CFAC Alum Jonathan Tanner Shares His Journey From BYU To Broadway
For BYU graduate Jonathan Tanner, the path from campus stages to a national Broadway tour has been defined by persistence, rejection and, ultimately, opportunity.
“I studied Music Dance Theater while at BYU, and graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2024,” Tanner said. “I was able to perform with Young Ambassadors for four years and Contemporary Dance Theater for one year, both opportunities allowing me to share my talents in more than six countries and countless cities.”
Now, Tanner is performing across the country in the Broadway National Tour of “The Outsiders,” where he plays Chet, one of the Socs.
The journey to that role was not immediate. Tanner described a lengthy audition process that stretched across months and multiple cities.
“I was one of almost 100 guys in the room, which is quite intimidating when they all look fairly similar to you,” Tanner said.
After his first audition, he was cut in the initial round.
“I was devastated since I felt like I auditioned well and had really been looking forward to doing this show,” he said.
Weeks passed without news. Tanner later returned to New York for another opportunity with a different production, only to be redirected back to “The Outsiders.”
“The casting director pulled me aside to say, ‘I do not think you are right for the role we are casting today. However, there is something else we have in mind for you,’” Tanner said.
That moment led to another round of auditions. Over three weeks, Tanner flew to New York four more times while balancing rehearsals and opening week for another show.
“They had us dance, fight, partner and sing material from the show, all while they slowly cut more and more people until there were just three of us left,” he said.
Even after final callbacks, uncertainty remained.
“There was a solid week between doing final callbacks and getting the call that I had booked the show, and during that time I was quite positive I had not gotten the role,” Tanner said.
When the offer came, the moment stood out.
“When my agent called me on June 26, 2025, I was over the moon excited that I had booked the role of Chet,” he said.
Since joining the tour, Tanner said several performances have been meaningful, especially opening night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was the first time his family had seen him perform in the role.
“Performing for your family is always a special experience because they are some of the only people who fully understand all of the hard work, rejection, time, effort and prayer that goes into your success,” he said.
The location added another layer of significance.
“The Outsiders takes place in Tulsa, so performing this story for the home crowd was quite special,” Tanner said.
Audience response has also shaped his experience on tour. He recalled a performance in Orlando where crowd reactions stood out.
“We heard more gasps, oohs, ahhs, cheers, cries and all other reactions than ever before,” Tanner said. “It is always enjoyable as a performer when the audience reacts to what is happening on stage because it gives us more energy.”
Tanner credits much of his preparation to mentors and coursework at BYU, particularly his time working with director Nathan Balser.
“One thing that Nathan taught me was, ‘If you’re living right, good things will come,’” Tanner said.
He also emphasized the rigor of his training.
“The performing industry is not for the faint of heart, and I’m glad that is something I learned while at BYU,” he said.
Tanner said his experience on tour has brought both professional and personal challenges, including adjusting to constant travel and maintaining confidence.
“One thing that I have struggled with on tour is imposter syndrome,” he said.
Still, he described relying on both personal and spiritual support systems.
“I know I can lean on family and friends, but most importantly, I know that I can look heavenward and Jesus Christ will help me turn my shortcomings into strengths,” Tanner said.
As the tour continues, Tanner said the experience has allowed him to grow both as a performer and as an individual, shaped by the demands of the industry and the opportunities it provides.