It all comes full circle for Jeffrey A. Johns Aug. 16, when “Waiting in the Wings: The Musical” screens at the Strand Theater in Seymour.
Johns wrote, produced and co-starred in the movie, a musical comedy about reality talent shows, a male stripper, a theater geek, hidden identity, and other stuff.
“The Strand Theater is where I decided, ‘This is what I want to do with my life,’” Johns told the Valley Indy in a recent interview.
As a kid, Johns performed in musicals like “The Music Man” at the Strand. The shows were put on by a theater group called “The Talent Hut Players,” he said.
It was the only local outlet for a kid bitten by the performing bug. After graduating high school, Johns earned his degree from Manhattanville College, where he fell into the theater world.
After college he set off to earn a living as a performer, appearing in everything from off-Broadway productions to “America’s Got Talent.” He also earned steady paychecks performing as Peter Pan in both Disneyworld and Disneyland.
His life’s dream, though, was to star in a musical.
“Waiting in the Wings” answered that dream, though he had to take out a second mortgage on his house to make it a reality.
The following Q & A is from a phone interview the Valley Indy conducted July 18 with Johns, who now lives in California.
Vally Independent Sentinel: You were on “America’s Got Talent.” Was that a stressful experience?
Jeffrey A. Johns: “It was pretty intense. When they get ready for filming, they don’t let you rehearse. You’re not on the space until you’re live. They really build your stress. I’m doing a dance number but I can’t see if the stage is slippery? It raises the stakes, and raises the nerves. It’s definitely not for all performers. I perform characters. I go into things for an experience and to have fun. I can laugh at myself. But there were people there who were crushed. I saw people angry, I saw people run out of the place crying. “
VIS: Was Howard Stern a judge at that point?
Johns: “It was his first year as judge. When you think about judging live performance, Howard Stern’s name isn’t the first name that comes to mind. I was questioning how he would be as a judge since he’s known to push the envelope to the offensive level. That’s his thing. That’s his calling card. But in reality, he’s much more human and that comes across on ‘America’s Got Talent.’ He wasn’t all that opinionated, at least for us. He fit into the judge’s panel perfectly.”
VIS: Is your family still in Seymour?
Johns: “Oh yes. I come home all the time. My mother and father are not moving from Seymour.”
Here’s a preview for “Waiting in the Wings: The Musical.” Article continues after the video.
VIS: What’s it feel like to be screening your movie in your hometown?
Johns: “I’m so excited not just to bring it to Connecticut, but to bring it to the Strand especially. That’s the place where I decided I wanted to be an actor. It’s very touching.”
VIS: Who was putting on theater shows at the Strand in your day?
Johns: “It was called the Talent Hut Players. Tony and Nancy Smith ran it. I think it ran for maybe eight years? I’m not sure. But it was a great experience. I wasn’t working with kids. I was working with adults in the ensemble of those shows. They had worked in New York, and had really trained as actors.”
VIS: You’re listed as a producer on “Waiting in the Wings: The Musical.” Did you have to raise money or finance this movie yourself?
Johns: “We did a little of everything. We put it out for investors and we got some. We also did Kickstarter and other websites, too. The bulk of the money still wasn’t there. It’s tough as an unknown first-time writer and producer to get money to make a movie, especially a musical. It has red flags that says ‘this is destined for failure.’ So I had to take a second mortgage out on my house to get the funding, which is, they say, something you should not do.”
VIS: Wow, OK.
Johns: But I’ve also got people who were really interested in doing the film (which has cameos from Lee Meriweather, Christopher Atkins, Sally Struthers and Shirley Jones).
Lee Meriweather was the first person to come aboard. She saw me in a show in Las Vegas, loved it, we ran into each other, I gave her my script and she loved it and wanted to be involved. She’s iconic, the original Catwoman. To get those people involved gives the movie a real shot. People really liked the script, which made it easy to get people to do cameos.”
VIS: You said that making a musical is a risk?
Johns: “Yes, it’s a genre that is sort of making a comeback, but that’s with established musicals that have a huge, built-in audience. This is an original concept and idea, which makes it more difficult.”
VIS: Acting, performing, movies — it is a tough business.
Johns: “You have to enjoy the fun of it. You can’t take anything too seriously because it will kill you. You go from job to job all the time. A job will last a month, or maybe it will last two weeks. You’re always, always looking for work. You’re always told you’re not good enough, you’re not what we’re looking for. You can’t take anything to heart, you just have to move on.”
“Waiting in the Wings: The Musical” screens at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Strand Theater at 165 Main St. in Seymour.
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