Most recently on stage, Keelan McAuley has taken over the role of Nate in The Devil Wears Prada at the West End’s Dominion Theatre where he performs the songs written by Elton John including Nate’s solo The Old You. Keelan works with director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, original cast members Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly and Matt Henry as Nigel, and he joined the show alongside Stevie Doc as Andy and Taila Halford as Emily. In Clueless at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley in 2024, Keelan originated the role of Josh (made famous by Paul Rudd in the 1995 film), and transferred with the musical to the West End’s Trafalgar Theatre earlier this year, with the musical written by the film’s writer – Amy Heckerling. Before Clueless transferred to the West End, Keelan made his UK tour and West End debut starring as Jason “J.D.” Dean in Heathers the Musical, and he performed at West End Live in 2024 and 2025 with both Heathers the Musical and Clueless respectively. For the Royal Caribbean cruise line, Keelan played Kenickie / cover Danny Zuko in Grease and Gruff / cover Marvin Columbus and Christopher Columbus in Columbus the Musical, with the Royal Caribbean marking his first professional job out of school. Talking with us, we found out from Keelan about recently taking over the role of Nate in The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre in the West End, originating the role of Josh in Clueless and starring as Jason “J.D.” Dean in Heathers the Musical.

You have just taken over the role of Nate in The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre in the West End, what was the role like to learn and how is it getting into character?

Learning the role of Nate has actually been a straightforward process for me. Compared to my previous roles, Nate is essentially a more heightened version of me (minus the chef and cooking aspect). Something that was a challenge on Heathers and Clueless was not adding too much of my own ‘goofiness’ into those characters, but with Nate, I was told to amp up the goofiness a lot, which was very natural for me.

What are you enjoying most about working on The Devil Wears Prada and playing Nate so far, and was there anything that drew you to the production?

I love getting to sing the Elton John music, it really is a dream come true to sing original songs in a musical by him. Also, getting a chance to work with the legend that is Jerry Mitchell seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

How was it meeting the rest of the cast, which includes new members Stevie Doc as Andy and Taila Halford as Emily, and continuing members Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly and Matt Henry as Nigel, and how is it performing alongside them?

Funnily enough, I actually knew Stevie and Taila previously through mutual friends and flatmates. I was overjoyed when I found out I was going to be working with them! As for Vanessa and Matt, I met them during rehearsals, and it is such a privilege to watch and learn from them every day, not to mention they are both so kind and hilarious in their own right.

For those that aren’t familiar with the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger, the 2006 film starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, or the musical version, can you say about the show and your character?

The show follows aspiring journalist Andy Sachs as she becomes assistant to legendary but ruthless fashion editor Miranda Priestly. Andy struggles with the high cost of success and the price of fitting in. My character Nate is Andy’s supportive but short-sighted boyfriend who doesn’t really understand the new world that Andy has jumped into. As Andy’s morals start to change, the way she treats Nate shows the audience how much Andy has changed to survive in her new career.

What is it like bringing the character (made famous by Adrian Grenier in the film) to the stage and how is it seeing the audience response to the musical?

It is no secret that the musical has changed Nate significantly from Adrian’s version of the character in the movie. Nate in the musical is much less problematic and audiences seem to be much more sympathetic to him in this version of the story.

What are the musical numbers – including Nate’s solo song The Old You – like to perform, and do you have a favourite song in the show?

My favourite song to sing is definitely The Old You. It’s a beautiful ballad that is very reminiscent of Elton John’s early music which has a lot of emotion in it. Nate doesn’t get to sing a lot in the show but this moment feels very rewarding as he gets to release some pent-up frustration and sadness through song. I Only Love You For Your Body is the first song I get to do, this one is very tongue-in-cheek and very silly but fun to perform.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre in the West End and who do you think the show will appeal to?

People should book tickets to The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre because it’s a glamorous, high-energy musical with awesome visuals, catchy Elton John songs, and an amazing creative team and cast. The show will appeal to fans of the film or book, fashion lovers, and anyone who enjoys big, fun West End productions.

