JAMES RUSSELL. |. Contributing Writer
James.Journo@gmail.com
Jay Armstrong Johnson is living like a monk. The Fort Worth native is not smoking, not drinking, not partying — frankly, he’s not doing much of anything outside of work.
Johnson’s not living in a monastery. He’s doing the opposite: playing the lead character, Christian, in the touring production of the musical Moulin Rouge.
The show, based on the movie by Baz Luhrmann, is part of the Broadway at the Bass Series presented by PNC Bank. The jukebox musical, playing in Fort Worth June 10-15, follows Christian, a poet who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge cabaret, actress Satine.
Johnson said he’s not taking risks because he needs to preserve his voice.
“It’s the most vocally demanding role I’ve ever had. When the cast goes out and has a drink after the show, that’s not necessarily something I can do and then be able to pull off the show well the next day,” he said with a laugh.
But the payoff is worth the short-term struggle.
Johnson said after he saw the movie in 2001, he knew it was bound for Broadway. And he knew when it did, he wanted to be part of it
“It’s so theatrical [I knew it would] definitely end up on stage one day.’ I knew that I wanted to play this role,” he said.
But he was passed over for the roll –– twice. So when the opportunity to tour came around, he auditioned. Then when he got the part, he almost rejected it.
“I’m not leaving my partner. I’m not leaving my cats. I’m not leaving my home,” he told the producers. “But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity because, one, it was a dream, and, two, it was going to get me out of debt.”
Johnson’s one of those guys who lives for his art, his family and his friends. The money happens to be good, too. But money isn’t the object; the art is.
Johnson has also performed in Parade, The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, in the movie Sex and the City 2 and the TV series Quantico, which ran from 2016-18. And that’s just a sampling of his resumé.
But for a guy with a stellar career, Johnson still makes sure to count his blessings. And everything’s a blessing: his family, his job, his life, his cats. His partner, actor David Wright Jr. He’s a blessing and so much more.
Johnson said he was broke, uninsured and in debt for more than a year and a half. “While I wasn’t making money, getting applauded every other night or every night,” he said, “I did find found this deep connection with another human.”
“I found myself happier than I’ve been in a long time. I was not making any money, not working any job,” he added. “But I was happy because I had this connection.”
Johnson was still doing other things, like his annual I Put a Spell on You: ALiiVE production benefitting the Ali Forney Center, which helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. It’s a riff on the Sanderson Sisters characters from the cult classic Hocus Pocus.
But at some point making money had to come first.
So, he signed with the Moulin Rouge tour and jumped on the band wagon in March.
Coming back to Fort Worth is exciting, especially given where he is now in his career. It’s also a blessing.
“My family doesn’t come from a lot, and they don’t often get the chance to come up to New York and see me do the things that I do. So for Broadway to be able to come to them is also special,” he said. “To me, coming home means something different now after I’ve had this kind of career. It’s emotional.”
Tickets are available online at the Bass Hall website. And you can follow Johnson on his Instagram, @jay_a_johnson.
