Jay Armstrong Johnson

Jay Armstrong Johnson (born September 1, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and dancer, known for his portrayal of Will Olsen in the ABC television series Quantico and starring roles on Broadway in musicals, including On the Town and The Phantom of the Opera.[1][2]

Jay Armstrong Johnson
Born
Jay Armstrong Johnson

(1987-09-01) September 1, 1987
Fort Worth, Texas, US
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present
Websitejayarmstrongjohnson.org

Early life

Johnson was born on September 1, 1987, in Fort Worth, Texas.[3] At the age of thirteen, he made his professional debut in the touring production of Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan.[4] Johnson attended New York University's Steinhardt School of Music, where he appeared in a 2008 production of composer Adam Guettel and librettist Tina Landau's musical Floyd Collins, working directly with the composer.[5] Johnson departed NYU before his senior year to play the role of Mark in the national tour of the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line.[6]

Career

Theatre

After joining the American national tour of A Chorus Line in the role of Mark, Johnson made his Broadway debut in the 2009 revival of Hair, as a Member of the Tribe and principal understudy for Gavin Creel in the leading role of Claude. Directed by Diane Paulus, the production won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. In 2010, he played Jack Kelly in one of the first readings of the musical Newsies.[7]

In 2011, Johnson appeared in the original Broadway cast of the musical Catch Me If You Can as standby for the leading role of Frank Abagnale, played by Aaron Tveit. Johnson returned to Broadway in 2013, playing Greg Wilhote in the original cast of the musical Hands on a Hardbody.[8]

In 2014, Johnson starred in the Lincoln Center and New York Philharmonic production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd. In a New York Times review of the production, directed by Lonny Price, critic Charles Isherwood praised Johnson's performance.[9]

From 2014 to 2015, Johnson starred as Chip in the Broadway revival of Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's On the Town, directed by John Rando at the Lyric Theatre. For his performance, Johnson received Astaire Award and Clive Barnes Award nominations.[10][11]

In 2017, Johnson starred in the New York City Opera production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, directed by Harold Prince. As the title character, he garnered acclaim for his performance.[12]

In February 2018, Johnson appeared in the world premiere of Fire and Air, the final play by Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally, at Classic Stage Company.[13] Johnson played Léonide Massine.[14] The production was directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle.[15]

Johnson joined the Broadway company of The Phantom of the Opera on April 30, 2018 in the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, again directed by Harold Prince.[16] Johnson played the role for over a year, departing September 3, 2019.[17][18] During his run in Phantom, Johnson appeared in New York City Center's 75th Anniversary gala presentation of A Chorus Line, this time in the role of Bobby. The production, which recreated Michael Bennett's original Broadway production, was directed by Bob Avian and choreographed by Baayork Lee, and ran for seven performances at City Center in November 2018.[19]

After departing Phantom in 2019, Johnson reunited with director Lonny Price in the world premiere of Adam Gwon and Michael Mitnick's musical Scotland, PA (based on the film of the same name) at Roundabout Theatre Company.[20] For his performance as Banko (a version of Macbeth's Banquo), Johnson received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.[21][22] Johnson received an honor from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance.[23]

In early 2020, Johnson returned to Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall in a 50th anniversary presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Johnson played Reuben in the one-night-only event directed by Michael Arden and produced by Manhattan Concert Productions[24]

Most recently, Johnson appeared again with Roundabout Theatre Company in the 2020 New York premiere of the musical Darling Grenadine, written by Daniel Zaitchik and directed by Michael Berresse. Laura Collins-Hughes, writing in the New York Times, praised Johnson's "fine acting" in the production.[25]

Concerts and recordings

In 2016, Johnson performed in a series of concerts at New York's 54 Below, featuring over a dozen musicians and guest appearances from other vocalists. Stephen Holden, reviewing the show in The New York Times, praised Johnson's vocal performance, stating, "He has the gift."[26] Later that year, Broadway Records released an album of the concert, recorded live, entitled Jay Armstrong Johnson – Live at Feinstein's / 54 Below.[27]

Johnson appeared on Todrick Hall's visual album Straight Outta Oz, released in 2016. He performed the song "Color", a duet with Hall.[28]

In March 2017, Johnson made his Carnegie Hall debut with Michael Feinstein's Standard Time with Michael Feinstein.[29] Johnson appeared again at Carnegie Hall in April 2017 in a MasterVoices production of Babes in Toyland.[30]

Since 2016, Johnson has produced and starred in an annual Halloween-themed fundraiser, a musical parody of the beloved Disney film Hocus Pocus that has featured appearances by Broadway performers.[31] The 2019 event, entitled I Put a Spell on You: The Return of the Sanderson Sisters, was held at New York's (Le) Poisson Rouge venue.[32]

Television

In 2016, Johnson was cast in the recurring role of FBI recruit, Dr. Will Olsen, on the ABC thriller television series Quantico.[33] He appeared as Olsen in all three seasons of the series.[34]