How did you find the experience originating the role of Josh in the UK premiere of Clueless and opening the show at Churchill Theatre in Bromley in 2024?

I absolutely loved getting to originate Josh. Finding the balance of paying homage to Paul Rudd’s performance in the movie, while adding in my own personal characterisations, was such an honour and privilege, and so, so much fun.

What was it like reading Amy Heckerling’s (also writer of the 1995 film) script for the first time and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role?

Finding out I had booked the role was probably the best day of my life. I hadn’t worked professionally in the UK yet, and I was really thinking that if I didn’t get it, I wasn’t going to have any credits to get my next visa, and I was going to be deported back to Canada. The day I got that phone call, it affirmed to me that I did have the talent to make it in this industry and I wasn’t crazy for thinking I did.

Reading the script for the first time felt magical. I will never forget it.

Clueless transferred to the West End’s Trafalgar Theatre earlier this year; how was it transferring with the show to London and reprising your character?

It was a very unique experience, having done a version of the show previously, and then doing a new version with a new director and team. Some things stayed the same, a lot of things changed. We found a healthy balance eventually, and I adored the West End run that we did.

Before taking Clueless to the West End, you starred as Jason “J.D.” Dean in Heathers the Musical at @sohoplace in the West End and on tour opposite Jenna Innes as Veronica Sawyer, what was the character like to play and how was it telling the story?

Heathers was truly a life-changing experience for me. J.D. was my dream role ever since I heard about the show while I was in high school. I kind of felt like I had been subconsiously preparing to play him for years before I got the opportunity to audition. Getting to play out his character arc eight times a week was truly a gift, and I loved getting to do it every time. I think that he is such a tragically misunderstood character. He suffers from immense trauma, has good intentions, but his upbringing unfortunately taught him to enact those good intentions in a terrible way. I’d like to think I brought his story justice.

What was it like heading out on your first UK Tour and making your West End debut with the musical?

It was so daunting yet exciting at the same time. Heathers, being such an adored show, was very scary to make my debut in, but the fans and cast were so supportive and it went about as well as I could have hoped for it to go.

How was it performing at West End Live in 2024 and 2025 with Heathers the Musical and Clueless respectively?

West End Live was so fun on both occasions. Getting to perform for a crowd of that size is definitely a highlight of my career. Singing Freeze Your Brain felt so amazing on that stage. For Clueless, we did a big song and dance number, a very different experience. I had a lot of trials and tribulations with that one. I was doing it on a taped up sprained ankle, had problems hearing myself over the ensemble singers behind me, and pushed my voice a lot… Not great results from that one vocally from me, but it was still an amazing experience nonetheless.

Can you tell us about your time with Royal Caribbean, which saw you play Kenickie / cover Danny Zuko in Grease and Gruff / cover Marvin Columbus and Christopher Columbus in Columbus the Musical?

This was my first professional job out of school. I owe a lot to Royal Caribbean for it. It gave me confidence to cover and play leading roles, it gave me the money to afford to move to London afterwards, and it gave me lifelong friends.

How did you originally get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I got into acting through choir, actually. I was in the Calgary Boys’ Choir, and when I was 12 years old, a semi-professional theatre company reached out to the choir asking for us to audition to be Workhouse Boys in Oliver! the Musical. Once I did that show as an ensemble member, I knew from that moment on that this is what I wanted to do. I left choir and never looked back.

What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

I love watching Legally Blonde and will try to watch it anywhere it is playing. I truly think no matter what level of theatre is producing the show, from high school to Broadway, that you cannot watch a bad production of Legally Blonde. I still desperately want to see Hadestown, and it is a sin that I have not seen it yet. It is a top priority on my to-do list.

How do you like to spend your time away from performing?

I love to play video games, board games, watch sports, do improv theatre, and go out with my friends and flatmates. My biggest nerdy obsession though, is Dungeons & Dragons. I think it is the best game to exist. It is a combination of theatrics, improv, rules, and lore that puts all of my interests together in one. One day I would love to either play in or produce a liveplay D&D show or livestream.

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