The Journey of Will Jewett: From Pittsburg to Broadway

By Amy Howe

“I’m going to be in “HAMILTON”!!! I can’t believe it—such a huge dream come true. I’ll be traveling North America and bringing this insanely awesome and legendary Broadway show to cities all over the U.S. and Canada!”—Will Jewett

When Will Jewett steps on stage, there’s an undeniable energy—an ease, a joy and a commitment to storytelling that pulls the audience in. Whether he’s dancing under Broadway lights or appearing on the big screen, Will brings with him not only immense talent but also the heart of a small-town kid who never stopped chasing the next big moment.

Originally from Pittsburg, Kansas, Will’s journey from pirouetting on pieces of a retired gym floor to performing in “Hamilton” is equal parts inspiring and humbling.

“I loved growing up in Pittsburg! It’s such a nice town and I like the vibe that the university brings as well,” he says. Both of his parents worked at Pittsburg State University, and their careers allowed him access to unique opportunities, like college-level dance classes while still in high school.

It was in Pittsburg that Will got his first taste of performance. At just 11 years old, he was recruited by Shelley Van Shaar at the Y Academy of Dance to join an all-boys hip-hop class. He was immediately hooked.

“From there, I quickly became obsessed with the Company dancers who were doing all sorts of technical skills I had never seen. Unfazed by the fact that they were all girls, I knew I had to be a part of that company and dance at that high level.”

But it wasn’t just technical skill that lit his fire—it was the power of performance to move and connect people. That realization came during a benefit show called “push,” created by Maggie Stephens.

“This creative process showed me that dance could be more than executing technical skills and competing. Dance can—and should—tell stories and bring people together and move people. Make a lasting impact. This feeling inspired me deeply and I carry it with me still today.”

Finding Support Close to Home

Behind every successful performer is a rock-solid support system, and for Will, that began with his family.

“My parents not only supported me in trying new things, but when I got into dance, they quickly took on the roles of dance parents—accompanying me to dance competitions all around the Midwest, building stretching devices and cheering me on (and pushing me forward) through all the highs and lows.”

He also credits his dance teachers at the Y and the Pittsburg High School Theatre Program for shaping him as a multi-faceted performer. Under the guidance of educators like Greg Shaw, Susan Laushman and choreographers Maggie and Mollie Stephens, Will had the chance to dance, sing, act—and even perform alongside his sister, Sarah.

One standout moment was performing “Band Geeks” at the Kansas State Thespian Festival.

“It was the most amazing experience to do this with some of my best friends and was a moment that made me realize how much I love theatre.”

From Kansas to Broadway

Breaking into professional performance is never easy, and Will is honest about the challenges he’s faced—particularly transforming from “just a dancer” into a full-blown musical theatre performer.

“I think a lot of it had to do with confidence and imposter syndrome. Thankfully, my journey through high school theatre and then a top College Musical Theatre program allowed me to experiment and fail and truly find myself as a performer.”

That program was the BFA in Musical Theatre at Penn State University—a major turning point in his career.

“It felt like a pretty major turning point. I was really going for it and chasing the dream.

“Training there helped me book shows at Music Theatre Wichita over the summers, which connected me with amazing and inspiring artists from all over the country and creative forces straight from New York. It’s crazy how many of these connections I made while in college still enhance my career presently.”

Will has performed both onstage and on screen—two experiences that require entirely different mindsets and skillsets. His work in the “Mean Girls” movie and the Broadway National Tour of “Back to the Future: The Musical” helped him navigate both.

“Filming a movie was so much fun. It felt like a constant rehearsal,” he says of his time working on “Mean Girls.” “When filming a movie, you get a few takes of each shot, so it’s not quite as thrilling or visceral in the moment. It is fun to just play around and try a bunch of different things while filming each take, then leaving it up to the creative team to decide which option to go with. The thrill comes with not knowing which take they will choose for the final cut (or if the moment makes the movie at all).”

“It was awesome to go to the movie theater with my friends and watch the movie together. I’m not used to being an audience member of my own work!”

Live theater, however, brings a very different kind of excitement—and responsibility.

“In a live stage production, I love feeding off of the energy of the audience. There is risk involved because there’s no editing a live performance,” Will says.

“I did “Back to the Future: The Musical” for a year—eight shows a week. I felt such an evolution through finding how the show felt in my body, letting it settle in, then changing it up for fun and exploring new moments on stage. Every night was different. Now, when doing a show like this for a whole year, it is sometimes hard not to zone out or just go through the motions. I definitely had to create some techniques for myself to stay ‘in it.’ I would maybe take creative liberties (where appropriate, of course) to keep things fresh or see how many castmates I can get to laugh and break character.”

A Day in the Life

Will’s daily life shifts depending on whether he’s in a show, filming or in between gigs. When on tour, his day runs like a well-oiled night shift:

“Wake up at 11 a.m. for breakfast, workout, rest and/or explore whatever city I’m in, lunch at 5 p.m., warm up for the show, do the show, cool down and stretch, dinner at 11 p.m., then asleep by 3 a.m.”

When he’s back in New York and between jobs, things look different, but no less busy.

“I create my weekly schedule around auditions. My agents secure audition appointments for me to attend, and if I’m lucky, I have a callback to prepare for.”

Outside of auditions, he’s still hard at work— dancing, teaching fitness classes, taking voice lessons and saying ‘yes’ to all kinds of performance gigs—from “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to weddings that look like something out of a movie.

“These gigs range from a half-day commitment to a couple of weeks,” he explains. “It keeps life interesting.”

Staying Grounded

Despite the bright lights and big stages, Will hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

“I have such pride being from Southeast Kansas. I visit home as much as I can and I love telling people all about it and what it was like growing up in Pittsburg. People in the arts come from all sorts of unique backgrounds, so it’s honestly cool just to be a part of that in any regard.”

He often brings friends home to Pittsburg and proudly shows off his roots. His small-town upbringing, once something he feared might set him back, has become a unique badge of honor.

What’s Next?

Will’s next chapter is already unfolding in the most exciting way possible.

“I’m going to be in “HAMILTON”!!! I can’t believe it—such a huge dream come true. I’ll be traveling North America and bringing this insanely awesome and legendary Broadway show to cities all over the U.S. and Canada!”

He’ll be playing Charles Lee and understudying King George III.

“I love understudying … It’s so nice to have variety in performing—most days I am dancing my butt off in the ensemble and other days I’m playing a lead and singing high notes! Keeps things exciting and keeps me challenged even over longer jobs.”

Advice for Young Dreamers

For aspiring performers in small towns, Will has simple but powerful advice: “Just start doing! Learn skills and become really good at them, but don’t leave out creativity and storytelling. Avoid overanalyzing and comparison—learn by doing and fail forward.”

And above all, believe that it’s possible. Because if a kid from Pittsburg, Kansas, can make it in the entertainment industry, anyone with enough heart and hustle just might, too.

To follow Will’s journey and learn more about his upcoming performances, follow him on Instagram @willjewett or visit www.willjewett.com.

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