Tony Winner JLY Reminisces About Plattsburgh
June 15th, 2006Press Republican staff writer Stephen Bartlett’s recent interview with Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young sheds more light into what makes the actor tick.
Young, who recently won a Tony for best lead actor in a musical for his portrayal of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, talks about his years as a struggling actor who worked as a Broadway usher and transcribing news interviews in between acting gigs. When asked about future plans, Young said,
“Right now, I am going on a listening tour to see what the opportunities are for the future.â€
The article also gives details about Young’s early life in Plattsburgh and Omaha, and his college years at Brown University. During his first semester at Brown, he auditioned for The Assassins, landing the role of John Hinkley Jr. With a thriving theater community at Brown, acting suddenly became Young’s whole life.
Now Young has a Tony under his belt, and his future has brightened. Reflecting on his lean years and the future, he stated,
“I have been a struggling actor almost ten years here in New York, and what I always wanted was the freedom to choose projects and the freedom from having to beg for opportunities. Now what I would hope would happen and what seems to be beginning is I have some control over my future projects. Some doors have opened.â€
Young still has six months on his contract for Jersey Boys and hopes to continue to please the audience with his acting.
As for aspiring actors living in the North Country, Young offered some encouraging words,
“There is no such thing of being limited because you live in small-town Plattsburgh. For anyone who has a secret dream of becoming an actor, it is possible.â€
