Chris McCarrell
Born (1991-01-09) January 9, 1991
Cleveland, Ohio
Other namesChris-mas Carol
Alma materBaldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music
Occupation(s)Actor, Singer, Artist
Years active2013–present

Chris McCarrell (born January 9, 1991) is an American theater and television actor and singer. He is best known for portraying Marius Pontmercy in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables, and for originating the titular character in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical in its Off-Broadway premiere, 2019 tour, and Broadway production.

Early life and education

McCarrell grew up in Aurora, Ohio.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3]

Career

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

On June 1, 2015, McCarrell performed a sold-out solo concert at 54 Below,[9] and appeared there again on December 7, 2015 in "Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell".[10]

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.[11] On August 28, 2017, he reprised his role as Percy in a sold-out The Lightning Thief musical concert at The Green Room 42.[12] In late 2019 to early 2020, he played Percy in the Broadway run of The Lightning Thief.

Theatre

Year Production Role Category Theatre Notes
2013 Summer of '42 Hermie Regional Bucks County Playhouse July 25, 2013 – August 11, 2013
2013 Bubble Boy Jimmy Regional Hamilton Stage November 6, 2013 – November 24, 2013
2014–15 Les Misérables Joly, Marius u/s Broadway Imperial Theatre March 1, 2014 – February 15, 2015
2015–16 Marius Pontmercy March 3, 2015 – September 4, 2016
2017 The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson Off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre March 23, 2017 – May 6, 2017[13]
2018 Sweeney Todd Anthony Regional KC Repertory Theatre March 30, 2018 – April 16, 2018
2019 The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson US Tour Various January 4, 2019 – July 28, 2019
Broadway Longacre Theatre September 20, 2019 – January 4, 2020

Filmography

Year Title Role Type Notes
2014 Peter Pan Live! Lost Boy Nibs Television Live Broadcast (December 4, 2014)

References

  1. ↑ "TWO FORMER AURORA RESIDENTS STARRING IN NBC'S 'PETER PAN LIVE'". Aurora Advocate. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  2. ↑ "Interview with Chris McCarrell – Broadway's Joly". Camp Broadway. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. ↑ www.dewynters.com, DEWYNTERS |. "Les Misérables". Les Misérables. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  4. ↑ Jaworowski, Ken (2013-11-14). "A Review of 'Bubble Boy,' in Rahway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  5. ↑ "Krysta Rodriguez, Lauren Pritchard, Derek Klena & Many More Set for 35MM at 54 Below". Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  6. ↑ Gioia, Michael (March 4, 2015). "8 Burning Questions With Les Miz's Hunky New Marius! Dating, Social Media and Three-Word Texts". Playbill.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ "They're Flying! Ryan Steele, Bryce Ryness, Jason Gotay & More Broadway Faves Join Peter Pan Live!". Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  8. ↑ "8 Burning Questions With Les Miz's Hunky New Marius! Dating, Social Media and Three-Word Texts". Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  9. ↑ "Chris McCarrell". Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  10. ↑ "Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell". 54Below.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  11. ↑ "New Version of Lightning Thief Musical to Play Off-Broadway | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  12. ↑ 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
  13. ↑ Clement, Olivia (January 10, 2017). "New Version of Lightning Thief Musical to Play Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
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