About
Caleb McCarroll (he/him) is a writer, music director, and actor based in New York City. He is a graduate of Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Direction for Musical Theatre. A multi-hyphenate, McCarroll enjoys embracing multiple lines of work. He is known for bold and striking interpretations of classical dramatic works, including musical adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Chekhov’s The Three Sisters, in addition to a deep love for absurdism and surrealism. Accessibility is at the center of his mission as a writer and music director, hoping to help make sense of what gets lost in the weeds. Original musicals include Almanac, The Planets, and The Banshee of County Clare, all of which are in development. Plays include a currently untitled religion triptych, featuring Mothers of Zion, a drama about sister wives in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Oh, No!, a docudrama about the Jonestown Massacre, and Revival, a Pentecostal church service; other plays in development include Christmas, Dunce, and The Diner.
As a music director, he has worked at various theatre companies, including Actor’s Technique New York, A Class Act, A-Sharp Theatre Collective, Leftover Productions, The Beacon School, the United Nations International School, and Purple Light Productions in New York City, Kansas City Fringe Festival, Faust Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, The Barn Players in Overland Park, Kansas, PING! Performing Arts Collective in St. Louis, Missouri, Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. He served as music director for Heart of America Christian Fellowship for ten years. As a pianist, McCarroll has worked with The Muny, STAGES in St. Louis, Missouri, Stage Right Performing Arts and StageBound in Overland Park, Kansas, Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, and at Webster University as a collaborative pianist in vocal studios for singers of all genres. McCarroll is returning home to his alma mater, Raytown High School as the accompanist for the choral program. He has also accompanied performances with Tony Award-winner, Ali Stroker, and masterclasses for Grammy Award-winning dramatic soprano, Christine Brewer, voice pedagogue, Dr. Matt Edwards, Tony nominees, Jenn Colella and Taylor Louderman, and Broadway’s Jelani Remy and Grace McLean. McCarroll has also been chosen for various world premieres by composers, including Addie Struckman and Zach Tesch. He is known for his unique and informed feel of many genres and for playing with an emotional sensitivity tied directly to the singer, causing a palpable synergy.
McCarroll is well-versed in singing musical theatre, pop, and art music styles alike. McCarroll is a former member of the Grammy Award-winning Kansas City Chorale under the direction of Charles Bruffy. McCarroll has premiered various vocal works as a soloist and choral singer by composers including Jean Belmont Ford, Ryan Main, Hunter T. Johnson, David Werfelmann, Joseph Rubenstein, Noah Valenti, Dragomir Page, and Addie Struckman.
As an actor, McCarroll has been praised for his research and dramaturgy expertise that he brings to roles across the canon. McCarroll has been recognized by critics for having “a deep emotional well” as an actor, bringing an incredibly unique and honest experience to plays and musicals alike. He originated the role of Eddie in Driven: A New Song Cycle in its premiere performance at Feinstein’s / 54 Below. He also played the role of Menelaus in the inaugural reading of H. O. T. the Musical written by Shelly Verden. Favorite acting credits include William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening, and Michal Katurian in The Pillowman.
McCarroll recently made his directing debut in Kansas City, MO with a workshop followed by a staged reading of Justin Mohn and Jacob Thomas’ Entangling Alliances.
He also thinks writing about himself in the third person is silly.