# Paul Alexander Nolan

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, and Jim in Slave Play. He has also played Billy Flynn in Chicago and Hugh Dorsey in the 2023 Broadway revival of Parade. He is currently starring in Water for Elephants, where he originated the role of August Rackinger / Charlie O'Brien.

## 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

| Year | Title | Role | Location | Notes |
| 2001-2002 | Mamma Mia | Ensemble | Royal Alexandra Theatre | Mirvish Productions |
| 2002 | Robin Hood: The Merry Family Musical | Will Scarlet | Elgin Theatre | Regional: Ross Petty Productions |
| 2003 | Cinderella: The Sparkling Family Musical | Ensemble | Elgin Theatre | Regional: Ross Petty Productions |
| 2006 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus | Regional: Stage West Calgary | Regional: Stage West Calgary |
| 2007 | King Lear | Ensemble | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2007 | Oklahoma! | Slim | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2007 | Beauty and the Beast | The Beast | Regional: Persephone Theatre | Regional: Persephone Theatre |
| 2008 | Cabaret | Bobby | Avon Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2009 | West Side Story | Tony | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2009 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Vicomte de Valvert | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2010 | As You Like It | Orlando | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2010 | The Winter's Tale | Ensemble | Tom Patterson Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2011 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus | Avon Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2011 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus | La Jolla Playhouse | Pre-Broadway engagement |
| 2012 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus | Neil Simon Theatre | Broadway |
| 2012 | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots | Ben | La Jolla Playhouse | World premiere |
| 2013 | Fiddler on the Roof | Fyedka | Festival Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2013 | The Who's Tommy | Cousin Kevin | Avon Theatre | Stratford Festival |
| 2013-2015 | Once | Guy | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre | Broadway (Replacement) |
| 2015 | Doctor Zhivago | Pasha Antipov | Broadway Theatre | Broadway |
| 2015 | Daddy Long Legs | Jervis Pendleton | Davenport Theatre | Off-Broadway, Original |
| 2016 | Bright Star | Jimmy Ray Dobbs | Kennedy Center | Pre-Broadway engagement |
| 2016 | Bright Star | Jimmy Ray Dobbs | Cort Theatre | Broadway (Original) |
| 2016 | My Fair Lady | Professor Henry Higgins | Bay Street Theatre | Regional |
| 2016 | Chicago | Billy Flynn | Ambassador Theatre | Broadway (Replacement) |
| 2017 | Escape to Margaritaville | Tully | La Jolla Playhouse | Pre-Broadway engagement: World premiere |
| 2017 | Escape to Margaritaville | Tully | Saenger Theatre | Pre-Broadway engagement |
| 2017 | Escape to Margaritaville | Tully | Hobby Center | Pre-Broadway engagement |
| 2017 | Escape to Margaritaville | Tully | Ford Center | Pre-Broadway engagement |
| 2018 | Escape to Margaritaville | Tully | Marquis Theatre | Broadway (Original) |
| 2018-2019 | Slave Play | Jim | New York Theatre Workshop | Off-Broadway: World premiere |
| 2019 | Slave Play | Jim | John Golden Theatre | Broadway (Original) |
| 2019 | The Who's Tommy | Cousin Kevin | La Jolla Playhouse | Concert staging |
| 2021-2022 | Slave Play | Jim | August Wilson Theatre | Broadway |
| 2022 | Slave Play | Jim | Mark Taper Forum | Center Theatre Group |
| 2022 | Knoxville | Jay Follett | Asolo Repertory Theatre | World premiere |
| 2022 | Life After | Frank Carter | Goodman Theatre | Regional |
| 2022 | Parade | Hugh Dorsey | New York City Center | Off-Broadway |
| 2023 | Parade | Hugh Dorsey | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre | Broadway |
| 2023 | Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil | Joe Odom | Staged industry reading | Staged industry reading |
| 2024 | Water for Elephants | August Rackinger / Charlie O'Brien | Imperial Theatre | Broadway (Original) |

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Uncle | | Short film |
| 1998 | Strike! | Charles Schumacher | Film |
| 1999 | Shapeshifter | Alex | Film |
| 2003 | The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John | Bridegrom | Film |
| 2003 | The Root | Donovan Kinder | Short film |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Captain David Paley | S5.E4: "Requiem" |
| 2019 | Instinct | Jonathan James | S2.E1: "Stay Gold" |
| 2019 | The Code | Major Daniel Arcineaux | S1.E12: "Legit Bad Day" |
| 2020 | The Scottish Play | Lucas | Film |
| 2021 | Hudson & Rex | Ron Craw | S3.E8: "Sleeping Beauty" |
| 2024 | The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal | Himself | S3.E26 |
| TBA | The Gilded Age | Alfred Merrick | Season 3 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Doctor Zhivago | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Bright Star | Nominated | |