On Aug. 16, the Broadway revival of “Ragtime” closed after a nearly year-long run. During its run, the production earned 11 Tony Award nominations and won four awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Among the cast was ACU alumnus Eean Cochran, who served as both a swing and dance captain throughout the show’s run. As Cochran’s Broadway resume continues to grow, he continues to support ACU theatre students at the Senior Showcase in New York, encouraging seniors as they prepare to launch careers of their own.

Cochran’s path to Broadway began at ACU in 2010. He distinctly remembers his first show at ACU. It was a small role in “Titanic” where he pushed part of the set on stage. In the following years, he performed in productions like “42nd Street” and “Footloose” before landing national tour opportunities that eventually led him to New York.

Since then, Cochran has performed on Broadway in “Hamilton,” “A Wonderful World” and, most recently, “Ragtime.” Along the way, he appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, recorded his first Broadway cast album and performed with the “Ragtime” cast at the 2026 Tony Awards.

In “Hamilton,” Cochran worked as a swing, learning and covering up to eight roles so he could step in whenever another performer was unavailable. At one point, he was doing double duty, meaning he would rehearse for “A Wonderful World” during the day, get out at 6 p.m., and run over to “Hamilton” for the night. 

For Cochran, one of the most meaningful moments of his career came during his Broadway debut in “Hamilton,” where he performed as Charles Lee for the night. As a high school student, he watched “In the Heights” from the audience in the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Years later, he found himself standing on that same stage.

“It was so full circle,” Cochran said. “I knew the seat I was in when I saw “In the Heights,” so when my niece came to see the show (“Hamilton”), I put her in the exact same seat that I sat in. It was really cool to perform on the stage where I first saw my dream.”

His parents, sister and former ACU roommate were all in the audience that night. He says he cried as soon as the music started.

“It was like doing a show that I had done for so long … getting to do it for them was emotional,” Cochran said.

As Cochran’s career continued, so did his responsibilities.

In “Ragtime,” he served not only as a swing but also as the show’s dance captain. Cochran was responsible for preserving the show’s choreography after the creative team left. Directors and choreographers would return periodically, but it was his job to ensure every performance remained true to the original production.

“As the show opens, the director, the choreographer and those who are in the creative positions leave,” Cochran said. “It’s your job basically to keep the integrity of the show.”

To do that, Cochran watched performances whenever he wasn’t performing himself, recorded detailed notes and created charts marking exactly where actors should stand and move throughout each number. He also taught new cast members their roles, eventually coaching multiple performers through as many as 17 different tracks.

The role wasn’t always easy. Offering corrections to veteran performers – including Tony Award winners – was one of the more intimidating parts of the job.

The same leadership skills that earned Cochran the role of dance captain have also shaped the way he mentors ACU students. Each spring, he returns to New York for the ACU Theatre Showcase, where graduating seniors perform for industry professionals. Cochran meets with students, answers questions about the industry and encourages them as they prepare to take the next step in their careers.

Dawne Swearingen-Meeks, chair of ACU’s theatre department, said Cochran’s willingness to invest in students has remained constant, even as his career has taken him to Broadway. 

“These industry agents are here to watch our people at showcase, and he is doing that every day,” said Swearingen-Meeks. “He’s celebrating them, because he really is a light-bringer by the Lord’s hand.”

Swearingen-Meeks said Cochran stood out as a student not only because of his talent, but because of his work ethic and openness to learning. She also credits Cochran’s faith as a defining part of his career, saying his success has never changed the way he treats others or the way he approaches his work.

Even after years of Broadway success, Cochran said he still understands what it feels like to question whether he belongs.

“Coming from Abilene and being in the big city, you can feel smaller,” Cochran said. “Sometimes that can get in your head and cause you to perform differently or apologize for something you shouldn’t apologize for.”

That perspective is one reason he continues returning to mentor ACU students.

“There are people who have the same talents, the same teaching and the same desires,” Cochran said. “They deserve to be seen, heard and also to be cultivated.”

Now that “Ragtime” has closed, Cochran is slowing down and working on small projects while waiting for whatever comes next.

“This is the first time I’m in New York, and I don’t have anything tomorrow or the next weekend,” said Cochran. 

Cochran says that even in these moments in between, he has learned to trust the path God has placed before him. Looking back, his advice to students entering the industry is simple.

“What makes you different?” Cochran said. “Lean into that.”