Hometown: St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Education: AMDA NYC
Select Credits: The Mirror Rep's Carousel (Billy Bigelow), Hamlet (Laertes), and ArtisTree's Fiddler On The Roof (Fyedka), among others in the New England regional scene.
Why theater?: When asked, I usually joke, "If it rewards my neuroses and makes people happy, let's go with that." I perform because I can't help it. There's a fire inside, a joy, and when released, it moves people.
Who do you play in The Imbible: Christmas Carol Cocktails?: I play Barley, the Christmas Spirit. My real name is Jacob Marley, Scrooge's late friend and business partner, now turned New York actor and bar-tender. When Scrooge needs a second visitation on the value of holiday "spirits", back I come.
Tell us about The Imbible: Christmas Carol Cocktails: What a show. It's basically A Christmas Carol, Part II: Musical Booze Edition. Scrooge wakes up and wants to throw a Christmas party, now having a taste for the holiday spirit. Summoning Marley and the other Christmas Spirits, he receives a thorough lesson on festal drink, as does the audience, while we sing a barrel of carols, and serve a few holiday drinks to boot.
What is it like being a part of The Imbible: Christmas Carol Cocktails?: I laugh a lot. This cast is a lively one. We're all very comical, and that is put to good use in this show.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Everyday life is the best teacher. If I simply look and listen, I find countless stories unfolding all around. Doing the same on stage or camera makes the story come to life; it allows the mundane to surprise us. That's what I work for as an artist.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I sure wouldn't mind being Elder Price in The Book of Mormon!
What’s your favorite showtune?: "Ya Got Trouble", from Meredith Willson's The Music Man. I still have the whole thing memorized from a production years ago.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Denzel Washington. I admire his work, and I would learn a lot from him.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Perhaps Jennifer Lawrence if she were a man? And it would be called, "Off the Walls, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Walks". She would go on lots of walks.
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The Original West End production of Chess. I like the concept album.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: This one.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Nutella on Biscoff cookies.
What’s up next?: Who's hiring?
For more on John, visit https://www.facebook.com/JohnJosephMarshall/