evan Hansen'' and reprised in the 2021 film adaptation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/nik-dodani-and-colton-ryannik-dodani-colton-ryan-join-universals-dear-evan-hansen-adaptation-1203017780/|title=Nik Dodani and Colton Ryan Join Universal's 'Dear Evan Hansen' Adaptation |website=Deadline |date= August 19, 2020}}</ref> He is also known for playing the main role of Samuel on the Apple TV+ series ''Little Voice'' and originating the roles of Gene Laine in ''Girl from the North Country'' and Jim Doyle in ''New York, New York'', the latter of which earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.<ref>{{cite web |last=Appler |first=Michael |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198597/colton-ryan-on-why-girl-from-the-north-country-is-an-anti-musical/|title=Colton Ryan on Why ''Girl From the North Country'' Is an 'Anti-Musical' |website=Broadway.com |date= February 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Clement |first=Olivia |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/colton-ryan-and-more-tapped-for-sara-bareilles-jessie-nelson-musical-series-little-voice|title=Colton Ryan and More Tapped for Sara Bareilles-Jessie Nelson Musical Series ''Little Voice'' |website=Playbill |date= October 25, 2019}}</ref>
==Early life== Ryan was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) for grades four through twelve, where he majored in vocal music and minored in theatre.<ref name = WoosleyCollins>{{cite news|url = https://www.wtvq.com/lexington-native-nominated-for-tony-award-for-best-actor/|title = Lexington native nominated for Tony award for best actor|work = WTVQ|last = Woosley-Collins|first = Hannah|date = May 2, 2023|accessdate = May 4, 2023}}</ref> He also is a Governor's School for the Arts 2011 alumnus for musical theatre.<ref name = WoosleyCollins/> His acting career took off in 2015 while attending Baldwin Wallace University, when he played Dickon in the Idaho Shakespeare Festival production of ''The Secret Garden''.
==Career== He made his Broadway debut in 2016 as the standby for Evan Hansen, Connor Murphy and Jared Kleinman in ''Dear Evan Hansen''. He remained with the show until 2017, when he graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Baldwin Wallace University.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fierberg |first=Ruthie |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/dear-evan-hansens-colton-ryan-gets-fit|title=''Dear Evan Hansen''{{'}}s Colton Ryan Gets Fit |website=Playbill |date= September 23, 2017}}</ref> That same year, he made his television debut in a guest role on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' and then played the recurring role of J.J. Elkins on the Showtime series ''Homeland'' the following year.
In 2019, he originated the role of White Rabbit / Alfred Hallam / March Hare in the Off-Broadway production of ''Alice by Heart'' and made his film acting debut in ''The Social Ones'' and ''Adam''. In 2020, he starred in the Bob Dylan musical ''Girl from the North Country'' as Gene Laine, a role in which he originated in the 2018 Off-Broadway production, but the production was shut down that May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stasio |first=Marilyn |url=https://variety.com/2018/legit/reviews/girl-from-the-north-country-review-bob-dylan-1202963902/|title=Off Broadway Review: 'Girl From the North Country' Featuring Bob Dylan Songs |website=Variety |date= October 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Moynihan |first=Caitlin |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/199537/kimber-elayne-sprawl-on-why-girl-from-the-north-country-will-resonate-differently-when-it-returns/|title=Kimber Elayne Sprawl on Why ''Girl From the North Country'' Will Resonate Differently When It Returns |website=Broadway.com |date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>
In 2020, he starred in the main role of Samuel on the Apple TV+ series ''Little Voice'' and as Bruce in the Amazon Studios film ''Uncle Frank''. It was also announced that year that he would reprise the role of Connor Murphy in Stephen Chbosky's film adaptation of ''Dear Evan Hansen'', which premiered as the Opening Night Gala Presentation of the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, and was followed by a theatrical release on September 24, 2021.
