# John O'May

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Australian actor

John O'May Born 1947 (age 78–79) Baltimore, Maryland, United States Education Patapsco High School Occupations Actor, writer Years active 1972–current

**John O'May** is an American-born Australian actor, best known for his stage performances.

## Early life

O'May was born at [Johns Hopkins Hospital](/source/Johns_Hopkins_Hospital) in [Baltimore](/source/Baltimore), [Maryland](/source/Maryland), one of four children. He grew up with a love of reading and literature. At university he dabbled in theatre, learning acting, stagecraft and building sets. He became a teacher at [Patapsco High School](/source/Patapsco_High_School), where he himself had attended high school. He taught English literature for two and a half years. He eventually travelled overseas, and after visiting his sister in Australia and ended up staying.[1][2][3]

## Career

In 1972, O'May auditioned for the role of Ashley Wilkes in *[Gone with the Wind](/source/Gone_with_the_Wind_(musical))*. He took singing lessons and found an agent. In 1973, he was offered an audition and role in *[Godspell](/source/Godspell)*, replacing [John Waters](/source/John_Waters_(actor)) as [Judas](/source/Judas). He created and performed in the revues *Gershwin* (with [John Diedrich](/source/John_Diedrich)) in 1975 and *The 20s and All That Jazz* (with Diedrich and [Caroline Gilmer](/source/Caroline_Gillmer)) in 1977.[4]

O'May played [Che Guevara](/source/Che_Guevara) in the original Australian cast of *[Evita](/source/Evita_(musical))* which opened in Adelaide in April 1980.[5] In the 1980s he was a regular performer with the [Melbourne Theatre Company](/source/Melbourne_Theatre_Company), and played Bobby in *[Company](/source/Company_(musical))* for the [Sydney Theatre Company](/source/Sydney_Theatre_Company) in 1986 and Captain Corcoran in *[H.M.S. Pinafore](/source/H.M.S._Pinafore)* for the [Victoria State Opera](/source/Victoria_State_Opera) in 1987.[6]

He directed and starred in the musical *[Seven Little Australians](/source/Seven_Little_Australians_(musical))* in 1988.[7]

O'May played Monsieur André in the original Australian cast of *[The Phantom of the Opera](/source/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1986_musical))* which opened at the [Princess Theatre](/source/Princess_Theatre%2C_Melbourne) in Melbourne in December 1990. He later performed each of the two manager characters in various productions over the subsequent decades.[1]

Other notable roles include Marvin in *[Falsettos](/source/Falsettos)* in 1994 for the [Sydney Theatre Company](/source/Sydney_Theatre_Company), Nick Arnstein in [*Funny Girl*](/source/Funny_Girl_(musical)) in 1999, John Wilkes Booth in *[Assassins](/source/Assassins_(musical))* in 1995, and Fredrik Egerman in *[A Little Night Music](/source/A_Little_Night_Music)* in 1997, both for the [Melbourne Theatre Company](/source/Melbourne_Theatre_Company). For the latter, he received a [Green Room Award for male artist in a leading role](/source/Green_Room_Award_for_Male_Actor_in_a_Leading_Role_(Music_Theatre)).[2] In 2014 he appeared as Doctor Tambourri in Sondheim's *[Passion](/source/Passion_(musical))*.[2] In 2022, he portrayed the Mysterious Man and [Cinderella’s](/source/Cinderella_(Disney_character)) Father in *[Into the Woods](/source/Into_the_Woods)* in North Melbourne, Australia.[8]

Film credits include supporting roles in the films *[Starstruck](/source/Starstruck_(1982_film))* and *[Rebel](/source/Rebel_(1985_film))* and the television opera [*The Divorce*](/source/The_Divorce_(TV_series)) (2015).[9] In 2000, O’May guest-starred in [season 2, episode 11](/source/List_of_The_Games_episodes), "Sponsorship and Media Discontent", of the ABC mockumentary, *[The Games](/source/The_Games_(Australian_TV_series))*.

## Acting credits

### Film

Year Title Role Type 1974 Between Wars William Faulkner Feature film 1982 Starstruck Terry Feature film 1983 Skin Deep Roger Crane TV movie 1985 Rebel Benie Feature film 1988 Georgia Mr Leonard Feature film 1988 The Four Minute Mile Bill Easton TV movie 2001 Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story Louis B. Mayer TV movie 2011 A Heartbeat Away Desmond Fyfe Feature film 2020 The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Earl of Spencer Feature film 2023 Late Night with the Devil Walker Bedford Feature film 2024 Better Man Terry Swinton Feature film

