Tyler Maynard

{{Infobox person

| name = Tyler Maynard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|9|27}}

| birth_place = New Carlisle, Ohio, U.S.

| occupation = actor

| years_active = 2002–present

| education = University of Cincinnati (BFA)

}}

Tyler Maynard (born September 27, 1978) is an American stage and film actor. He is best known for playing Mark in the 2005 musical Altar Boyz, for which he won a Theatre World Award and received a nomination for a Drama Desk Award.

Biography

Maynard grew up in New Carlisle, Ohio, with one older and one younger sister named Brooke and Ashley respectively. His mother is a high school English teacher.Moss, Meredith (June 2, 2002). "New Carlisle native having the time of his life in 'Mamma Mia!': Tyler Maynard, in Broadway show, to perform at tonight's Tony Awards", Dayton Daily News, p. E1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121104171045/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11861815.html Convenience link (fee required)]. He was a self-described "shy" child, whose dream was to become a marine biologist. He was part of his school choir, and by the sixth grade he landed his first professional acting role at the La Comedia Dinner Theatre. He attended Tecumseh High School.(June 4, 1995). "Arts digest: Muse Machine winners", Dayton Daily News, p. C3. From 1993 to 1997 while in high school, Maynard joined the Muse Machine where he starred in Peter Pan,Morris, Terry (January 7, 1994). "Muse Machine's 'Peter Pan' set to take flight", Dayton Daily News, p. 11. The Wizard of Oz,Morris, Terry (January 13, 1996). "Muse Machine's 'Oz' delightful, glitches and all", Dayton Daily News, p. C5. The Music Man, Oliver and Me and My Girl.

When he was 18, Maynard was accepted at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati where, among other productions, he starred as Otto Kringelein in Grand Hotel, and had a lead role in Godspell.Stein, Jerry (July 10, 1998). "'Godspell' for the 1990s", The Cincinnati Post, p. C3. After graduating in 2001, Maynard moved to New York City where he worked as a doorman at the Hudson Hotel for four months.

His Broadway debut was in 2002 in the musical Mamma Mia!.Morris, Terry (January 16, 2004). "Oh, 'Mamma!'", Dayton Daily News, p. 16. In 2003 and 2004 he appeared in several stage productions, including On the Record,Gardner, Elysa (November 5, 2004). "For Disney tunes, it's showtime: 60 classics on the road in 'On the Record'", USA Today, p. E9. and during that time he also worked shooting roles in the films Palindromes, Parents Wanted and Red Doors. In February 2005 he landed a starring role in Altar Boyz, a musical which achieved significant critical acclaim. Theater critic Charles Isherwood of The New York Times wrote, "none grabs [the spotlight] quite as ferociously as Tyler Maynard... Mr. Maynard's deliciously overwrought performance is both an affectionate tribute to and a parody of American Idol-style vocal histrionics. It typifies the sly manner in which the musical manages to exploit the appeal of the pop genre it's parodying even as it accentuates its silliness."Isherwood, Charles (May 20, 2005). "[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A07EED91739F933A15756C0A9639C8B63 Tyler Maynard]", The New York Times, p. E20. Critic Jason Zinoman, also of the Times, wrote, "In the original production, the charismatic Tyler Maynard received most of the critics' attention as the flamingly gay (even if he doesn't admit it) singer Mark."Zinoman, Jason (December 23, 2005). "[http://theater.nytimes.com/2005/12/23/theater/reviews/23alta.html Beyond the Boy-Band Trend, Where the Altar Boyz Are]", The New York Times, p. E2. For his role as Mark, Maynard earned a Drama Desk Award nomination, and won Outstanding Breakthrough Actor at the Theatre World Awards.Jacobs, Leonard (May 12, 2005). "Applegate, Azaria Win Theatre World Awards", Backstage 46 (19): 6. From August to October 2005, Maynard took a break from performing in Altar Boyz to perform in the shows Miracle BrothersMorris, Terry (September 15, 2005). "Former Muse Machiners see NYC from stages", Dayton Daily News, p. E7. and The Great Big Radio Show!. Maynard resumed his performance in Altar Boyz in January 2006. From 2008 to 2009, he played Flotsam in the original Broadway cast of The Little Mermaid.Moore, John (March 25, 2007). ""Mermaid" casting, sales make splashy week", The Denver Post, p. F16.Brantley, Ben (January 11, 2008). "Fish Out of Water In the Deep Blue Sea", The New York Times, p. E1. In 2010, he played Chad in the off-Broadway musical The Kid.Brantley, Ben (May 11, 2010). "Just Like Other Dads (Well, Almost)", The New York Times, p. C1.