In 2021, he was cast opposite Elle Fanning in the Hulu drama series ''The Girl from Plainville'', based on the death of Conrad Roy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=May 6, 2021|title=Colton Ryan Joins Elle Fanning in Texting Suicide Case Series 'The Girl from Plainville' at Hulu|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/colton-ryan-elle-fanning-texting-suicide-case-series-girl-from-plainville-hulu-1234967887/|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506175454/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/colton-ryan-elle-fanning-texting-suicide-case-series-girl-from-plainville-hulu-1234967887/amp/ |archive-date=May 6, 2021 }}</ref> His work in the series received critical acclaim, with ''TV Guide'' listing it as one of the 20 best TV performances of 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2022 |title=Hulu's bleak The Girl From Plainville struggles to justify its existence |url=https://www.avclub.com/hulu-the-girl-from-plainville-review-elle-fanning-tv-1848698406 |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2022 |title=The 20 Best TV Performances of 2022 |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/features/the-20-best-performances-of-2022/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=TV Guide}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Kristen |date=June 28, 2022 |title=8 Best Breakthrough TV Performances of 2022, So Far |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/06/best-breakthrough-performances-tv-2022-1234735559/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=IndieWire}}</ref>
Ryan was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical in 2023, for his performance as Jimmy Doyle in ''New York, New York''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Tony Awards Nominees |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/news/2023-tony-awards-nominees/ |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=www.tonyawards.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Acting credits== ===Theatre=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year(s) ! Title ! Role ! Location ! Notes ! class=unsortable|Ref. |- | 2015 | ''The Secret Garden'' | Dickon | Idaho Shakespeare Festival | rowspan=3|Regional | <ref>{{cite web |last=Oland |first=Dana|url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/arts-culture/arts-blog/article40867626.html|title=Review: Talented kids, great ensemble singing highlight Idaho Shakespeare Festival's 'Secret Garden'|website=Idaho Statesman |date=July 5, 2015}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2|2016 | ''My Fair Lady'' | Freddy Eynsford-Hill | Great Lakes Theater | <ref>{{cite web |last=Simakis |first=Andrea|url=https://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2016/09/great_lakes_theaters_my_fair_l.html|title=Great Lakes Theater's 'My Fair Lady' balances tradition, timeliness in a ravishing reinvention (review)|publisher=The Plain Dealer |date=September 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Salamone|first=Shawn |url=https://www.bw.edu/news/2016/music-theatre-student-broadway-bound-before-graduation|title=Broadway Snaps Up Talented BW Music Theatre Student Before He Graduates|website=Baldwin Wallace University |date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> |- | ''West Side Story'' | Tony | John Patrick Theatre | <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/126138-west-side-story-at-john-patrick-theatre-2016 | title=West Side Story at John Patrick Theatre 2016 }}</ref> |- | 2016–2017 | rowspan="“1”" | ''Dear Evan Hansen'' | rowspan="“1”" | s/b Evan Hansen<br>s/b Connor Murphy<br>s/b Jared Kleinman | Music Box Theater | Broadway | <ref name="playbill">{{Cite web|title=Colton Ryan|url=https://www.playbill.com/person/colton-ryan|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> |- | 2018 | ''Girl From the North Country'' | Gene Laine | The Public Theater | rowspan=2|Off-Broadway | <ref name="playbill"/> |- | rowspan=2|2019 | rowspan="1"| ''Alice by Heart'' | rowspan="1"| White Rabbit / Alfred Hallam / March Hare | MCC Theater | <ref>{{cite web |last=Brantley |first=Ben|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/theater/alice-by-heart-review.html|title=Review: Lost on a Magical Mystery Tour in 'Alice by Heart'|work=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> |- | ''West Side Story'' | Tony | Lexington Opera House |Regional | <ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/louisville/article/BWW-Interview-Seven-Questions-with-Colton-Ryan-of-WEST-SIDE-STORY-at-The-Lexington-Theatre-Company-20190710 Ryan WSS Interview]</ref> |- | 2020 | ''Girl From the North Country'' | Gene Laine | Belasco Theatre | rowspan=3|Broadway | <ref name="playbill"/> |- |2022 |''The Pirates of Penzance'' |Frederic |American Airlines Theatre | <ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-pirates-of-penzance-broadway-american-airlines-theatre-2022 |title=''The Pirates of Penzance'' (Broadway, American Airlines Theatre, 2022) |magazine=Playbill |access-date=March 1, 2023}}</ref> |- | 2023 | ''New York, New York'' | Jimmy Doyle | St. James Theatre | <ref>[https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnUpht0hH_5/?