'Tutoring My Rival Boy' Cast: Meet the Actors Behind the Steamy ReelShort BL Drama

"Tutoring My Rival Boy" delivers exactly what BL fans love: tension, secrets, and an enemies-to-lovers storyline that slowly turns into something deeper.

The new ReelShort drama, "Tutoring My Rival Boy," follows scholarship student Chris Banning and hockey star Lucien Alaric, whose rivalry gives way to their unexpected attraction. But who are the actors bringing this heated high school story to life?

Here’s a closer look at the "Tutoring My Rival Boy" cast and everything we know about them.

Evan Gambardella as Chris Banning

Beyond the enemies-to-lovers tension at the heart of this BL drama, meet the "Tutoring My Rival Boy" cast who bring Chris, Lucien, and their classmates to life.

At the center of the story is Chris Banning, the valedictorian juggling multiple jobs while trying to stay afloat at an elite private high school. He’s smart and determined, but he's also hiding a secret that his rival would soon uncover.

Chris is played by Evan Gambardella, an actor, writer, and hypnotist. Beyond acting, Gambardella has built a unique career as a therapeutic and comedy hypnotist, performing internationally and touring across the United States with his show “Lucid Living.” He is also a Certified Instructor of Hypnosis by the National Guild of Hypnotists.

In the vertical drama space, Gambardella has steadily built his resume with roles in another BL drama, "Straight Until He Kissed Me" (GoodShort), "Sneak Me In Your Closet" (GoodShort), "Divorced at the Wedding Day" (DramaBox), "His Nerd" (CandyJar), and "Hulking & Wiccan" (YouTube Shorts).

His background also includes appearances in projects like "Saturday Night Live" and "Law & Order: SVU," along with theater roles such as Puck in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."

Sky Kawai as Lucien Alaric

If Chris is the driven underdog, Lucien Alaric is the untouchable campus king. A star hockey player with a bad-boy reputation, Lucien initially tries to keep his secrets buried, one of which is an illicit affair that Chris accidentally discovers.

Lucien is played by Sky Kawai, an actor, model, and singer based in Los Angeles. Kawai is no stranger to ReelShort audiences, having previously appeared in BL dramas like "Waterboy" and "Pool Boy." Standing at 6’2” with an athletic build, he naturally fits the role of the school’s heartthrob athlete.

Kawai also holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah, with stage credits that include "Hairspray," "Beauty and the Beast," and "In the Heights." Beyond acting, he is a NASM-certified personal trainer and longtime plant-based advocate. That fitness-forward lifestyle aligns well with Lucien’s hockey-star persona.

Heaven Nunez as Judy Bennet

Every high school drama needs a queen bee, and in "Tutoring My Rival Boy, that’s Judy Bennet, played by Heaven Nunez. Wealthy, popular, and fiercely protective of her status, Judy becomes one of Chris’s biggest antagonists.

Nunez, an actor and singer, has appeared in vertical series such as "My Crush Thinks I’m A Boy" and "The Vengeance Affair," where she also played lead antagonist roles. Her theater credits include "A Chorus Line," "Cinderella," and "Rent."

Marcus Wells as Jasper

Marcus Wells steps into the role of Jasper, one of Lucien’s friends and part of the elite high school’s bully circle. Jasper looks down on scholarship students like Chris and isn’t shy about showing it.

Wells is an actor, singer, and musician with a BFA in Musical Theatre from CAP21/Molloy College. His stage experience includes "Spring Awakening," "West Side Story," and "Grease." With skills ranging from stage combat to guitar, Wells brings physicality and confidence to the role.

Jake Crossman as Ethan

Crossman is a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, producer, and award-winning director (IMDb). He has worked extensively in live sports broadcasting, including directing and producing broadcasts for ESPN, NBC, and FOX, and serving as crew manager/line producer for FOX’s Super Bowl LIV telecast (IMDb). He later transitioned into acting and vertical microdramas (IMDb).

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Crossman began in theater before expanding into digital media and film (IMDb). His diverse background gives Ethan’s manipulative charm a grounded edge.

With its mix of rising talent and multi-hyphenate creatives, "Tutoring My Rival Boy" stands out in ReelShort’s growing BL catalog. Whether you’re watching for the heated rivalry, emotional confessions, or dramatic twists, the cast is a big reason the story works.