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[0:00] Martín Acuña: Hi, everyone. I am Martín Acuña, and you are listening to Backstage Talk.

[0:19] Martín Acuña: Welcome back to another episode of Backstage Talk. Today, I have the privilege of having Kevin Ray Johnson over. Kevin is a singer, actor, rapper, writer, and director who is based in New York City. Since 2018, Kevin has been featured well over 170 artists and counting for his interview series on OnStageBlog. His performing credits include being the standby in the Grammy Award-nominating Gershwin Porgy & Bess from the Met Opera, King Lear from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Merrily We Roll Along from Astoria Performing Arts Center, the Love Note musical and original Off-Broadway cast, and many, many others. Kevin, thank you so much for being here. Welcome to Backstage Talk.

[1:12] Kevin Ray Johnson: Thank you so much for having me. Appreciate it.

[1:16] Martín Acuña: How are you? You just told me off-mic that you just came back home from doing a show. How was that?

[1:22] Kevin Ray Johnson: The show was good. It was Oliver at the Myers Dinner Theater. I played Bill Sykes, so it's always fun to be a villain. But yeah, the show ran really well. The cast was wonderful, and it was an all-around great experience.

[1:39] Martín Acuña: Oh, that's cool. That's cool. How was your experience doing a show? I guess this is the first show you've done during or post-pandemic, so how was that?

[1:49] Kevin Ray Johnson: Actually, this is the third show I've done. Yeah, all the shows I've done have been at Myers Dinner Theater in Indiana in the last year. I had a chance to play Little King Triton in The Little Mermaid last summer, things like that. And then I came back for their Christmas show, and then I was asked back again to do Oliver. And the first show, it's a little nerve-wracking because you just... I mean, the entire world is at a panic. But then when you come to this town and you realize it's a population of almost, not even 1,000, I think it's like 600, things like that. When I was telling people, I was like, it is very easy to social distance in this town. I was like, when you come, you'll completely understand it.

So it was nerve-wracking, but then it got a little easier and easier because you're kind of in your own bubble, and it's just, yeah. So yeah, it's been pretty cool. It's been pretty cool that Jeremy Littlejohn has given some artists an outlet to do their craft during this time.

[2:50] Kevin Ray Johnson: And it's good. It's good to have some sort of sense of normalcy and of life pre-pandemic.

[2:59] Martín Acuña: So you've been very fortunate, and I'm happy that you've done these three shows.

[3:03] Kevin Ray Johnson: Yeah.

[3:05] Martín Acuña: I want to go back to the beginning. The beginning, wait, okay. Let's do this. Yeah. Like your story from the beginning, how did you know that you wanted to work in musical theater?

[3:18] Kevin Ray Johnson: It's two different moments in my childhood. I remember my mom ran a theater company called Miss Mary's Playhouse, and they were doing a musical called Pearly. And it's an all-Black musical. And the first song in the second act is a song called The First Thing Monday Morning. And I just remember hearing these booming, baritone, powerful voices on stage and just being just enthralled by it, amazed by it, and things like that. I was like, this is so cool. So that was the first time where I had a little bit of, I kind of want to do this. Theater was always in my life as a kid. I was always doing shows and things like that. But it sounds crazy, but I knew I really wanted to do this when I was in my show choir in my high school.

I don't know. It's just the whole putting a set list up, when it comes to our show choir songs, and just putting the rehearsal process and stuff like that. I don't know. I just was like, okay, I can do this. I can do this for a living. Because I was a guy that was into sports and things like that. But I really, in high school, that's when I was like, okay, this is what I think I want to do. I didn't really talk much about it, but I was like, I think this is really what I wanted to do. And I'm thankful that I made that choice. So, yeah.

[4:37] Martín Acuña: I love it. I love it. So that was in high school. Then how was your journey all the way to where you are now? Which was your first show? How was that audition process for you?

[4:52] Kevin Ray Johnson: Okay. No, this is where I guess where it's going to get interesting. I work with kids now, and I work with some kids at a company called Rise Above Performing Arts. And I've actually told them this story. So when my first show, I did a lot of shows. I did Beauty and the Beast when I was younger. I did a lot of things like that. But my first show, my for real show was when I did Oliver in college, my first year. I was in the ensemble and things like that. And I remember just... You remember that moment when you get the theater bug, the theater bug bites you. Just everyone has that moment. I think that's when it hit me. And I remember going up to my director, and this is not to like, I'm not going to say their names because I got love for them.