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ= Ryan joins cast announcement]</ref> |- | 2024 | ''Glory Days'' | Will | Symphony Space | Off-Broadway | <ref>[https://playbill.com/article/derek-klena-colton-ryan-jordan-dobson-george-salazar-star-in-glory-days-concert-february-12 Derek Klena, Colton Ryan, Jordan Dobson, George Salazar Star in Glory Days Concert February 12]</ref> |- |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Production ! Role ! Notes ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 2019 | data-sort-value="Social Ones, The" | ''The Social Ones'' | Dan Summers | | <ref>{{cite web |last=Leiber|first=Sarah Jae|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/THE-SOCIAL-ONES-Will-Be-Released-March-3-20200221|title=THE SOCIAL ONES Will Be Released March 3|website=BroadwayWorld |date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> |- | 2019 | ''Adam'' | Brad | | |- | 2020 | ''Uncle Frank'' | Bruce | |<ref>{{cite web |last=Burr|first=Ty|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/24/arts/uncle-frank-amazon-presents-different-sort-american-beauty/|title='Uncle Frank,' on Amazon, presents a different sort of American beauty|website=The Boston Globe |date=November 24, 2020}}</ref> |- | 2021 | ''Dear Evan Hansen'' | Connor Murphy | | |- | TBA | Untitled Jesse Eisenberg musical comedy | | Filming | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/jesse-eisenberg-teams-a24-comedy-bernadette-peters-1236368310/|title=A24 Boards Jesse Eisenberg’s Community Theater Comedy; Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu & Bernadette Peters Added To Cast|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=April 15, 2025|access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Production ! Role ! Notes ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 2017 | ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' | Andrew Drake | Episode: "No Good Reason" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Copley|first=Rich|url=https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/tv/article179399401.html|title=Lexington native in 'Law & Order' inspired by '13 Reasons Why'|publisher=Lexington Herald Leader |date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> |- | 2018 | ''Homeland'' | J.J. Elkins | 3 episodes | |- | 2018 | data-sort-value="Americans, The" | ''The Americans'' | Vince | Episode: "The Great Patriotic War" | |- | 2020 | ''Little Voice'' | Samuel | Main role | |- | 2022 | data-sort-value="Girl from Plainville, The" | ''The Girl from Plainville'' | Conrad Roy | Lead role | |- | 2023 | ''Poker Face'' | Jed | Episode: "The Night Shift" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Strause |first=Jackie |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Natasha Lyonne Is a "Human Lie Detector" in Trailer for Rian Johnson Detective Series 'Poker Face' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/poker-face-trailer-natasha-lyonne-rian-johnson-detective-tv-show-peacock-1235291694/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> |- |2025 |''Chad Powers'' |Gerry Dougan |Supporting role | |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Project ! Result ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 2019 | Theatre World Award | Outstanding Debut Performance | ''Girl from the North Country'' | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/05/03/theatre-world-awards-announces-2019-winners/|title=Theatre World Awards Announces 2019 Winners|website=American Theatre |date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> |- | 2023 | Tony Award | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | ''New York, New York'' | {{nom}} | <ref>[https://www.wymt.com/2023/05/02/lexington-native-nominated-tony-award/?outputType=amp Lexington native nominated for Tony Award]</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm8961313}} * {{IBDB name|id=511441}} * {{iobdb name|50910}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Colton}} Category:1995 births Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Living people Category:Baldwin Wallace University alumni Category:Male actors from Lexington, Kentucky Category:Musicians from Lexington, Kentucky Category:Theatre World Award winners