A Lexington native who’s made a name for himself on the stage and screen returns home to star as Tony in the Lexington Theatre Company’s production of ‘West Side Story.’ This morning Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton declared July 2nd Colton Ryan Day.
WUKY listeners first heard Ryan on our airwaves from New York while he was performing in the Tony award winning Broadway show ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’ In a mere two years, he’s added more Broadway, off-Broadway, film and television credits to his resume. But his career began right here in the Bluegrass. The Lexington Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Lyndy Franklin Smith has watched Ryan’s rising success. “We first got the opportunity to work with Colton Ryan in the 2016 Concert with the Stars when he was one of our collegiate hopefuls. Two years later we brought him back to headline that same concert after his Broadway debut in Dear Even Hansen. And now we are so proud to welcome him home to help us lead this beautiful company of ‘West Side Story.’ Colton we are so proud of you.”
As for all the recognition, Ryan said it’s still unfathomable. “I’m smiling from ear to ear. You can’t see that but I am. It’s unreal.”
Coming up next week on 91.3 WUKY, we’ll hear more from Ryan, his Lexington mentors and a behind the scenes look at ‘West Side Story.’
The show runs at the Lexington Opera House July 11th through the 14th. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and The Lexington Opera House.