### Television

Year Title Role Type 1978 The Sullivans Yank Sergeant TV series, 4 episodes 1983 Carson's Law John Kendall TV series, 14 episodes 1983 Kings Dick Manning TV series, 2 episodes 1985 The Flying Doctors Michael Miniseries, episode 3 1986 The Lancaster Miller Affair J.F. Russell Miniseries, 3 episodes 1988 The Flying Doctors Max Prescott TV series, season 3, episode 7: "Figures in a Landscape" 1990 The Paper Man Victor Dove Miniseries, 2 episodes 1992 Cluedo Buzz Bradshaw III TV series, season 2, episode 3: "With a Smile on His Dial" 1997 State Coroner Marcus Brophy TV series, season 1, 2 episodes 1998 Good Guys, Bad Guys Tyrone O'Keefe TV series, season 2, episode 11: "Doof" 2000 The Games George Birmingham TV mockumentary series, season 2, episode 11: "Sponsorship and Media Discontent" 2001 Crash Zone Phil Kurtz TV series, season 2, episode 12: "Skin Deep" 2007 City Homicide Peter Murdoch TV series, season 1, episode 13: "Rostered Day Off" 2015 The Divorce Jed Miniseries, 4 episodes

### Theatre

#### As actor

Year Title Role Type 1973 Godspell Judas Princess Theatre, Launceston, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre with J. C. Williamson 1977 Money the Root of All... Victorian regional tour with Arena Theatre Company 1978 No, No, Nanette Billy Playhouse Theatre, Perth with National Theatre Inc 1979 Sexual Perversity in Chicago Adam Shapiro Playbox Theatre, Melbourne with Hoopla Theatre Foundation 1979 The Ripper Show Mr Barclay Playbox Theatre, Melbourne with Hoopla Theatre Foundation 1980–1981 Evita Che Guevara Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Perth Entertainment Centre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney 1981 Royal Charity Performance Singer Festival Theatre, Adelaide 1982 Moving Target Upstage Theatre Restaurant, Sydney 1983; 1984 Insignificance Adelaide Festival Centre, Sydney Opera House 1983 Beyond Therapy Bruce Playbox Theatre, Melbourne 1984 Extremities Raul Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company 1984 Pax Americana The President Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1984 The Curse of the Werewolf Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1985 The Glass Menagerie Jim Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1985 Too Young for Ghosts Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1985 Blue Window Griever St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company 1986 Company Bobby Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company 1986 Heartbreak House Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1986 The Servant of Two Masters Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1986 The Shadow of a Gunman Donal Davoren Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1987 H.M.S. Pinafore Captain Corcoran Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, State Theatre, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat with Victoria State Opera 1987 La belle Hélène Paris State Theatre, Melbourne with Victoria State Opera 1988–1989 Seven Little Australians Captain Woolcott Theatre Royal, Hobart, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Adelaide Festival Centre, University of Sydney 1989 The Normal Heart Ned Weeks Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company 1989 Harold in Italy Harold Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company 1990 Daylight Saving Joshua Makepeace Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1990 Love Letters Andrew Makepeace III Playhouse, Melbourne with Victorian Arts Centre 1990 Woman in Mind Andy Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1990 Moby Dick Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne for Melbourne International Arts Festival 1990; 1993 The Phantom of the Opera Monsieur André Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney 1991 A Night of Infectious Laughter Melbourne Athenaeum 1992 Showboat Mietta's, Melbourne 1992 Into the Woods Baker State Theatre, Melbourne 1992 Six Degrees of Separation Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company 1994 Falsettos Marvin Sydney Opera House, Monash University, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Canberra Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company 1994 Mack and Mabel - In Concert State Theatre, Melbourne, State Theatre, Sydney 1994 Always Victorian Arts Centre with Melbourne Theatre Company 1994 Cyrano Ragueneau Lyric Theatre, Brisbane 1995 Assassins John Wilkes Booth Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1995 Candide Singer Lyric Theatre, Brisbane 1996 Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 1997; 1998 A Little Night Music Fredrik Egerman Playhouse, Melbourne, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney with Melbourne Theatre Company 1997; 1998 A One Night Stand with the Stars of Australian Musical Theatre Melbourne Athenaeum, Melbourne Concert Hall 1997 Crazy for You Bela Zangler State Theatre, Melbourne 1999 The Merry Widow Count Danilo Danilovich State Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Lyric Theatre, Sydney 1999 Funny Girl Nick Arnstein Melbourne Concert Hall with The Production Company 1999 Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens Melbourne Athenaeum 2000 Ship of Fools Destiny Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne 2000 Being Alive Capers Cabaret, Melbourne 2001; 2002 Three Vile Men Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne, Space Theatre, Adelaide 2001 The Tempest Alonso Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 2002–2004 Mamma Mia! Harry Bright Lyric Theatre, Sydney, Burswood Theatre, Perth, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Civic Theatre, Auckland, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Esplanade Theatre, Singapore, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne 2005 Kiss Me, Kate General Harrison Howell / Harry Trevor State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company 2006 This Is The Moment! Sydney Opera House, Hamer Hall, Melbourne 2006–2009 The Phantom of the Opera Monsieur Firmin / Monsieur Andre Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Esplanade Theatre, Singapore, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Lyric Theatre, Sydney, The Civic, Auckland, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Taipei Arena 2008 The Light in the Piazza Signor Naccarelli Lyric Theatre, Sydney 2008 The Music of the Night Statement Lounge, Sydney 2011 Anything Goes Elijah Whitney State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company 2011 Grey Gardens Major Bouvier / Norman Vincent Peale State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company 2012 La Cage Aux Folles Georges National Theatre, Melbourne with Quirky Productions 2012 South Pacific Captain Bracket Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia 2013 Brel Singer Space Theatre, Adelaide for Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2014 The Last Confession Cardinal Felici His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal Sydney 2014 Passion Doctor Tambourri Arts Centre Melbourne 2017 Cabaret Herr Schultz Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum 2018 A Little Night Music Frederick Egerman Geelong Performing Arts Centre, National Theatre, Melbourne, Whitehorse Centre, Melbourne 2019 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Grandpa Joe Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne 2019 Ragtime Henry Ford State Theatre, Melbourne 2022 Into the Woods Mysterious Man / Cinderella's Father Arts House Meat Market, Melbourne 2023 Bloom Roland Arts Centre Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company

