bᵻfˌoːɹ wˈɪnɪŋ hɪz fˈɜːst bɹˈɔːdweɪ ɹˈoʊl, ɹˈænəlz hæd pˈɑːɹts ɪn ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv ɹˈiːdʒənəl θˈiəɾɚ pɹədˈʌkʃənz, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ hˈɛdwɪɡ ænd ðɪ ˈæŋɡɹi ˈɪntʃ, mˈɪs saɪɡˈɑːn, ænd θˈʌɹoʊli mˈɑːdɚn mˈɪli.
Before winning his first Broadway role, Rannells had parts in a number of regional theater productions, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Miss Saigon, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.