Chris McCarrell

McCarrell grew up in Aurora, Ohio.{{Cite web|title = TWO FORMER AURORA RESIDENTS STARRING IN NBC'S 'PETER PAN LIVE'|url = http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news%20local/2014/11/26/two-former-aurora-residents-starring-in-nbc-s-peter-pan-live|website = Aurora Advocate|accessdate = 2015-12-09}} His mother, DeAnna McCarrell, worked as a guidance counselor in Aurora City Schools, and his father, Bernie McCarrell, a wood shop teacher in Ravenna, Ohio.

McCarrell attended University School, an all boys private high school in Hunting Valley, OH. Shortly before his freshman year, McCarrell attended a party for the retiring headmaster, where alumni in the performing arts came and performed. On the ride home, he told his parents he wanted to be a musical theatre major, and cites that as the night he knew he wanted to act.{{Cite web|title = Interview with Chris McCarrell – Broadway's Joly|url = http://www.campbroadway.com/2014/05/30/interview-chris-mccarrell/|website = Camp Broadway|accessdate = 2015-09-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160131183357/http://www.campbroadway.com/2014/05/30/interview-chris-mccarrell/|archive-date = 2016-01-31|url-status = dead}}

After high school, McCarrell attended Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music where he was a musical theatre major. While at Baldwin Wallace, he performed in many university shows, including Wild Party (Phil), Pippin (Lewis), Rent (Mark), Titanic (J. Bruce Ismay), Sweeney Todd (Anthony), and Next to Normal (Gabe Goodman). He graduated in 2013.{{Cite web|title = Les Misérables|url = http://www.lesmis.com/broadway/about/cast-and-creatives/chris-mccarrell/|website = Les Misérables|accessdate = 2015-09-03|first = DEWYNTERS {{!}}|last = www.dewynters.com}}

Soon after graduating, McCarrell began acting professionally in regional productions of shows, including the lead roles in Summer of '42 and the original production of Bubble Boy.{{Cite news|title = A Review of 'Bubble Boy,' in Rahway|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/nyregion/a-review-of-bubble-boy-in-rahway.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2013-11-14|access-date = 2015-09-03|issn = 0362-4331|first = Ken|last = Jaworowski}}

Later in 2013, McCarrell was cast in a concert of 35MM. The show was on October 7, 2013, at 54 Below and the cast included many Broadway stars such as Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Lesli Margherita (Matilda), and Zachary Levi (First Date), among others.{{Cite web|title = Krysta Rodriguez, Lauren Pritchard, Derek Klena & Many More Set for 35MM at 54 Below|url = http://www.broadway.com/buzz/171838/krysta-rodriguez-lauren-pritchard-derek-klena-many-more-set-for-35mm-at-54-below/|accessdate = 2015-09-03}}

McCarrell went on to audition for the 2014 Broadway Revival of Les Misérables, originally reading for the role of Marius Pontmercy. However, a few months after his original reading, he was called back to audition for one of the other students, Joly. McCarrell was then hired to perform as Joly, as well as understudy the role of Marius.{{Cite web |last=Gioia |first=Michael |date=March 4, 2015 |title=8 Burning Questions With Les Miz's Hunky New Marius! Dating, Social Media and Three-Word Texts |url=https://playbill.com/article/8-burning-questions-with-les-mizs-hunky-new-marius-dating-social-media-and-three-word-texts-com-343278 |access-date=September 6, 2022 |website=Playbill.com}} During the same year, McCarrell was cast as Lost Boy Nibs in the NBC television special, Peter Pan Live! which aired on December 4, 2014.{{Cite web|title = They're Flying! Ryan Steele, Bryce Ryness, Jason Gotay & More Broadway Faves Join Peter Pan Live!|url = http://www.broadway.com/buzz/177773/theyre-flying-ryan-steele-bryce-ryness-jason-gotay-more-broadway-faves-join-peter-pan-live/|accessdate = 2015-09-03}}

After a brief rehearsal period, McCarrell officially replaced cast member Andy Mientus in Les Misérables on March 3, 2015, and performed as Marius at the Imperial Theatre until the show's closing on September 4, 2016.{{Cite web|title = 8 Burning Questions With Les Miz's Hunky New Marius! Dating, Social Media and Three-Word Texts|url = http://www.playbill.com/news/article/8-burning-questions-with-les-mizs-hunky-new-marius-dating-social-media-and-three-word-texts-343278?r=n|accessdate = 2015-09-03}}

On June 1, 2015, McCarrell performed a sold-out solo concert at 54 Below,{{Cite web|title = Chris McCarrell|url = http://www.broadway.com/shows/chris-mccarrell/|accessdate = 2015-09-03}} and appeared there again on December 7, 2015 in "Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell".{{Cite web|title = Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell|url = http://54below.com/artist/chris-mccarrell/|website = 54Below.com|accessdate = 2015-09-03}}

Following the end of Les Misérables, McCarrell performed as the titular character in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which ran from March 23, 2017, to May 6, 2017, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/new-version-of-the-lightning-thief-musical-to-play-off-broadway|title=New Version of Lightning Thief Musical to Play Off-Broadway {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} On August 28, 2017, he reprised his role as Percy in a sold-out The Lightning Thief musical concert at The Green Room 42.http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/the-lightning-thief-to-return-for-one-night_81895.html. "The Lightning Thief to Return for One Night", Theater Mania, Retrieved August 17, 2017 In late 2019 to early 2020, he played Percy in the Broadway run of The Lightning Thief.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

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Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American LGBTQ male actors

Category:Male actors from Cleveland

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:University School alumni