#### As writer/director

Year Title Role Type 1975; 1976 Gershwin Playwright Arena Theatre, Melbourne, Total Theatre, Melbourne with Total Theatre, Production 1977–1979 The Twenties and All That Jazz Playwright Arena Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Regal Theatre, Perth, Canberra Theatre, Theatre Royal Sydney, Victorian regional tour, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Orange Civic Theatre, The Griffith Duncan Theatre, Callaghan, Playhouse, Adelaide 1977 The Australian Travelling Patent Medicine Show Director Arena Theatre Company, Melbourne 1977 The Season Reason Director Victorian regional tour with Arena Theatre Company 1977 The Persecution and Assassination of Higher School Certificate Poetry as Performed by the Inmates of the Arena Theatre Director Arena Theatre Company, Melbourne 1978 Patrick's Hat Trick Playwright Playbox Theatre, Melbourne with Hoopla Theatre Foundation 1978 Makin' Wicky Wacky Director The Last Laugh, Melbourne 1981 A Couple of Strangers Devisor Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1982 Patrick's Hat Trick Playwright Monash University 1983 The Twenties and All That Jazz Playwright The Hole in the Wall Theatre, Perth 2000 Being Alive Devisor Capers Cabaret, Melbourne 1988–1989 Seven Little Australians Director Theatre Royal, Hobart, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Adelaide Festival Centre, University of Sydney 2008 The Light in the Piazza Director / Producer Lyric Theatre, Sydney

[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) Harris, Sarah. ["Profile: John O'May | Confessions of a working actor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051125/http://www.reviewproperty.com.au/Local-News/407017/PROFILE--John-O'May-%7C-Confessions-of-a-working-actor/?mode=buy). *Weekly Review*. Archived from [the original](http://www.reviewproperty.com.au/Local-News/407017/PROFILE--John-O'May-%7C-Confessions-of-a-working-actor/?mode=buy) on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Passion_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Passion_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Passion_2-2) Drouyn, Coral (n.d.). ["Maintaining The Passion"](https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/maintaining-passion). *stagewhispers.com.au (2014)*. Retrieved 30 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Profile: John O'May"](https://issuu.com/anglesea_community_house/docs/newsangle_issue_146_final/s/12600621). *Anglesea Community House*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Do-it-yourself musical has had packed houses"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110871037). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. Vol. 52, no. 14, 903. 11 October 1977. p. 13. Retrieved 23 September 2017 – via [National Library of Australia](/source/National_Library_of_Australia).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["'Wonder boy' Jim Sharman for 1982 Adelaide Festival"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137017190). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. Vol. 55, no. 16, 220. 22 February 1980. p. 17. Retrieved 23 September 2017 – via [National Library of Australia](/source/National_Library_of_Australia).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["John O'May"](https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/948). *ausstage.edu.au*. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Radic, Leonard (24 June 1988). ["The winning ways of little Australians"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AzopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9JYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2301%2C1978397). *[The Age](/source/The_Age)*. Melbourne. Retrieved 1 March 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Watch This: Into The Woods review](https://simonparrismaninchair.com/2022/01/21/watch-this-into-the-woods-review/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["*The Divorce* is a comedic opera, and unlike anything else on Australian TV"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-divorce-is-a-comedic-opera-and-unlike-anything-else-on-australian-tv-20151125-gl7ujj.html) by Paul Kalina, *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*, 26 November 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/948](https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/948)

## External links

- [John O'May](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641832/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Profile](https://markgogoll.com/artists/john-omay/), markgogoll.com

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John O'May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O'May) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O'May?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.