John Lloyd Young's Blog

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young
at the "Hollywood Loves Broadway" benefit for the
Motion Picture and Television Fund
SONY Pictures Studios

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young guest starred on FOX TV's hit series, GLEE, from Ryan Murphy,
creator of NIP/TUCK

"Bonus points for the surprise cameo by Tony Award winner JOHN LLOYD YOUNG (“Jersey Boys”)
as the thumbless, cough-syrup-slurping Henri St. Pierre."

Mary Louise Parker, George Takei, John Lloyd Young
at the 25th Annual AIDS Walk Opening Ceremonies

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young
sings the AIDS Walk anthem
"You'll Never Walk Alone"

25th Annual AIDS Walk, Los Angeles

Broadway's original JERSEY BOYS: J. Robert Spencer, John Lloyd Young, Christian Hoff and Daniel Reichard

John Lloyd Young, Carmen Electra, Jai Rodriguez, Lainie Kazan, Bruce Vilanch and Alexandra Mamaliger at
Hollywood premiere of the motion picture comedy, OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY!

When his parents keep setting him up with a “nice Jewish girl”, Nelson Hirsch finally reveals that he is already
seeing someone. Mom and Dad are thrilled and can’t wait to meet the lucky lady. Oy Vey!

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young stars in the title
role of the upcoming comedy OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY!

click here to view trailer

"Young’s decision to play the gay son continues to baffle many of his Jersey Boys fans who still covet his star-making turn on Broadway as Frankie Valli. It’s easy to see what drew him to the role. Whatever we know about Young, we know that he likes to take risks (the ultimate—singing 20-plus songs, many in falsetto six times a week), stretch his limits, and challenge our perceptions. He accomplishes all of these goals in Oy Vey! While some critics have attacked the film’s stereotypes, including making Nelson’s gay lover, Jai Rodriguez a decorator, Young’s character defies typecasting. He works in finance and dresses like a Master of the Universe. Ironically, his outward persona makes his homosexuality even more difficult for his parents to accept. Young’s performance is effective because it is restrained. He manages to convey with his facial expressions or voice his conflicting feelings. He loves Angelo (Rodriguez) but is, in his heart, a good Jewish boy who loves his family. He can’t choose and hopes they won’t force his hand."

JLY and Carmen Electra on the red carpet
Hollywood premiere of OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY!

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young sings
Stephen Sondheim's "Being Alive"
Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Gala
San Francisco

click here for video

John Lloyd Young sings "Cryin'"
at the 2nd Anniversary of Ryan Black's 88s
La Boheme, Hollywood

click here for video

John Lloyd Young and Frankie Valli
live red carpet interview with NY1 Television
at 2009 TONY AWARDS

click here for link and scroll down list for interview

John Lloyd Young as "Marius" in Les Miserables in Concert, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
photo: © Lily Lim, 2008

John Lloyd Young starred as "Marius"
in an all-star production of

Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Drama Desk Award Winner (Outstanding Lead Actor)
Outer Critics Circle Award Winner (Outstanding Lead Actor)
Theatre World Award Winner (Outstanding Broadway Debut)
Drama League Award Nominee (Performer of the Year)

...and lead vocalist on the
Grammy Award-winning, certified-Platinum
Original Cast Recording

JLY FANS:

John Lloyd Young welcomes your written correspondence!

Send a letter to John Lloyd at this address:

John Lloyd Young's debut single, "Love Believes" available Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010, only on iTunes.

Finally some photos from my Christmas and New Year's Paris trip, on only a little business and mostly fun.

Musee d'Orsay sculpture gallery

Aside from lighting a votive at Notre Dame, strolling the hills of Montmartre, visiting the Eiffel Tower, and touring the Palace of Versailles, my favorite visit was the the Musee d'Orsay, which has a hall of Renoir paintings artificially lit better than any paintings I've ever seen in any museum anywhere. The excellent sculpture gallery is pictured, left. My favorite painting of the day, though, was Édouard Detaille's le Rêve, pictured right. I stood in awe of this mural-sized painting, transfixed.

Édouard Detaille, le Rêve, 1888

French holiday store display

The French girls working inside this store on the Champs d'Elysee where this window display was, laughed with me as I took pictures of it. Can't fault the French for lacking a sense of humor at the holidays!

detail

ZORRO marquis, Folies Bergere, Paris

Manager Dona R. Miller is an investor in Zorro, the Musical, with music by the Gipsy Kings, which had a hit run in London and is now working its way across Europe. We enjoyed a sold-out Tuesday evening performance of the show, in French, at the historic Folies Bregere. Originating in workshops in Los Angeles before the world premiere in London last year, ZORRO will be making its way to the states soon. And yours truly -- liked it.

JLY and Dona R. Miller attend ZORRO

Congratulations to the creators of FOX/TV's new comedy, GLEE, on their 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy Television Series.

Friend and original JERSEY BOYS co-star, J. Robert Spencer, has asked me to let you all know he is spearheading an effort to raise money to complete a very important documentary. Please visit J. Robert Spencer's Facebook page or www.oncoalriver.com to watch the trailer and make a donation!

Here's a roundup, in photos, of some events over the last few months of 2009. Off to Paris for Christmas and New Year's. See you in 2010!

