Paul Alexander Nolan is a Canadian actor and singer, who has appeared in several musical theatre productions across Canada and the United States.
In Canada, Nolan appeared in 9 Stratford Festival productions, including starring as Jesus in their 2011 production of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 2012, he made his Broadway debut when that same production transferred to Broadway. Since then, he has originated the roles of Jimmy Ray Dobbs in Bright Star, Tully in Escape to Margaritaville, Jim in Slave Play, and August Rackinger / Charlie O'Brien in Water for Elephants. He has also played Billy Flynn in Chicago and Hugh Dorsey in the 2023 Broadway revival of Parade. He most recently appeared on Broadway originating the role of Max in The Lost Boys.
Early life Nolan was born and raised in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, which is a small farming community. Growing up, he developed an interest in music by listening to folk, opera, show tunes, and classical music. He attended Rouleau School, where he performed in several musicals and received vocal lessons.
He attended the Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Following college, he worked with Disney Cruise Line as a performer.
Career In 2001, Nolan made his professional stage debut when he appeared in the ensemble for the Canadian production of Mamma Mia!, which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.
Nolan made his debut with the Stratford Festival during its 2007 season, where he appeared as Slim in a production of Oklahoma!. Following this, he starred as Tony in Stratford's 2009 production of West Side Story. He also played Orlando in their 2010 production of As You Like It.
In 2011, Nolan starred as Jesus in the Stratford Festival's production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The musical then had a pre-Broadway engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. Nolan then made his Broadway debut in 2012 when he reprised his role of Jesus in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, where it played at the Neil Simon Theatre.
During the 2013 Stratford Festival season, Nolan appeared in two productions. He played Fyedka in a production of Fiddler on the Roof, and then played Cousin Kevin in a production of The Who's Tommy.
In December 2013, Nolan joined the cast of Once, playing Guy. He continued with the show until it closed in January 2015. He also played Pasha Antipov in the original Broadway production of Doctor Zhivago, which only played at the Broadway Theatre for just over a month of performances.
He also originated the role of Jimmy Ray Dobbs in the musical Bright Star, which had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Kennedy Center. The musical transferred to Broadway, where it played at the Cort Theatre for four months, closing on June 26, 2016. After this closed, he played Billy Flynn in Chicago for several weeks.
Nolan starred as Tully in the world premiere production of Escape to Margaritaville, a jukebox musical based on the songs of Jimmy Buffett, which played at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2017. He then reprised his role at subsequent pre-Broadway engagements of the musical in New Orleans, Houston, and Chicago. Nolan also reprised his role when the musical transferred to Broadway, where it opened at the Marquis Theatre.
Later in 2018, Nolan starred as Jim in the world premiere of Slave Play, a three-act play by Jeremy O. Harris. It premiered off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop. He reprised the role of Jim when the play premiered on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre for a limited engagement between October 6, 2019, and January 19, 2020. Nolan again reprised his role when the play was later remounted on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre in 2021, as well as in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum in 2022.
In 2022, he starred in the world premiere of the musical Knoxville. Later in 2022, Nolan starred as Frank Carter in the musical Life After, which played at the Goodman Theatre between June 11 and July 17, 2022.
Nolan played Hugh Dorsey in the New York City Center's production of Parade. He then reprised his role when the production transferred to Broadway, where it played at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre for a limited engagement run between February 22, 2023, and August 6, 2023.
He also participated in a staged industry reading of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, based on the novel of the same name.
In 2024, Nolan originated the role of August Rackinger / Charlie O'Brien in the musical adaptation of Water for Elephants. The musical opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in previews on February 24, 2024, ahead of an official opening on March 21, 2024.
Personal life In 2014, Nolan married Canadian actress Keely Hutton, who he met while performing at the Stratford Festival.
He is a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleLocationNotes 2001-2002 Mamma Mia Ensemble Royal Alexandra Theatre Mirvish Productions2002Robin Hood: The Merry Family MusicalWill Scarlet Elgin TheatreRegional: Ross Petty Productions2003Cinderella: The Sparkling Family MusicalEnsemble2006Jesus Christ SuperstarJesusRegional: Stage West Calgary 2007King LearEnsemble Festival Theatre Stratford FestivalOklahoma!SlimBeauty and the BeastThe Beast Regional: Persephone Theatre 2008 Cabaret Bobby Avon Theatre Stratford Festival2009West Side StoryTony Festival Theatre2009 Cyrano de BergeracVicomte de Valvert2010As You Like ItOrlando2010The Winter's TaleEnsemble Tom Patterson Theatre2011 Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Avon Theatre La Jolla Playhouse Pre-Broadway engagement2012 Neil Simon Theatre Broadway 2012 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Ben La Jolla Playhouse World premiere2013Fiddler on the RoofFyedkaFestival TheatreStratford FestivalThe Who's TommyCousin KevinAvon Theatre2013-2015OnceGuyBernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway (Replacement) 2015Doctor Zhivago Pasha Antipov Broadway Theatre BroadwayDaddy Long LegsJervis PendletonDavenport TheatreOff-Broadway, Original 2016 Bright Star Jimmy Ray Dobbs Kennedy CenterPre-Broadway engagement Cort Theatre Broadway (Original)My Fair LadyProfessor Henry Higgins Bay Street Theatre Regional Chicago Billy FlynnAmbassador Theatre Broadway (Replacement) 2017 Escape to Margaritaville Tully La Jolla Playhouse Pre-Broadway engagement: World premiere Saenger Theatre Pre-Broadway engagement Hobby Center Ford Center 2018 Marquis Theatre Broadway (Original)2018-2019 Slave Play Jim New York Theatre Workshop Off-Broadway: World premiere 2019 John Golden Theatre Broadway (Original)The Who's TommyCousin Kevin La Jolla Playhouse Concert staging2021-2022 Slave Play Jim August Wilson Theatre Broadway 2022 Mark Taper Forum Center Theatre Group KnoxvilleJay FollettAsolo Repertory Theatre World premiere Life AfterFrank Carter Goodman Theatre RegionalParade Hugh Dorsey New York City Center Off-Broadway 2023 Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Joe Odom Staged industry reading 2024 Water for Elephants August Rackinger / Charlie O'BrienImperial Theatre Broadway (Original)2025 The Bridges of Madison County Bud Carnegie Hall Concert stagingCulwell-Block, Logan Paul Alexander Nolan Joins Bridges of Madison County Reunion Concert Playbill, November 20, 20252025 The Heart Dr. Breva and others La Jolla Playhouse World Premiere 2026The Lost BoysMaxPalace TheaterBroadway (Original)
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNotes1997UncleShort film1998Strike!Charles SchumacherFilm1999ShapeshifterAlexFilm2003The Visual Bible: The Gospel of JohnBridegromFilm2003The RootDonovan Kinder Short film2018Madam Secretary Captain David PaleyS5.E4: "Requiem"2019Instinct Jonathan JamesS2.E1: "Stay Gold"2019The CodeMajor Daniel ArcineauxS1.E12: "Legit Bad Day"2020The Scottish PlayLucasFilm2021Hudson & RexRon CrawS3.E8: "Sleeping Beauty"2024The Broadway Show with Tamsen FadalHimselfS3.E262025The Gilded AgeAlfred MerrickSeason 3
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2015Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Doctor Zhivago2016Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Bright Star
References
External links