After premiering his solo show at Feinstein’s/54 Below this spring, Jay Armstrong Johnson will make his return -- just in time for Halloween! The talented actor who has graced the screen and stage in ABC’s Quantico and Broadway’s On the Town just released his first album, Jay Armstrong Johnson LIVE at Feinstein’s/54 Below, and is hard at work on the new web series, My Gay Roommate.
Armstrong will be celebrating the new album and his favorite movie of all time, Hocus Pocus, with a can’t miss Halloween party at the iconic Broadway supper club. StageBuddy had a blast chatting with him about his new album, musical influences, and his best Halloween costume as a kid!
Congratulations on the new album and your return to 54 Below! What has the process of creating your album meant to you?
About three and a half years ago, I started writing notes in my phone whenever I heard a song that related to my life in some way and it’s become this huge list of songs for a show like this that I had dreamed of putting on. I had whittled it down to my favorites and it’s this eclectic potpourri of sorts.
To do an album with all different types of music that really shows the versatility in my voice and my palette of musical sounds and styles has definitely been the most exciting part.
Talk about the mood you wanted to create for the evening.
This concert will feature some new songs and will all be a Halloween theme. We’ll all be in costume on stage – I’m living my childhood dream of being Winifred Sanderson from “Hocus Pocus” and my backup singers will be my Sanderson sisters and Billy Butcherson, the zombie. Lindsay Mendez (Wicked) and Billy Lewis Jr (Glee) will also make cameos – it’s a big Halloween party with some songs we’ve done in the past and some fun Halloween tunes!
What’s your favorite part about this experience and being able to connect with your audience on a more intimate level?
54 Below is such an iconic place to perform and having someone who is an ally like Jen [Tepper] continuously make me feel like family and keep me connected is incredible. Being able to look into the eyes of each person who has bought a ticket and come out makes for such a special experience. There’s nothing like getting to be up close and personal with some of your favorite artists.
Describe your sound and biggest musical influences.
I come from the world of musical theatre via religious music. I have so many influences. Music is in my family and I’ve watched my dad perform with his band growing up in Texas. Country music was all that I listened to from the time I was a baby up until I had my first radio.
Reba McEntire was my hero growing up. I have all of her albums and also got involved in the church choir and from there heard about a theater company called Kids Who Care in Fort Worth, Texas and I went and auditioned for one of their productions and got the theater bug. It led me to NYU where I continued to study voice. I was a dance major at a performing arts high school and I really wanted to study voice in an intense way in New York. The vocal training that I received from my voice teacher, Jeremy Aye, has been a critical part of being able to use my voice as a malleable instrument and incorporating all of the different styles that I grew up with and love.
Your career has spanned the screen and stage – how have these experiences shaped your career so far?
There’s always this new level of education that I experience. Every time, I’ve stepped on stage it’s been for different roles. I first was an understudy, then a stand-by, before becoming a supporting character and then a lead. When Quantico happened, it was a huge new level of education, since I’ve never been on set before or in front of cameras in that kind of a setting. To transition from theater which I’ve been around my entire life to TV/film was an absolute learning experience and I’m very grateful to still always be learning.
Now, on to some Halloween questions!! What’s the best costume you had as a kid?
For the longest time during my childhood, I wouldn’t be anything but a clown. I kind of looked like Ronald McDonald in the early years and then went more circus clown – it was an interesting phase I went through!
Name your favorite Halloween candy!
I have to go with Reese’s!
Jay Armstrong Johnson will return to Feinstein's/54 Below on October 30th at 9:30 p.m. to celebrate his album and all things Halloween! For more, visit: https://jayarmstrongjohnson.org/