So busy since Thanksgiving, but a lot of exciting things happening, many in the planning stages. Stay tuned, as always. Hope you are all enjoying the holidays. JLY

Google has a new "quotes" search function that's pretty fun. Here's a screenshot of a JLY quotes search:

"Young’s decision to play the gay son continues to baffle many of his Jersey Boys fans who still covet his star-making turn on Broadway as Frankie Valli. It’s easy to see what drew him to the role. Whatever we know about Young, we know that he likes to take risks (the ultimate—singing 20-plus songs, many in falsetto six times a week), stretch his limits, and challenge our perceptions. He accomplishes all of these goals in Oy Vey! While some critics have attacked the film’s stereotypes, including making Nelson’s gay lover, Jai Rodriguez a decorator, Young’s character defies typecasting. He works in finance and dresses like a Master of the Universe. Ironically, his outward persona makes his homosexuality even more difficult for his parents to accept. Young’s performance is effective because it is restrained. He manages to convey with his facial expressions or voice his conflicting feelings. He loves Angelo (Rodriguez) but is, in his heart, a good Jewish boy who loves his family. He can’t choose and hopes they won’t force his hand."

Tonight I'll appear in JERSEY BOYS alum Donnie Kehr's annual Rockers on Broadway concert at BB King's on 42nd Street, in an all-60s lineup alongside Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, members of the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of HAIR (which I saw and enjoyed Friday) and other JERSEY BOYS Original Cast members.

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 18, singing the AIDS Walk anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the 25th Annual AIDS Walk, Los Angeles. visit www.apla.org for info.

November 2nd, NYC: headlining JERSEY BOYS friend Donnie Kehr's annual Rockers on Broadway benefit concert in NYC, days after the October 29th NYC amFAR benefit premiere of OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY! Also appearing will be fellow original Jersey Boy, Tony-nominee J. Robert Spencer, who currently stars in Broadway's NEXT TO NORMAL. Visit www.rockersonbroadway.com for tickets.

In NYC with my manager Dona for some more meetings, including a follow up with my amazing composer friend, John Mercurio, later today.

Great dinner party last night at Kenneth and Maria Cole's stunning pre-war NY apartment, overlooking the East River. Discussed amfAR and the groundbreaking news of the new AIDS vaccine announced yesterday from Thailand. Enjoyed reconnecting with Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon, Cheyenne Jackson, and Harry Belafonte, who presented me with my Tony Award for JERSEY BOYS. Very excited to learn that the Cole's daughter Amanda just entered the new freshman class at my beloved alma mater, Brown University, under one of my college mentors, acting teacher, Lowry Marshall. Good luck, Amanda.

Founded in 1985, amfAR is one of the world's premiere AIDS research organizations. Visit www.amfar.org for more information.

"Henri St. Pierre's" welcome back cake from GLEE made cakewrecks.com! Follow this link.

JLY's biggest fan talks about his guest starring spot tonight on GLEE. Click here for video.

Here's a photo of camper Justin Dirk, who introduced me in the gala. Twelve campers from throughout the summer session were selected to appear in the gala along with us "pros." The other campers who appeared were Kayla Brielle Chante Brown, Alyssa Casson, Bridget Dwyer, Matthew Gates, Skylar T. F. Lobdell, Kate McGuire, Lixzy Mota, Austin Pierce, Darien Pierce, Casey Roche and Liam Talbot.

Camper Justin Dirk rehearses with friends.
Stage manager Annie Keefe presides...

I am in the 4th grade this year at Lore Elementary School. My favorite subjects are math and language arts. I love, love, love to play sports! My absolute favorite part of the summer was the week I got to stay at THITWGC [The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp]! This past summer has been my third year attending THITWGC. My favorite things about camp are (besides everything) the cool cabins we get to sleep in , the food is always very good, and the counselors are very nice and make me laugh all day -- I have been told I have the best laugh in the world! Camp is nonstop fun, games and happiness! I hope I have the chance to go back next year again. It is the most amazing and magical place. When I am older I would like to be a counselor to help the kids have the best time and make them happy and laugh and tell them about when I was young, what I went through. Remember each day is a wonderful gift. I try to encourage others by telling them what my parents told me. "Never, Never, Never give up." I am living proof miracles happen.

Don't forget to catch my guest starring role on GLEE tomorrow night: FOX TV, 9pm EST.

I am a huge fan of my friend, composer John Mercurio. His new show, ACADEMY, has an upcoming production next month in New York. Info below:

ACADEMY, part of the NYMF Festival where Broadway shows NEXT TO NORMAL and [title of show] got their start, is FAUST set in a boys prep school. The cast includes actors from SPRING AWAKENING, NEXT TO NORMAL and the current revival of WEST SIDE STORY. Two-time Tony nominee John Carrafa directs.

Congratulations to Jordan Roth who was just announced to succeed the now-National-Endowment-for-the-Arts-Chairman, Rocco Landesman, as the new President of Broadway theatre owner, Jujamcyn Theatres.

OY VEY... is a hit of the Montreal World Film Festival! Packed to 800-seat-capacity World Premiere, and rest of screenings SOLD OUT!