Colton Ryan

Colton Ryan’s path to the stage began in Lexington, Kentucky, where he attended the School for the Creative and Performing Arts from fourth through twelfth grade, majoring in vocal music and minoring in theatre. A 2011 Governor’s School for the Arts alumnus in musical theatre, he found his footing early — an audition for a school production of Oliver! became a turning point after a difficult period in his childhood. His career gained momentum in 2015 at Baldwin Wallace University, playing Dickon in the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s The Secret Garden.

In 2016, Ryan made his Broadway debut as standby for Evan Hansen, Connor Murphy, and Jared Kleinman in Dear Evan Hansen, staying with the show until graduating with his BFA in 2017. Television followed quickly: a guest role on Law & Order: SVU in 2017, a recurring part as J.J. Elkins on Showtime’s Homeland, and the main role of Samuel on Apple TV+’s Little Voice in 2020. He originated Gene Laine in the Bob Dylan musical Girl from the North Country and appeared in the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen as Connor Murphy.

Critical recognition arrived with his portrayal of Conrad Roy in Hulu’s 2022 miniseries The Girl from Plainville opposite Elle Fanning — a performance TV Guide named among the 20 best of the year. In 2023, he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for originating Jim Doyle in New York, New York.

Beyond credits, Ryan speaks candidly about acting as something essential rather than aspirational — a way of being seen on his own terms, shaped by those early years on a small Kentucky stage.