Broadway Who's Who: Howard McGillin

This edition of Broadway Who's Who focuses on one of my all-time favorite actors, Howard McGillin, whose New York stage career I've been following since nearly its beginning. That beginning, 1984's New York Shakespeare Festival production of La Boheme co-starring Linda Ronstadt, earned him raves and was the start of a nearly 40 year career. Currently, he is back on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Parade. As far as Broadway stars go, he certainly qualifies.

Broadway Who's Who:

Howard McGillin

DID YOU KNOW?:

BIRTH DATE: November 5, 1953

BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, California

FAMILY: Married twice, 2 sons

EDUCATION: University of California, Santa Barbara

EARLY CAREER: Universal Studios contract player with roles in such classic television shows as Emergency!, Columbo, MacMillan and Wife, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman and The Rockford Files

OTHER WHO'S WHO HE'S WORKED WITH: Linda Ronstadt, Wilford Leach, Lee Remick, Betty Buckley, George Rose, Patti Cohenour, Judy Kuhn, Patti LuPone, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Victoria Clark and Rebecca Luker

OFF-BROADWAY, WEST END, REGIONAL AND TOURING CREDITS:

Off-Broadway: As Thousands Cheer

World Premiere: Bounce

West End: Anything Goes and Mack & Mabel

Concert: Follies

National Tour: Peter Pan

Pre-Broadway: It Shoulda Been You

BROADWAY:

Sunday in the Park with George - (debut) Booth Theatre, c. 1984; as Soldier/Alex and understudy for George

   

   

The Mystery of Edwin Drood - Imperial Theatre; as John Jasper/Mr. Clive Paget; originated the role off-Broadway at Shakespeare in the Park; played the role for entire Broadway run

⭐ Winner! Theatre World Award

⭐ Nominated for Tony Award and Drama Desk Award: Best Featured Actor in a Musical

   

Anything Goes - Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center; as Bill Crocker

⭐ Nominated for Tony Award and Drama Desk Award: Best Featured Actor in a Musical

   

   

The Phantom of the Opera - Majestic Theatre; as The Phantom; played the role more than any actor in the show's history - 2,544 times!; selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber to head the company when it became Broadway's Longest-Running show

   

The Secret Garden - St. James Theatre; as Archibald Craven; replaced Mandy Patinkin

   

She Loves Me - Criterion Center West/Brooks Atkinson Theatre; as Steven Kodaly

   

   

Kiss of the Spider Woman - Broadhurst Theatre; as Molina; replaced Brent Carver; co-starred with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams and Maria Conchita Alonso; recorded the 2nd cast recording with Williams and Mitchell

   

Gigi - Neil Simon Theatre; as Honore Lachaille; co-starred with Vanessa Hudgens, Corey Cott and Victoria Clark

Parade - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre; as Judge Roan/Old Soldier; co-starred with Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond

At This Performance: Alex Vinh in Kimberly Akimbo

When Mike and I paid a second visit to Kimberly Akimbo last month, our Playbills came with a little white piece of paper. "At this performance, the role of Martin will be played by Alex Vinh." We are always excited to see new talent, and in this case, a new young actor making his Broadway debut! If you go, and see that he's on at your performance, you are in for a real treat.

What a thrill to report that he was terrific - notable for his vibrant presence, ease with the sharp group of four show choir teens, and especially his chemistry with the equally vibrant Michael Iskander. Truly, it is great to find out that this little ensemble - with the tightest harmonies currently on Broadway - runs like a well-oiled machine no matter who is in the mix. Mr. Vinh is also really funny, getting laughs where I don't recall them occurring before.

with his fellow KA swings Skye Alyssa Friedman and Miguel Gil

Needless to say, I had to find out more about this dynamo. Here's what I found:

• He has a BFA in Musical Theater from Texas Christian University.
• Among the shows he was a part of in his training were Sweeney Todd (Tobias Ragg), Bat Boy (Bat Boy), Sylvia, and A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.
• In addition to acting, his training also included make-up and wig design.
• He's appeared in a variety of regional theater productions including: Violet, Winter's Tale, ...Spelling Bee, Mamma Mia! and Spring Awakening.
• Off-Broadway, he was in CSC's Snow in Midsummer, and Kimberly Akimbo at Atlantic Theater Company.
• We also spotted him in a featured role in season 1 of Only Murders in the Building!

left to right: Bat Boy and Spring Awakening

Opening Night at Snow in Midsummer

I look forward to watching Alex's career take off!