Personal life

Johnson is openly gay.[35]

Awards and nominations

In 2013, Johnson won a Drama Desk Award as part of the ensemble of Prospect Theatre Company's production of Working.[36]

In 2020, Johnson received Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for his performance as Banko in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Scotland, PA, a musical based on the film of the same name.[37][38]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Sex and the City 2 Wedding Chorus

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007–2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Paul Episode: "Trophy and Outsider"
2013 It Could Be Worse Jay Episode: "So, We Meet Again"
2014 Live from Lincoln Center Anthony Hope Episode: "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York Philharmonic"
2015 Seeking: the Web Series Sam Web series
2016–2018 Quantico Will Olsen Recurring role
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References
  1. "A Look at Jay Armstrong Johnson in Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. "Jay Armstrong Johnson Talks Candide, Broadway and Quantico". Paste Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. "Biography". Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  4. "4 Acting Lessons From 'Hardbody' Star Jay Armstrong Johnson". Backstage.
  5. "Photo Flash: 'Floyd Collins' at NYU thru Feb.17". BroadwayWorld.com.
  6. "Sound Bites: Jay Armstrong Johnson". Opera News.
  7. "Newsies Musical Reading Includes Jay Armstrong Johnson, Shuler Hensley, Meghann Fahy". Playbill.
  8. "Jay Armstrong Johnson - Broadway Credits". Internet Broadway Database.
  9. Isherwood, Charles (March 6, 2014). "First to Die in 'Sweeney Todd': Decorum at the Philharmonic". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  10. Purcell, Carey (December 11, 2014). "Clive Barnes Nominees Include Jay Armstrong Johnson, Alex Sharp, Christopher Bloom and More". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  11. "2015 Fred and Adele Astaire Award Nominations Announced". TheatreMania. May 4, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  12. Tommasini, Anthony (January 9, 2017). "Review: The Adventures of 'Candide,' and of City Opera". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  13. Desk, BWW News. "Terrence McNally's FIRE AND AIR Begins Tonight at Classic Stage Company". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. Viagas, Robert (September 13, 2018). "Marin Mazzie, Star of Ragtime and Passion, Dies at 57". Theater Mania. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  15. Levitt, Hayley (February 8, 2018). "Classic Stage Company Extends Terrence McNally's Fire and Air". Theater Mania. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  16. "Jay Armstrong Johnson Joins Cast of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera April 30 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  17. "Jay Armstrong Johnson Joins Cast of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera April 30 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  18. "Jay Armstrong Johnson - Broadway Credits". Internet Broadway Database.
  19. "Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson, and More to Lead City Center's A CHORUS LINE". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  20. Green, Jesse (October 23, 2019). "Review: Double, Double, Burger and Trouble in 'Scotland, PA'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  21. "Playwrights Horizons Leads 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations With Strange Loop and Heroes of the Fourth Turning". Playbill.
  22. "2020 Drama Desk Awards: Complete List of Nominees". Forbes.
  23. Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  24. Gans, Andrew (February 17, 2020). "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Concert, Starring Noah Galvin, Presented February 17". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  25. Collins-Hughes, Laura (February 11, 2020). "'Darling Grenadine' Review: A Retro Cocktail With Little Kick". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  26. Holden, Stephen (April 28, 2016). "Jay Armstrong Johnson and Friends Wax Ebullient". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  27. "Jay Armstrong Johnson – Live at Feinstein's/54 Below". Broadway Records. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  28. Gans, Andrew (June 24, 2016). "Todrick Hall Releases Star-Studded Visual Album, Straight Outta Oz, on YouTube". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  29. "Standard Time with Michael Feinstein: Lullaby of Broadway: Celebrating the Music of Harry Warren". CarnegieHall.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  30. Zednick, Jason (April 28, 2017). "Kelli O'Hara, Jay Armstrong Johnson Star in MasterVoices' Babes in Toyland". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  31. Broadway.com Staff (October 3, 2018). "Odds & Ends: Krysta Rodriguez & Andy Mientus Join Jay Armstrong Johnson's Hocus Pocus Halloween Bash & More". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  32. BWW News Desk (October 22, 2019). "OFull Cast Announced For Jay Armstrong Johnson's I PUT A SPELL ON YOU: THE RETURN OF THE SANDERSON SISTERS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  33. Li, Shirley (November 24, 2015). "Quantico: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Lenny Platt, Li Jun Li, joining as new recruits in mid-season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  34. "Quantico". Internet Movie Databse. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  35. Clarke, David (February 16, 2017). "Jay Armstrong Johnson Finds Being Openly Gay Isn't Career Suicide". Out. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  36. "Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack". Playbill.
  37. "Playwrights Horizons Leads 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations With Strange Loop and Heroes of the Fourth Turning". Playbill.
  38. "2020 Drama Desk Awards: Complete List of Nominees". Forbes.
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