But I went up to my director and I was like, I would love to do this for a career. I would love to play Bill Sykes one day and things like that. I would really love that. And they said to me, you'll probably never have a career in this. And yeah, like I said, it's a shocker. But here's the thing about that was many years ago, it's over. But I remember them telling me, you're probably never gonna have a career in this, but you might get something out of it. So just have fun and things like that. When that happened, I was just beyond hell-bent on proving all the naysayers wrong. So in my 20s, I just did as much possible theater marketing as I could, as much as I could. And if I was not in the show, while I was in the show, I was in rehearsals for our next show.

It'd be a community theater, dinner theater, professional theater, no matter what level, professional, children's theater. And the one thing that I did benefit from that is that it made me realize no matter what show you're in, if it's Broadway, The Met, or if it's a hole-in-the-wall cabaret theater, you treat it all the same. And so yeah, for my 20s, I was just constantly going, constantly on cruise control, just constantly going. And in my 30s, I started to slow down and things like that. But the one thing I always tell kids nowadays, because of that journey, which I'm thankful for, is I don't recommend anyone doing that. Because when you realize like theater, theater can consume your life.

And when it comes down to it, I was so driven on having a career and proving people wrong that I forgot, I missed out on a lot of things. I missed out on just pretty much a normal college life, hanging out, having friends, parties, and things like that, because I was so focused on theater and things like that. And even in my late 20s, I missed out on weddings and things like that, because I was always focused on theater. So I tell people, I was like, please, if this is what you want to do, go all in with it, but don't do what I did. And yeah, not to be a sad story, it's just like, that's kind of been my journey. And then in my 30s, things start to slow down and I used to start to realize, you can slow down and you can make choices and control your narrative and your career and things like that.

And that's just pretty much what I did for my 30s. So that's been my journey, just doing a lot of theater, trying to perform as much as I can and always finding good out of it, but also something to learn from it. So I hope that...

[8:29] Martín Acuña: And in that order of ideas, which have been the biggest lessons you've learned through all this hectic journey for you?

[8:40] Kevin Ray Johnson: You said what's the biggest lesson?

[8:41] Martín Acuña: Yeah.

[8:42] Kevin Ray Johnson: The biggest lesson is that, realize that this industry has a lot of opinions and you have to, like, you cannot compare yourself to how anyone else's career is going. And just know that everyone literally has a chance to excel and to make it in this career. The reason why a lot of people don't is because they can't stick it out through the bad time. And there are going to be, everyone goes through dry spells, but just stay the course and to stay true to who you are. And if you do that, you will find success no matter what level it is. It can be Broadway, it can be regional, you will find your success. So all the success and stuff is just pass hard, if that makes sense. So yeah.

[9:31] Martín Acuña: I love it. Which have been the favorite memories of shows you've done? Because you just said that you did a lot. And I love this full circle moment from Oliver playing in the ensemble to a couple of months ago, you playing Bill. So I just love that full circle moment. Which have been other of your favorite memories from shows?

[9:54] Kevin Ray Johnson: Favorite memories? I'm going to have to, I mean, number one with the bullet has to be Porgy and Bess. Just being a standby in the show, it gave me the opportunity to learn the show in a different way because your number can be called at any time type of thing with opera. And it was just a great way to learn the show. And also it's just because it felt, the cast really connected and really bonded. There was a lot of them. The cast was big, it had to be like 40, 50 people in the cast. But every single time we were to do a show, we were about to do a show, it felt like just friends catching up before the show. They will say, hey, good to see you and things like that. And everyone, I don't think I met everyone in that cast was really nice.

And there's a difference between professional nice, you're putting on a good face. They were all genuinely very nice. And they were all very talented. And there are moments in the beginning where I'm like, why am I in this room? I'm not worthy. But then that cast will definitely make you feel like that. I'm even talking about Angel, our best. Her name is perfect because she's a complete angel and things like that. And the other memory I would probably say is I've done Next to Normal four times. And each time I've done it, it just is such a journey. And it feels like such a sense of accomplishment. So I think those are probably the two ones that stick out to me the most because all my Dianas were amazing. My first Diana's name was Jamie, second was Denise, and then Jessica, and then Lauren. And they were all just so wonderful. So those are probably the two main ones that stick out to me.

[11:46] Kevin Johnson: I love it. I love it. I want to turn now into Onstage Blog.

[11:51] Martín Acuña: All right, yeah.

[11:52] Kevin Johnson: Because it's a huge site. It has a lot of writers, a lot of contributors, and you are always on point on news. So talk to me a little bit about this project.

