At Oklahoma State University, Colte caught the acting bug in his first production, Into the Woods as Rapunzel's Prince. That soon led to pursuing a Master of Music Degree at Arizona State University.

Following a move to New York City, he landed the role of a lifetime as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet. He spent over 5 years with the production in Chicago, Las Vegas, and the National Tour.

While in Chicago, he performed at prestigious theatre companies Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Lincolnshire, and Paramount Theatre in Aurora in productions of Next to Normal, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Christmas Carol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Oklahoma!. He was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Principal Actor in a Musical for his performance as Curly in Oklahoma!