All tagged Catch Me If You Can

Remembering the Musicals of Terrence McNally

Remembering the Musicals of Terrence McNally

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

On March 24, 2020, we were forced to say goodbye to prolific playwright Terrence McNally. He died at age 81 from complications brought about by the coronavirus. The author of such acclaimed plays as The Ritz, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Lisbon Traviata, Master Class, and Lips Together, Teeth Apart, McNally was a particularly potent voice in gay theatre. McNally was also a celebrated librettist for the musical theatre, an award-winning book writer for some of Broadway’s most stirring and memorable musicals. Since this site is devoted to the Broadway musical, I wanted to take a moment to look at the glorious work McNally crafted in that arena.

A Day for Jay – A Conversation with Jay Armstrong Johnson

A Day for Jay – A Conversation with Jay Armstrong Johnson

Mark Robinson
Interview, Music That Makes Me Dance

This week, the very talented and versatile performer Jay Armstrong Johnson consented to be subjected to my questions about his career in theatre. Jay is currently starring in the Broadway revival of On the Town, infusing the character of "Chip", a naïve sailor on 24 hour leave in New York City, with humor, heart, and boundless energy. Jay made his Broadway debut in the 2010 revival of Hair, understudying the role of "Claude." He was a standby for the role of Frank Abagnale, Jr. in the 2011 musical Catch Me If You Can, and he originated the role of “Greg Wilhote” in the short-lived (but much adored) Hands on a Hardbody (2013).