[12:04] Kevin Johnson: Well, I joined the Onstage Blog family, I think, about three and a half, four years ago. And Chris Peterson is just someone who I've followed since the beginning of Onstage Blog. I really appreciate that he is someone who will speak up on topics that need to be spoken up on.

[12:27] Kevin Johnson: And for me, I think it's also hilarious, the people who get mad at him, who have talked to me about it, some things he talks about, then those are the same people who want to reach out to me when something happens to them in theater. I'm like, clearly, Chris and Onstage Blog were doing something right when people feel like they need to come to us first when they hear about an issue.

[12:45] Kevin Johnson: There's two articles that I wrote in the beginning, things I wanted to get off my chest, and one of them was an article that kind of went everywhere, which was like, stop asking performers to talk blacker during auditions. When I wrote that, I just was almost venting a little bit, and then that was the first time I ever saw something I had go viral. And I was just like, oh, it feels good that people can connect to this, and at the same time, it kind of sucks that people can connect to this.

[13:19] Kevin Johnson: But then after that, I really wanted to get into, really wanted to learn more about journalism and interviewing people and things like that, because I always find interviews very fascinating. And the one thing, I read this interview on this website, and I just remember thinking, what do I know about journalism? But I was like, I would have asked so many, I would have asked different questions. This is the first time I was like, oh my gosh, this reporter asked all the wrong questions.

[14:06] Kevin Johnson: Especially for, you have this Broadway performer who had, I think it was 10 credits under their belt, and won't you just ask about them? They were asking about things they heard about in shows, and I was like, to me, I just wanted to simplify it. So when did you want to be a performer? Things like that. Were there any teachers that helped you? How are you enjoying the show? What advice would you give to young performers?

[14:28] Kevin Johnson: And the reason why I wanted to do that was because I remember, and this is something I think is really important, is that I remember the first time I worked with Broadway performers, and I remember being programmed into thinking that they're just these creatures that are not human, you know what I mean? They're just these things. And then when I spoke to them, I was like, wow, you're all normal people.

[14:51] Kevin Johnson: I think it's something so silly, to the point where I was like, I want McDonald's. I was like, Broadway performers eat McDonald's? It was so silly to me. I looked back and I was like, I was so young and naive, but I just felt with this series, I was like, when I interview Broadway performers, and the one thing I'm happy with, young people who read my interviews, they're like, wow, they're like normal people. I'm like, they're just like how I am, and I just love that when you read an interview, you can connect with them.

[15:26] Kevin Johnson: Like, oh yeah, I was auditioning, I had to do all this. They're like, wow, that's what I'm doing right now, you know what I mean? So that was just kind of my goal, just to create a feature, an interview series with questions that artists would want to answer, if that makes sense.

[15:42] Martín Acuña: It does. It does, because it has happened to me too, that I'm, I don't know, reaching out to this Broadway performer, big Broadway performer, and it actually happened to me yesterday, because I texted through Instagram Lucy St. Louis, the new Christine Daaé from the Phantom UK, and she answered me, and I was like, you're a goddess, and you're answering me.

[16:07] Kevin Johnson: And so I understand this feeling of, they are out of reach, out of this world, but they're just like us.

[16:14] Kevin Johnson: Yeah, they're just like us, and they completely get it. They remember life before the equity card. They remember all that stuff, and I think that's just very important when it comes to teaching younger people, when it comes to theater. It is a tough business, and I think we need to give kids more credit. I think they know it's going to be tough, but when they see people that are so well accomplished, but they're still so down to earth and normal, I have yet to come across a mean person during the series. They're always usually so humble, and so kind, and things like that.

[16:57] Kevin Johnson: So it's just like, yeah, I just think that's really important to like, you know, if that makes sense.

[17:05] Martín Acuña: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I totally agree with you. I want to ask you, you've done a lot. You perform, you direct, you write, you interview, like you do theater journalism. You have a broad spectrum of experiences throughout the industry. What would be the best advice that you could give young people that want to enter the industry, the entertainment industry, the showbiz?

[17:27] Kevin Johnson: The best advice I can give is just to remember your why, and that's something that you have to constantly reinvest in as an artist, even me, not at the age of 35. You have to remember why you're doing this, and I think, like I said not too long ago, like I think kids are smart enough to know, like young artists are smart enough to know that this is a tough industry, but just because it's tough doesn't mean that it's not possible, you know, and things like that.

