Jay Armstrong Johnson

Johnson was born on September 1, 1987, in Fort Worth, Texas.{{cite web |url=http://jayarmstrongjohnson.org/about/ |title=Biography |website=jayarmstrongjohnson.org |access-date=March 7, 2018}} At the age of thirteen, he made his professional debut in the touring production of Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Suzy |title=4 Acting Lessons From Hardbody Star Jay Armstrong Johnson |work=Backstage |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/acting-lessons-hardbody-star-jay-armstrong-johnson-42503/ |date=March 22, 2013}} 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.{{cite web |title=Photo Flash: Floyd Collins at NYU thru Feb.17 |work=BroadwayWorld |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Floyd-Collins-at-NYU-thru-Feb17-20080211 |date=February 11, 2008}} 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.{{cite web |last=Barnes |first=Scott |title=Sound Bites: Jay Armstrong Johnson |work=Opera News |url=https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2014/8/Departments/Sound_Bites_%E2%80%94_Jay_Armstrong_Johnson.html}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Hetrick |first1=Adam |last2=Jones |first2=Kenneth |title=Newsies Musical Reading Includes Jay Armstrong Johnson, Shuler Hensley, Meghann Fahy |work=Playbill |date=December 9, 2010 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/newsies-musical-reading-includes-jay-armstrong-johnson-shuler-hensley-meghann-fahy-com-174295}}

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.{{cite web |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson - Broadway Credits |work=Internet Broadway Database |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jay-armstrong-johnson-483468#Credits/}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/07/theater/first-to-die-at-sweeney-todd-decorum-at-the-philharmonic.html |title=First to Die in Sweeney Todd: Decorum at the Philharmonic. |last=Isherwood |first=Charles |date=March 6, 2014 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/clive-barnes-nominees-include-jay-armstrong-johnson-alex-sharp-christopher-bloom-and-more-com-337243 |title=Clive Barnes Nominees Include Jay Armstrong Johnson, Alex Sharp, Christopher Bloom and More |last=Purcell |first=Carey |date=December 11, 2014 |work=Playbill |access-date=April 22, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/2015-astaire-award-nominations-announced_72779.html |title=2015 Fred and Adele Astaire Award Nominations Announced |date=May 4, 2015 |work=TheaterMania |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/arts/music/review-the-adventures-of-candide-and-of-city-opera.html |title=Review: The Adventures of Candide, and of City Opera. |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |date=January 9, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/James-Cusati-Moyer-Douglas-Hodge-Marsha-Mason-Marin-Mazzie-and-More-to-Star-in-Terrence-McNallys-FIRE-AND-AIR-at-Classic-Stage-Company-20180116 |title=Terrence McNally's FIRE AND AIR Begins Tonight at Classic Stage Company |work=BroadwayWorld |date=January 17, 2018 |access-date=March 16, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317102320/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/James-Cusati-Moyer-Douglas-Hodge-Marsha-Mason-Marin-Mazzie-and-More-to-Star-in-Terrence-McNallys-FIRE-AND-AIR-at-Classic-Stage-Company-20180116 |archive-date=March 17, 2018}} Johnson played Léonide Massine.{{Cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/marin-mazzie-star-of-ragtime-and-passion-dies-at-57 |title=Marin Mazzie, Star of Ragtime and Passion, Dies at 57 |last=Viagas |first=Robert |date=September 13, 2018 |website=Playbill |access-date=August 1, 2019}} The production was directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/classic-stage-company-extends-fire-and-air_84007.html |title=Classic Stage Company Extends Terrence McNally's Fire and Air |last=Levitt |first=Hayley |date=February 8, 2018 |website=TheaterMania |access-date=August 13, 2018}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/jay-armstrong-johnson-joins-cast-of-broadways-the-phantom-of-the-opera-april-30 |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson Joins Cast of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera April 30 |website=Playbill |date=April 30, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2018}} Johnson played the role for over a year, departing September 3, 2019. 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.{{Cite web |last=Musbach |first=Julie |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Yazbeck-Jay-Armstrong-Johnson-and-More-to-Lead-City-Centers-A-CHORUS-LINE-20181018 |title=Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson, and More to Lead City Center's A CHORUS LINE |website=BroadwayWorld |date=October 18, 2018 |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/23/theater/scotland-pa-review.html |title=Review: Double, Double, Burger and Trouble in Scotland, PA |last=Green |first=Jesse |date=October 23, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Clement |first1=Olivia |last2=Meyer |first2=Dan |title=Playwrights Horizons Leads 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations With Strange Loop and Heroes of the Fourth Turning |work=Playbill |date=April 14, 2020 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/playwrights-horizons-leads-2020-lucille-lortel-award-nominations-with-strange-loop-and-heroes-of-the-fourth-turning}}{{cite web |title=2020 Drama Desk Awards: Complete List of Nominees |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2020/04/21/2020-drama-desk-awards-complete-list-of-nominees/}} Johnson received an honor from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance.{{Cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/moulin-rouge-leads-2020-outer-critics-circle-award-honorees |title=Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees |last=Clement |first=Olivia |date=May 11, 2020 |work=Playbill |access-date=May 15, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-concert-starring-noah-galvin-presented-february-17 |title=Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Concert, Starring Noah Galvin, Presented February 17 |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=February 17, 2020 |website=Playbill |access-date=April 23, 2020}} Johnson appeared again in 2020 with Roundabout Theatre Company in the 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/theater/Darling-Grenadine-review.html |title=Darling Grenadine Review: A Retro Cocktail With Little Kick |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=February 11, 2020 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

