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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
On June 1, 2015, McCarrell performed a sold-out solo concert at 54 Below, and appeared there again on December 7, 2015 in "Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell".
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. On August 28, 2017, he reprised his role as Percy in a sold-out The Lightning Thief musical concert at The Green Room 42.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 In late 2019 to early 2020, he played Percy in the Broadway run of The Lightning Thief.
Theatre YearProductionRoleCategoryTheatreNotes2013Next to NormalGabeRegionalBeck Center for the Performing ArtsMarch 1 to April 21, 2013Summer of '42HermieBucks County PlayhouseJuly 25, 2013 – August 11, 2013Bubble BoyJimmy Hamilton StageNovember 6, 2013 – November 24, 20132014–2015Les MisérablesJoly / Fauchelevent u/s Marius BroadwayImperial TheatreMarch 1, 2014 – February 15, 20152015–2016Marius PontmercyMarch 3, 2015 – September 4, 20162017The Lightning ThiefPercy Jackson Off-BroadwayLucille Lortel Theatre March 23, 2017 – May 6, 20172018Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetAnthony HopeRegionalKC Repertory TheatreMarch 30, 2018 – April 16, 20182019The Lightning ThiefPercy JacksonUS TourVariousJanuary 4, 2019 – July 28, 2019BroadwayLongacre TheatreSeptember 20, 2019 – January 4, 20202023Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJosephRegionalLa Mirada Theatre for the Performing ArtsJune 2–25, 2023Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Anatole KuraginGreat Lakes TheaterSeptember 22 - October 8, 20232024Prelude to a KissPeter HoskinsSouth Coast RepertoryApril 11, 2024 - May 5, 2024 Milwaukee Repertory TheaterSeptember 10 – October 19, 20242025RentRoger DavisThe Cape PlayhouseJune 25 - July 12, 2025
Filmography YearTitleRoleTypeNotes2014Peter Pan Live!Lost Boy NibsTelevisionLive Broadcast (December 4, 2014)
References