(continued)
Building his career …
What started out as a six-month study period in the UK, turned into a theater career with a succession of leading roles: in MISS SAIGON, MATADOR, opposite Stephanie Powers (Hart to Hart), Raoul in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, RED RED ROSE, Claude in the 25th anniversary revival of HAIR, Che in Oslo's production of EVITA, Alex in an Irish production of ASPECTS OF LOVE and Joe Gillis in SUNSET BOULEVARD opposite Betty Buckley and later with his good friend and guardian angel, Elaine Paige.
While performing in the evening on the West End Stage, John also appeared on the "telly" as a presenter on the BBC children’s shows LIVE AND KICKING and ELECTRIC CIRCUS, and hosted THE MOVIE GAME and 5’S COMPANY, a weekday magazine show.
Back to America …
Before long, John caught the attention of American TV producers who introduced him to American audiences in the Darren Star CBS television Series, CENTRAL PARK WEST. And while filming the show, John also made his Broadway debut in SUNSET BOULEVARD reprising the role of Joe Gillis. A few years later, John returned to American television - this time for Aaron Spelling as Peter Williams in NBC's short-lived prime-time soap TITANS.
Award-winner …
John earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination as Best Actor for his portrayal of Cal Chandler in the Donmar Warehouse's production of THE FIX. A Backstage West Garland Award followed for the Sondheim review PUTTING IT TOGETHER with Carol Burnett at the Los Angeles Mark Taper Forum. John subsequently reprised this role when the show transferred to Broadway in 1999.
Concerts …
As well as starring in musical theatre, TV drama and presenting shows on the BBC, John also has been heard in concert with the BBC in THE MAGIC OF THE MUSICALS from Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, for National Music Day (with Betty Buckley) and a concert version of CALL ME MADAM with Tyne Daly. He has appeared in concert with the Boston Pops, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. John has given numerous concert performances around the world including several Royal Command Performances.
He made his cabaret debut in 2002 at Arci's Place in NYC, Chicago's Park West and The Empire Room. That same year he took the show to the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center and then to New York's Lincoln Center.
On 4 July 2005 John brought his one-man cabaret show to Pizza on the Park in London for a week's run. The show went on despite the terrorist attacks that hit London on 7 July.
That same month, he appeared in Munich, Germany in a concert tribute to Leonard Bernstein and made his European cabaret debut in Belgium.
John has also headed up two concerts for Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2. The first, A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS, in December 2006, was followed by the JERRY HERMAN TRIBUTE CONCERT in September 2007. In August 2008, John headlined the MUSIC UNDER THE STARS concert at the Faenol Festival.
Living the dream …
In 2005, John appeared in the role that was to bring him to a wider international audience - that of Captain Jack Harkness in the BBC's revamped DOCTOR WHO, a show that included the young John Barrowman among its fans. Such was the acclaim that John's character received from audience and producers that the spin-off, TORCHWOOD, with Captain Jack leading the show, was almost immediately planned and went into production when DOCTOR WHO finished filming.
On Film...
John played opposite Kevin Kline in the 2004 Cole Porter bio-pic DE-LOVELY and was featured in the 2005 version of Mel Brooks's THE PRODUCERS as the lead tenor.
Panto …
After appearing as Jack Ross in the London production of Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN, starring Rob Lowe and Suranne Jones, John headed up the cast of CINDERELLA at the New Wimbledon Theatre as Prince Charming. His next panto venture was as Jack, in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at the New Theatre Cardiff in the winter of 2006, which brought the theatre a record box-office. Taking the title role of Aladdin at the Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham in 2006-07, John also broke all box-office records for that theatre - already recognised as the biggest and most spectacular panto venue in the country - and was invited back to head up the cast of ROBIN HOOD for the 2008-09 panto season.
Multitasker …
Always prepared to take on a new challenge, and at the same time as he was appearing in pantomime in London, in 2005 John was simultaneously training for DANCING ON ICE, the pro-celebrity ice dancing competition that teamed John with World Junior Champion, Olga Sharutenko. Despite a series of exuberant and exciting routines, "Team Barrowtenko" was voted out in the fourth week, resulting in a public furore, with jammed switchboards at the TV network as viewers rang in to protest. Christopher Dean, who trained the celebrity skaters with partner Jayne Torvill, was even moved to comment that the show had lost one of its best performers.
John was subsequently asked to host the daytime magazine show THIS MORNING while the regular presenter was on vacation, and read a series of bedtime stories on the children's BBC CBeebies Channel.
John also appeared in the BBC's SOUND OF MUSICALS , broadcast in early 2006. While filming TORCHWOOD, he was asked to join the panel of judges on the reality TV talent show, HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? in which the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC was chosen by public vote following a selection process and public auditions. He has since been the judge on two subsequent casting shows, ANY DREAM WILL DO, which saw Lee Mead win the role of Joseph in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, and I'D DO ANYTHING, with Jodie Prenger being cast as Nancy in a new production of OLIVER, opening in the West End in January 2009. Taking his judging talents across the Atlantic, John was asked to take part in the CBC (Canada) version of HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? airing in the summer of 2008. His quiz show, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, was broadcast on BBC1 in May 2008.
In the recording studio …
John's recordings include cast albums for HAIR, GODSPELL, THE FIX and ANYTHING GOES, plus studio recordings of selections from MATADOR, RED RED ROSE, GREASE and THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. John's first solo CD, a six track mini CD is JOHN BARROWMAN: ASPECTS OF LLOYD WEBBER. His first full-length solo CD, released in 2000, was JOHN BARROWMAN: REFLECTIONS FROM BROADWAY, featuring songs from many of John's leading man roles. A third solo CD, JOHN BARROWMAN SWINGS COLE PORTER, was released in 2004.
In November 2007, John released his fourth solo album, ANOTHER SIDE, featuring songs of particular significance in his life and saw the album go Gold in February 2008. His sell-out 10 date UK Another Side concert tour in April 2008 won him standing ovations and rave reviews around the country.
A new album, MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC, is due to be released by SonyBMG on 24 November 2008, with a Gary Barlow-penned single, WHAT ABOUT US? released the previous week.
Giving something back …
John is a member of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, an organization dedicated to promoting outstanding achievements by young people and has acted as MC for presentations of the Awards at St James's Palace.
Returning to his roots, he also led a theatre workshop for Joliet West High school students. The Dreamers' Workshops were later opened to all High School students.
The Oprah Winfrey influence. "I watched a show about people giving back what they have learned in their life and giving it back to other people," John says. "I always wanted to come back to Joliet and do something after having some success in my career. I was given my greatest introduction to music and theater from Joliet West High School. It kills me today that High Schools are cutting back on their arts programs." John acknowledges that, without the support he received in High School, chances are that he would not now be appearing in Royal Command Performances in the West End in front of the Royal Family and their invited guests, or having Stephen Sondheim ask him to play opposite Carol Burnett.
Now and next …
John recently completed his memoirs (so far) with the aid of his sister Carole. ANYTHING GOES was published by Michael O'Mara Books in January 2008 and immediately rushed into the Sunday Times Bestseller List where it remained for several weeks. He appeared as judge and acting coach in the Canadian version of HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? for CBC and fronted THE MAKING OF ME, a documentary exploring the origins of his sexuality for the BBC. He will shortly be presenting a programme about animals for the Discovery Channel. In October, he will appear at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Guest appearances in MY FAMILY (BBC1) and AL MURRAY'S MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER (ITV1) have been filmed. From December 2008 until February 2009, John can be seen in the world of "panto-sparkle" as the title character in ROBIN HOOD: THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURE at the Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham.
