Wade McCollum

“McCollum offers a stunning star turn... seamlessly fusing his well-honed talents into a raging specter...” Variety

Wade McCollum is an award-winning actor, singer, dancer, filmmaker, composer, writer, director, neuroscientist, and co-founder of a medical music tech startup. He is graduating in 2026 with a BAAS Neuroscience degree from The University of Pennsylvania.

Wade recently starred as Killer Kane in the world premier of FREAK THE MIGHTY, originated the role of Bee Doyle in the Tony nominated Broadway production of FLOYD COLLINS at Lincoln Center Theatre and the role of Wade in the Tony nominated new musical WATER FOR ELEPHANTS on Broadway. In 2023/2024 Wade starred in and collaborated on (additional material) the hit solo show MAKE ME GORGEOUS by Donnie, Off Broadway at Playhouse 46. MAKE ME GORGEOUS was extended for three months and Wade was nominated for the Lortel Award (Best Solo Show) the Drama Desk Award (Best Solo Performance) and he won Best Solo Performance (Off-Broadway Alliance Award).

On-screen McCollum has appeared opposite Clive Owen in THE KNICK, Keisha Castle- Hughs in FBI: MOST WANTED, Tea Leoni in MADAME SECRETARY,  and Julianna Margulies in NIGHTCAP.

McCollum has played starring roles on Broadway, London’s West End, and in numerous Off-Broadway shows; most notably his Lucille Lortel Award nominated star turn as the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, for which he garnered the prestigious Elliot Norton Award for “Best Actor” while the show won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for “Best Musical 2017.” Ernest Shackleton Loves Me was filmed live in NYC and can be seen on: www.broadwayhd.com.

In addition to being nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award and winning the Norton Award, Wade has also won the Garland Award, LA Drama Critic Circle Award, 2 Drammy Awards, Dallas Fort Worth Critic Circle Award and earned an Ovation Award nomination.

As a composer and writer, McCollum’s critically acclaimed work has been seen on stages all over the country including The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 
Classic Stage Company, 59e59th Street Theater, Sonnet Repertory Theatre, Insight Out Theater Collective, and The Alchemy. 

from where i am from  - by wade mccollum

I am from rock band green van,

from drumcase and extension cord.

I am from the motel on the side of small town highway,

(some moldy, some not, carpet stained with cheap wine)

I am from the holy mountain,

lithia spring, whose tributaries still shimmer

in my blood and eyes.

I am from free school lunch

and from food stamp lines,

from sue and mike and steve and

vicky and paul and kathie and

charlie and betty and wade.

I'm from the overthrow the tyrants

and the indentured servants revolt,

from buck up and get over it

it's not that bad.

I'm from glory of the forest

with temple of the mount

where pillars of light built by snow and stardust

sing into songs I made myself.I'm from bear creek and

black hills, garden peas

and strong coffee.

from the language my grandfather lost

in assimilation to north dakota the ears my

mother kept closed to hear her life.

under my bed was a parade of impossible.

moccasins, comics, sweetgrass, fiddle, drum and songs--

so many songs...

I am from those melodies-

sung before I sounded from the layered tune,

the polyphony of my ancestors band.