# Colton Ryan
**Colton Ryan** (born 1995) is an American actor and singer from [Lexington, Kentucky](https://www.edgepedia.org/lexington-kentucky), known for originating the role of Gene Laine in Conor McPherson's musical *Girl From the North Country* and for playing Jimmy Doyle in the 2023 Broadway musical *New York, New York*, a performance that earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) He works across stage, film, and television, with screen roles including Conrad Roy in Hulu's *The Girl from Plainville* and Connor Murphy in the 2021 film adaptation of *Dear Evan Hansen*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/colton-ryan/profile/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Lexington, Kentucky, USA[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) |
| Training | BM in Musical Theater, Baldwin Wallace University[5](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/colton-ryan/) |
| Broadway roles | Understudy in *Dear Evan Hansen* (2016–2017); Gene Laine in *Girl From the North Country* (2020–2022); Jimmy Doyle in *New York, New York* (2023)[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) |
| Signature award | Theatre World Award, 2019, Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance, for *Girl From the North Country*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) |
| Tony nomination | 2023, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, *New York, New York*[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) |
| Notable screen roles | Conrad "Coco" Roy III in *The Girl from Plainville* (2022); Connor Murphy in *Dear Evan Hansen* (2021); Samuel in *Little Voice* (2020)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/) |
## Training and early stage work
Ryan made his professional theater debut in 2015 as Dickon in *The Secret Garden* at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. In 2016 he played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in *My Fair Lady* at Great Lakes Theater and Tony in *West Side Story* at the John Patrick Theatre.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) He studied musical theater at Baldwin Wallace University, earning a Bachelor of Music.[5](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/colton-ryan/)
His Broadway break came while he was still in college. He moved to New York at 21, just before graduating, to join the original Broadway company of *Dear Evan Hansen*, which opened at the Music Box Theatre on December 4, 2016.[6](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a44055519/colton-ryan-new-york-broadway-tony-awards-interview/) • [7](https://playbill.com/person/colton-ryan) He covered three roles, Evan Hansen, Jared Kleinman, and Connor Murphy, and departed the production on November 26, 2017.[7](https://playbill.com/person/colton-ryan)
## Girl From the North Country and Theatre World Award
In 2018 Ryan originated the role of Gene Laine in the North American premiere of *Girl From the North Country*, Conor McPherson's musical built on [Bob Dylan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-dylan)'s songs, at [The Public Theater](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-public-theater).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) The production moved to Broadway's Belasco Theatre, opening March 5, 2020, with Ryan again playing Gene Laine; the run continued to January 23, 2022.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) For this role he received the 2019 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/)
## New York, New York and the Tony nomination
Ryan starred as Jimmy Doyle in *New York, New York*, which opened on Broadway at the [St. James Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-james-theatre) on April 26, 2023 and closed on July 30, 2023.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) The production earned nine Tony Award nominations; its score was composed by [John Kander](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-kander) and Fred Ebb, its story was written originally by David Thompson together with Sharon Washington, and [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda) supplied extra lyrics.[6](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a44055519/colton-ryan-new-york-broadway-tony-awards-interview/) Ryan was nominated for the 2023 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, and was also nominated that year for the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441) • [7](https://playbill.com/person/colton-ryan)
## Other theater
Ryan's off-Broadway and regional work includes originating [White Rabbit](https://www.edgepedia.org/white-rabbit), Alfred Hallam, and [March Hare](https://www.edgepedia.org/march-hare) in *Alice by Heart* at MCC Theater in 2019, and appearing in *The White Card* at A.R.T./ArtsEmerson in [Cambridge, Massachusetts](https://www.edgepedia.org/cambridge-massachusetts), directed by Diane Paulus.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) • [5](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/colton-ryan/) In 2022 he played Frederic in *The Pirates of Penzance* at the American Airlines Theatre.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) In 2024 he played Will in the Off-Broadway production of *Glory Days* at Symphony Space.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/)
## Screen work
Ryan's television debut came in 2017 as Andrew Drake in an episode of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*. In 2018 he played J.J. Elkins in three episodes of *Homeland* (season 7) and appeared as Vince in an episode of *The Americans*.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) He starred as Samuel in the Apple TV+ series *Little Voice* (2020), executive produced by J.J. Abrams, [Sara Bareilles](https://www.edgepedia.org/sara-bareilles), Jessie Nelson, and Ben Stephenson, appearing in nine episodes.[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/colton-ryan/profile/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/)
His most prominent television role is Conrad "Coco" Roy III in Hulu's limited series *The Girl from Plainville* (2022), opposite [Elle Fanning](https://www.edgepedia.org/elle-fanning) and [Chloë Sevigny](https://www.edgepedia.org/chloe-sevigny); the series was a 2023 Critics' Choice Awards nominee for Best Limited Series.[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/colton-ryan/profile/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/) In 2023, he played Jed in an episode of *Poker Face*.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/)
His film credits include Dan Summers in *The Social Ones* (2019), Brad in *Adam* (2019), Bruce in Alan Ball's *Uncle Frank* (2020), which screened at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival), and Connor Murphy in the 2021 feature film *Dear Evan Hansen*, alongside [Amy Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-adams), Julianne Moore, and [Ben Platt](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-platt).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/colton-ryan/profile/) Later work includes Gerry Dougan in five episodes of *Chad Powers* (2025), Billy Kindred in the episode "Billy" of *Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy* (2025), and Zachary in the film *The Debut* (2026).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/)
## Awards summary
Ryan's nominations and awards center on two productions. For *Girl From the North Country* he won the 2019 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/) For *New York, New York* he was a 2023 nominee for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.[7](https://playbill.com/person/colton-ryan)
## References
1. [Colton Ryan – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/colton-ryan-511441)
2. [Colton Ryan (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, Bio, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Colton-Ryan/)
3. [Colton Ryan – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8961313/)
4. [Colton Ryan Biography – Broadway Buzz, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/colton-ryan/profile/)
5. [Colton Ryan – American Repertory Theater](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/colton-ryan/)
6. [How 'New York, New York' Star Colton Ryan Conquered Broadway, Town & Country](https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a44055519/colton-ryan-new-york-broadway-tony-awards-interview/)
7. [Colton Ryan – Playbill](https://playbill.com/person/colton-ryan)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Ro to R*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license