William Frederick Roland (born March 5, 1989) is an American actor and singer, best known for originating the role of Jared Kleinman in theBroadway musicalDear Evan Hansen, for which he received aGrammy andDaytime Emmy Award. On film, he is known for his role in the drama filmOne Penny. Most recently, he played the lead role of Jeremy Heere in the musicalBe More Chill bothoff-Broadway and on Broadway.

William Frederick Roland^{[citation needed]} was born on March 5, 1989^[1][2] was born inNew York City.^{[3][failed verification][better source needed]} After initially living inGreenwich Village,^[4] his family moved toLocust Valley,Long Island, when he was eight years old.^[5]

He attendedFriends Academy for middle school and high school.^[5] Roland graduated fromNew York University in 2011 with a degree in musical theater fromSteinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.^[6][7]

Roland's first professional role after graduating from college was in 2011, where he played the role of Ian DeForge inThe Bus at59e59 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 ofThe Black Suits, a musical byJoe Iconis inThe Berkshires at theBarrington Stage Company.^[9] In this production, he played alongsideBen Platt, who he would again star beside inDear Evan Hansen. Roland reprised this role in 2013 from October 27, 2013, to November 24, 2013, inLos Angeles,California, for the show's world premiere at theCenter Theatre Group.^[10]

In April 2013, Roland participated in the first reading ofBe 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 thenUntitled PPL Project. Starting in July 2014, Roland participated in readings and workshops of the show that would becomeDear Evan Hansen, playing the role of Jared Kleinman. The show made its premiere inWashington, D.C. at theArena Stage and ran from July 10, 2015, to August 23, 2015.^[12]

While in Washington, D.C. for the workshop and original production ofDear Evan Hansen, and Roland was also cast as Collin in the independent filmOne Penny. Principal photography occurred in 2015. The film premiered at theDC 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 whenDear Evan Hansen wentOff-Broadway for a limited engagement run at theSecond 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 toBroadway at theMusic 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 ofBillions after seeing his performance inDear 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 ofBillions.

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 thePershing 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] ThroughGhostlight 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 theLyceum 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 musicalSummer Stock at the Goodspeed Opera House.^[23] Also in 2023, Roland was in the studio cast recording of17 Again: The Musical.^[24]

On November 7, 2018, Roland became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Stephanie Wessels.^[25] They were married in June 2022.

• 1989 births
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male musical theatre actors
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• Grammy Award winners
• Living people
• Male actors from Manhattan
• People from the East Village, Manhattan
• People from Locust Valley, New York
• Singers from New York City
• Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni

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