In 2022, Johnson appeared as Curtis in the world premiere Second Stage Theatre production of To My Girls, a play written by JC Lee and directed by Stephen Brackett.{{Cite web |url=https://2st.com/shows/to-my-girls#cast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615055131/https://2st.com/shows/to-my-girls#cast |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |title=To My Girls cast list; 2st.com. |access-date=April 3, 2022 }}

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Johnson appeared in the New York City Center Gala production of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's musical Parade, directed by Michael Arden.{{Cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/jay-armstrong-johnson-gaten-matarazzo-alex-joseph-grayson-more-join-city-center-parade |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson, Gaten Matarazzo, Alex Joseph Grayson, More Join City Center Parade |last=Cullwell-Block |first=Logan |date=October 4, 2022 |work=Playbill |access-date=February 25, 2023}} Johnson played "sensationalist reporter" Britt Craig in a performance The New York Times called "superb".{{Cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/theater/parade-review-city-center.html |title='Parade' Review: The Trial and Tragedy of Leo Frank |last=Ramirez |first=Juan A. |date=November 2, 2022 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 25, 2023}} Johnson was set to reprise his role in the Broadway production, opening at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, on March 16, 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatrely.com/post/alex-joseph-grayson-jay-armstrong-johnson-more-complete-broadway-cast-of-parade |title=Alex Joseph Grayson, Jay Armstrong Johnson, More Complete Broadway Cast of PARADE |date=January 30, 2023 |work=Theatrely |access-date=February 25, 2023}}

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."{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/29/arts/music/review-jay-armstrong-johnson-and-friends-wax-ebullient.html |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson and Friends Wax Ebullient. |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=April 28, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020}} Later that year, Broadway Records released an album of the concert, recorded live, entitled Jay Armstrong Johnson – Live at Feinstein's / 54 Below.{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadwayrecords.com/54-below/jay-armstrong-johnson-live-at-feinsteins54-below |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson – Live at Feinstein's/54 Below. |work=Broadway Records |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112204613/https://www.broadwayrecords.com/54-below/jay-armstrong-johnson-live-at-feinsteins54-below |url-status=dead }}

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

{{Cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/todrick-hall-releases-star-studded-visual-album-straight-outta-oz-on-youtube |title=Todrick Hall Releases Star-Studded Visual Album, Straight Outta Oz, on YouTube |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=June 24, 2016 |work=Playbill |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

In March 2017, Johnson made his Carnegie Hall debut with Michael Feinstein's Standard Time with Michael Feinstein.{{Cite web |url=https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2017/03/21/STANDARD-TIME-WITH-MICHAEL-FEINSTEIN-0730PM |title=Standard Time with Michael Feinstein: Lullaby of Broadway: Celebrating the Music of Harry Warren. |work=CarnegieHall.com |access-date = April 22, 2020}} Johnson appeared again at Carnegie Hall in April 2017 in a MasterVoices production of Babes in Toyland.

{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/kelli-ohara-jay-armstrong-johnson-and-more-star-in-mastervoices-babes-in-toyland_80907.html |title=Kelli O'Hara, Jay Armstrong Johnson Star in MasterVoices' Babes in Toyland |last=Zednick |first=Jason |date=April 28, 2017 |work=TheaterMania |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/193580/odds-ends-krysta-rodriguez-andy-mientus-join-jay-armstrong-johnsons-hocus-pocus-halloween-bash-more/ |title=Odds & Ends: Krysta Rodriguez & Andy Mientus Join Jay Armstrong Johnson's Hocus Pocus Halloween Bash & More |last=Broadway.com Staff |date=October 3, 2018 |work=Broadway.com |access-date=April 22, 2020}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Announced-For-Jay-Armstrong-Johnsons-I-PUT-A-SPELL-ON-YOU-THE-RETURN-OF-THE-SANDERSON-SISTERS-20191022 |title=Full Cast Announced For Jay Armstrong Johnson's I PUT A SPELL ON YOU: THE RETURN OF THE SANDERSON SISTERS |last=Cristi |first=A.A. |date=October 22, 2019 |work=BroadwayWorld |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

In 2016, Johnson was cast in the recurring role of FBI recruit, Dr. Will Olsen, on the ABC thriller television series Quantico.{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/article/2015/11/24/quantico-casts-jay-armstrong-johnson-lenny-platt-li-jun-li/ |title=Quantico: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Lenny Platt, Li Jun Li, joining as new recruits in mid-season |last=Li |first=Shirley |date=November 24, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=October 28, 2017}} He appeared as Olsen in all three seasons of the series.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4428122/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2 |title=Quantico |website=Internet Movie Databse |date=September 27, 2015 |access-date = April 22, 2020}}

Johnson is gay.{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=David |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson Finds Being Openly Gay Isn't Career Suicide |url=https://www.out.com/theater-dance/2017/2/16/jay-armstrong-johnson-finds-being-openly-gay-isnt-career-suicide |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=Out |date=February 16, 2017}}

In 2013, Johnson won a Drama Desk Award as part of the ensemble of Prospect Theatre Company's production of Working.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack |work=Playbill |date=April 29, 2013 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/nominations-announced-for-58th-annual-drama-desk-awards-giant-and-hands-on-a-hardbody-lead-the-pack-com-204869}}

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.{{cite web |last=Seymour |first=Lee |title=2020 Drama Desk Awards: Complete List of Nominees |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2020/04/21/2020-drama-desk-awards-complete-list-of-nominees/ |date=April 21, 2020}}

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Category:1987 births

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American gay actors

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Texas

Category:LGBTQ people from Texas