[18:05] Kevin Johnson: So like, and like just because someone else is getting it quickly doesn't mean that like your time is never going to come, and like just realize like, yes, there's a competitiveness in our industry, but you don't, when you see someone else succeed, don't instantly think about where your career is, because like that's going to drive you bonkers. That's going to drive anyone bonkers.

[18:28] Kevin Johnson: So yeah, just remember why you're doing this, why you love it, and just like, you know, realize there's going to be, you know, some hot and cold times. We, this is a stubborn industry. This is a stubborn business we're in. We just got through a pandemic, you know what I mean, like where there were moments where me and my wife, Rachel, like I remember like, we were like, this is going to, this is going to pass, but like there are moments I'm like, wow, like what's, what's theater going to look like after, you know what I mean?

[19:01] Kevin Johnson: I'm like, what, like, like is it, is it going, like is Broadway going to be able to remain the same, you know what I mean? Like, so I was like, just, just remember like, you know, you have, everyone has what it takes to make it in this industry. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

[19:11] Martín Acuña: I love it. I love it. And I, I can just think going back to this full circle moment in which this director told you that you weren't going to go anywhere in this industry. And years later you played the same show on that character that you wanted to when you were a kid. And I just love it.

[19:26] Kevin Johnson: It was, yeah, that, that, that was a full circle moment for me. And like that, that was, it was a very, like Bill Sykes, that was a very important moment for me in my career. Because it just, it was a strong reminder that like, it is possible. And like, I don't, even with like, you know, and I, I remember like, I, I like wrote a little status on Facebook because I was told through a grapevine that like, that director felt really bad about saying that to me.

[20:03] Kevin Johnson: So I wrote, I was like, let's get something clear. I don't want their situation to get messed up because of something they said to me almost 20 years ago. You know what I mean? I just, to me, it was like, you, you're not going to have a career. Okay. I'll show you that I'm going to have a career. You know what I mean?

[20:18] Kevin Johnson: And I, and I was like, maybe in some ways I should thank them because they motivated me, you know, but like, I don't, there's no grudge there with me. It's just, it's just, but it was just one of those surreal, like, wow. Like before I walk on stage to sing that, like to perform my name, I'm like, wow, wow. It is possible. You know what I mean? Like it's, it's one of those reminders. Cause like, there's times where I say like, you know, I just gave the advice, but I'm like, there's still times when, you know, that little voice gets in your head, but I'm like, wow, it's okay. I get, this is possible. This is great. You know?

[20:48] Martín Acuña: So, yeah. I love it. Before we close, I, where can people find you? Where can people contact you? Reach out to you?

[20:55] Kevin Johnson: You can contact me. Facebook.com Kevin Ray actor. I mean, facebook.com backslash Kevin Ray actor. Like that's literally my Facebook fan page. You can also find me on, on Instagram at Kevin Ray, Kevin Ray actor blogger playwright. That's my Instagram handle.

[21:19] Kevin Johnson: Yeah. Just let everyone know what I do. And if you just want to email me personally, when it comes to like, you know, onstage blogger, if you feel like you have a story you want to tell her, like, you know, want me to feature you, you can contact me at Kevin Ray Johnson at hotmail.com. Yes. I'm the only one in the world that still uses hotmail, but it's, it works if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And yeah. So yeah, those are like the three main ways you can contact me.

[21:44] Martín Acuña: I love it. One last question. A surprise question for you.

[21:51] Kevin Johnson: All right.

[21:51] Martín Acuña: Top five favorite musical theater shows.

[21:54] Kevin Johnson: Top five. Yes. Okay. Number one with the bullets is going to probably be spring awakening next to normal. Hmm. Phantom of the opera, because that's, that's the show that got me really got me into it. Phantom of the opera.

[22:12] Kevin Johnson: Okay. Spring awakening next to normal Phantom of the opera. I'm going to say, I'm going to say the Lion King, definitely Lion King. And then the fifth will probably be, hmm, the fifth. I'm probably gonna like, I'll probably go with West Side Story. Just because just a classic, just because you can, I need to have a Sondheim in there. So yeah, like, like West Side Story, Sweeney Todd tie for fifth, but like, yeah, like this, some Sondheim, but yeah, those would be my five.

[22:46] Martín Acuña: Yeah. I love it. Kevin, thank you so much. Thank you for your words, your wisdom, your advice. I know that you will have an amazing, amazing comeback after the pandemic, and I'm really happy to have you over on the show.

[23:04] Kevin Johnson: Thank you so much. You are too kind. Thank you so much.

[23:08] Martín Acuña: Thanks everyone for listening to this new episode of Backstage Talk. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Backstage Talk Podcast.