Will Roland
American actor and singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Frederick Roland (born March 5, 1989) is an American actor and singer, best known for originating the role of Jared Kleinman in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, for which he received a Grammy and Daytime Emmy Award. On film, he is known for his role in the drama film One Penny. Most recently, he played the lead role of Jeremy Heere in the musical Be More Chill both off-Broadway and on Broadway.
Will Roland | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1989 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Friends Academy |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupations | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Spouse |
Stephanie Wessels (m. 2022) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
William Frederick Roland[citation needed] was born on March 5, 1989[1][2] was born in New York City.[3][failed verification][better source needed] After initially living in Greenwich Village,[4] his family moved to Locust Valley, Long Island, when he was eight years old.[5]
He attended Friends Academy for middle school and high school.[5] Roland graduated from New York University in 2011 with a degree in musical theater from Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.[6][7]
Career
Roland's first professional role after graduating from college was in 2011, where he played the role of Ian DeForge in The Bus at 59e59 Theaters. The show opened on October 4, 2011, and closed on October 31, 2011.[8]
In 2012, Roland played the role of Nato Obenkrieger from August 16, 2012, to September 2, 2012, in a staged workshop of The Black Suits, a musical by Joe Iconis in The Berkshires at the Barrington Stage Company.[9] In this production, he played alongside Ben Platt, who he would again star beside in Dear Evan Hansen. Roland reprised this role in 2013 from October 27, 2013, to November 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, California, for the show's world premiere at the Center Theatre Group.[10]
In April 2013, Roland participated in the first reading of Be More Chill, in which he read the role of Michael. He then departed the production and re-auditioned for the lead in 2015 when it was casting for its world premiere, whereupon he did not get cast.[11] Around this time, he also became involved in the as then Untitled PPL Project. Starting in July 2014, Roland participated in readings and workshops of the show that would become Dear Evan Hansen, playing the role of Jared Kleinman. The show made its premiere in Washington, D.C. at the Arena Stage and ran from July 10, 2015, to August 23, 2015.[12]
While in Washington, D.C. for the workshop and original production of Dear Evan Hansen, and Roland was also cast as Collin in the independent film One Penny. Principal photography occurred in 2015. The film premiered at the DC Independent Film Festival in February 2017.[13] He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Northern Virginia International Film and Music Festival in 2017.[14]
In 2016, Roland reprised his role as Jared when Dear Evan Hansen went Off-Broadway for a limited engagement run at the Second Stage Theatre.[15] Previews began March 26, 2016. The show opened on May 1, 2016, and ran until May 29, 2016. After selling out its Off-Broadway run, the show then transferred to Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. Previews began November 14, 2016 and the show opened on December 4, 2016. Roland departed the show on June 10, 2018.[16]
In 2017, Roland was approached by the showrunners of Billions after seeing his performance in Dear Evan Hansen. He was offered an audition for a guest role,[17] which turned into the recurring role of Winston, who Roland portrayed starting in season 3 of Billions.
On April 13, 2018, it was announced that Roland would play the role of Jeremy Heere in Joe Iconis' Be More Chill Off-Broadway limited engagement run at the Pershing Square Signature Center.[18] Previews began July 26, 2018. The show opened August 9, 2018 and closed on September 30, 2018, after a one-week extension.[19] Through Ghostlight Records, Roland released a new song called "Loser Geek Whatever" that had been introduced to the show as the new act 1 finale for its Off-Broadway run.[20] After its sold out Off-Broadway run, Roland reprised the role when the show then transferred to Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre.[21] Previews began February 13, 2019. The show opened March 10, 2019 and closed August 11, 2019.[22]
In 2021, he played the role of Zeke Matthews in the studio cast recording of Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium. He starred alongside Krystina Alabado and Noah Galvin. In 2023, he starred in the world premiere of the musical Summer Stock at the Goodspeed Opera House.[23] Also in 2023, Roland was in the studio cast recording of 17 Again: The Musical.[24]
Personal life
On November 7, 2018, Roland became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Stephanie Wessels.[25] They were married in June 2022 and welcomed their first child in October 2025.
Credits
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Bus | Ian DeForge | 59e59 Theaters | Off-Broadway |
| 2012 | Billy Witch | Michael | Astoria Performing Arts Center | |
| 2012 | Wonderful Town | Frank Lippencott | Gallery Players | |
| 2012 | The Black Suits | Nato Obenkrieger | Barrington Stage Company | Regional |
| 2013 | Center Theatre Group | |||
| 2014 | Academia Nuts! | Joseph McCutter | New York Musical Festival | Off-Broadway |
| 2015 | Dear Evan Hansen | Jared Kleinman | Arena Stage | Regional |
| 2016 | Second Stage Theater | Off-Broadway | ||
| 2016–2018 | Music Box Theater | Broadway | ||
| 2018 | Be More Chill | Jeremy Heere | Pershing Square Signature Center | Off-Broadway |
| 2019 | Lyceum Theater | Broadway | ||
| 2021 | Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium | Zeke Matthews | N/A | Original Studio Cast Recording |
| 2022 | The Panic of 29' | Jimmy Armstrong | 59e59 Theaters | Off-Broadway |
| 2023 | Summer Stock | Orville Wingate | Goodspeed Opera House | World Premiere Original Cast |
| 2024 | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour Kelborn | Guthrie Theater | Regional |
| 2025 | The Baker's Wife | Priest | Classic Stage Company | Off-Broadway |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | One Penny | Collin |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Mysteries of Laura | Nerd #3 | Episode: "The Mystery of the Intoxicated Intern" |
| 2016 | Red Oaks | Joel | 2 episodes |
| 2018–2023 | Billions | Winston | 14 episodes |
| 2018 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Quidditch Player | Episode: "Kimmy Meets an Old Friend!" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Northern Virginia International Film and Music Festival | Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film | One Penny | Nominated | [14] |
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Award | Favorite Funny Performance | Dear Evan Hansen | Won | [26] | |
| Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male) | Nominated | ||||
| Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||||
| 2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Won | [27] | |
| Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program | "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen on The Today Show | Won | [28] | |
| 2019 | Broadway.com Audience Choice Award | Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical | Be More Chill | Nominated | [29] |
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with George Salazar) | Won | ||||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Stephanie Hsu) | Nominated | ||||
| BroadwayWorld Theatre Fans' Choice Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | Won | [30] |