# Will Chase
**Will Chase** (born 1970) is an American actor and singer known for his work in Broadway musicals and for television roles as country star Luke Wheeler on ABC's *[Nashville](https://www.edgepedia.org/nashville-2012-tv-series)* and Michael Swift on NBC's *Smash*.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) • [2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) A Tony Award nominee for the 2012 Broadway revival of *The Mystery of Edwin Drood*, he has appeared on Broadway in more than a dozen productions since his 1998 debut in *Rent*.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, Frankfort, Kentucky[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) |
| Training | Conducting and percussion at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; graduated 1992[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/) |
| Broadway debut | 1998, as the Squeegee Man and Roger understudy in *Rent*[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) |
| Signature stage role | John Jasper / Mr. Clive Paget in *The Mystery of Edwin Drood* (2012–13); 2013 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) |
| Best-known TV roles | Luke Wheeler on *Nashville* (series regular from season three) and Michael Swift on *Smash*[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) |
| Recent Broadway | Sir Harry in the 2024 revival of *Once Upon a Mattress* at the Hudson Theatre[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) |
## Early life and training
Chase was born in [Frankfort, Kentucky](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankfort-kentucky), attended Western Hills High School, and left the state to study conducting and percussion at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where he studied under conductor Robert Spano.[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/) After graduating in 1992 he went into acting rather than conducting, working in Chicago's regional theater scene, where he received three Joseph Jefferson Award nominations.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/)
## Stage career
**Breakthrough and Broadway debut.** Chase landed the role of Chris in the second national tour of *Miss Saigon* in 1996, which led to his Broadway debut reprising the role in the Broadway company from July 1998; he returned to the production for its final month of performances in January 2001.[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) • [1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) His first Broadway appearance had actually come earlier that year in *Rent*, where he played the Squeegee Man and understudied Roger, the role originated by [Adam Pascal](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-pascal).[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/)
**A decade of replacements and leads.** Through the 2000s Chase became a regular on Broadway, often stepping into roles originated by others: Jerry Lukowski in *The Full Monty* (from November 2001), Radames in *[Aida](https://www.edgepedia.org/aida-musical)* (2003–04), Rob in the original production of *High Fidelity* (2006), Thomas Weaver in *The Story of My Life* (2009), Tony, Billy's older brother, in *Billy Elliot the Musical* (July 2009 to July 2011), and Jimmy Winter in *Nice Work If You Can Get It* (2012).[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) He originated the role of the title character and narrator in *Lennon* (2005), his first chance to create a Broadway role.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) • [5](https://playbill.com/article/the-leading-men-will-power-com-126821) In May 2008 he played the last Roger in the final Broadway company of *Rent*, a performance recorded for the theatrical release *Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway*.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/)
**Recognition.** In 2012 Chase starred in the dual roles of John Jasper and Mr. Clive Paget in the Roundabout's Broadway revival of *The Mystery of Edwin Drood*, earning his first Tony Award nomination at the 2013 ceremony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, along with an Outer Critics Circle nomination.[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) • [1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) Regionally, his turn as Valentin in *Kiss of the Spider Woman* at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, brought a 2009 Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/)
**Later Broadway work.** Chase had appeared in workshop versions of the Shakespeare-themed musical comedy *Something Rotten!* but could not continue because of *Nashville*; he returned to the show on July 18, 2016, taking over the role of [William Shakespeare](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-shakespeare) from [Christian Borle](https://www.edgepedia.org/christian-borle) through October 9, 2016.[6](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2016/07/28/Will-Chase-returns-to-Broadway-in-Something-Rotten-after-Nashville-shakeup/5971468844374/) • [1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108) He then played Fred Graham/Petruchio opposite [Kelli O'Hara](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelli-ohara) in Roundabout's 2019 revival of *Kiss Me, Kate* at Studio 54, and Sir Harry in the 2024 Broadway revival of *Once Upon a Mattress* at the Hudson Theatre.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) • [2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase)
## Television and film
Chase made his feature film debut in *Shaft* (2000) and built a television career through guest and recurring parts, including Pat Mahoney on *Rescue Me*, roles on *The Good Wife*, *Blue Bloods*, *Pan Am*, *Quantico*, *The Deuce*, and the *American Crime Story* installments.[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/will-chase/) He guest starred as Michael Swift on NBC's Broadway-inspired *Smash*, then joined *Nashville* in season two as country superstar Luke Wheeler, becoming a series regular and love interest of [Connie Britton](https://www.edgepedia.org/connie-britton)'s character in season three.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/) In a 2015 interview with The Boot, Chase said the role combined his two biggest passions, singing and acting: "I got my start in music theater, so I'm most comfortable singing. My favorite days are the performance days, because I grew up on the stage."[8](https://theboot.com/will-chase-nashville-role/)
His screen work since includes Neil Hargrove in the second season of Netflix's *Stranger Things* (premiered October 27, 2017), Bob Nash in HBO's *Sharp Objects*, Marlin Reid in *[The Crowded Room](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-crowded-room)* (2023), and the films *Butterflies of Bill Baker* (2013, title role), *[After the Wedding](https://www.edgepedia.org/after-the-wedding-2019-film)* (2019), and *Mooch* (2025).[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/will-chase/)
## Personal life
IBDB records two marriages ending in divorce: to Lori Davis (1998–2008) and to Stephanie Gibson (2009–2012).[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108)
## References
1. [Will Chase – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/will-chase-79108)
2. [Will Chase On Stage, New York Theatre Guide](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/will-chase)
3. [Will Chase – Actor, Director, Producer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-chase/)
4. [Will Chase (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Will-Chase/)
5. [THE LEADING MEN: Will Power, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/the-leading-men-will-power-com-126821)
6. [Will Chase returns to Broadway in 'Something Rotten!' after 'Nashville' shakeup, UPI](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2016/07/28/Will-Chase-returns-to-Broadway-in-Something-Rotten-after-Nashville-shakeup/5971468844374/)
7. [Will Chase, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/will-chase/)
8. [Will Chase on 'Nashville': 'My Favorite Days Are the Performance Days', The Boot](https://theboot.com/will-chase-nashville-role/)
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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 Ch to Cl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 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