Posted
March 13, 2025
MEN OF HOPE • ALUMNI INTERVIEW
From belting out notes as an Edwardian Player to commanding the spotlight on Broadway, Paul-Jordan Jansen ’08 has captivated audiences for two decades. This month, the acclaimed singer, actor, and educator is back in Cleveland, starring as Lance in the smash-hit musical & Juliet.
In theater, timing is everything—both on and off the stage. For Jansen, a single phone call changed everything. Just a few years ago, while directing theater students in Shaker Heights, he stepped away to take a call from his agent. What he heard next was beyond his wildest dreams: he had been cast as an understudy for Sweeney Todd, making his Broadway debut opposite Josh Groban.
At the time, Jansen had taken a break from performing, dedicating himself to teaching at Hathaway Brown School after years on stage in New York and Chicago. He hadn’t sung in public for three years, and after multiple auditions for Sweeney Todd, he assumed the opportunity had passed. But instead, the waiting paid off in a big way.
“This was truly a dream come true,” Jansen says. “Josh Groban was one of my musical inspirations growing up, and the show had an incredible run.” In 2023, he and the cast of Sweeney Todd took the stage at the Tony Awards—where Jansen had the honor of opening the performance.
Following his work with Sweeney Todd, Jansen landed the role of Lance in & Juliet. This musical comedy begins with an alternate ending to Romeo and Juliet, with the heroine surviving after Romeo’s death. Lance, the father of Juliet’s new romantic interest, must navigate the challenging role of parenthood as his son falls in love. For Jansen, performing at the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square is another dream come true.
“Touring in Cleveland has always been on my bucket list,” Jansen shares. “This is the first time I’ve performed in my hometown since I was 17.”
Jansen credits much of his success to the lessons he learned at St. Edward.
“When I was 14, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do—but I knew I would love to be a teacher, and I knew I would love to be on stage,” Jansen recalls. “I was incredibly lucky to learn from people like John Goers ’78, Jim Wallenhorst ’74, Bob Burns, and John Karliak ’56. They didn’t just teach us theater—they taught us how to build a community, how to lift each other up.”
At St. Edward, Bob Burns directed, John Goers designed sets, Jim Wallenhorst handled props, and John Karliak supported the stage crew. Together, they created an environment that fueled creativity, discipline, and a deep love for the arts.
“Bob Burns built productions at an entirely different level,” Jansen says. “They made it fun, but they also showed us how to take our work seriously. That’s something I carry with me in every show I do.”
After graduating from St. Edward, Jansen went on to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State and joined the Actors’ Equity Association in 2011.
With six months left in his & Juliet tour, Jansen is already thinking about his next act—not just on stage, but in the classroom.
“I’ve been hustling for a long time,” Jansen says. “It’s been an incredible ride, but now I want to give back. High school theater was instrumental for me, and I want to help inspire the next generation of performers.”
When asked for his best advice for students today, he keeps it simple: “Don’t lose joy in what you do. Joy is what keeps you going—it opens doors you never even knew existed.”
THE MEN OF HOPE ALUMNI INTERVIEWS FEATURE ST. EDWARD ALUMNI WHO, INSPIRED BY THEIR HOLY CROSS EDUCATION, MAKE AN IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND.
