{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox writer | image = | imagesize = | caption = Neal Medlyn as featured on his AO Agnecy artist profile. | alt = |name= Neal Medlyn | birth_name = Jerry Neal Medlin<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.myheritage.com/names/jerry_medlin#col_a_10008 |publisher=MyHeritage |title=Jerry Medlin |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> | pseudonym = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|05|21}} | birth_place = Palestine, Texas | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Performance artist, musician | period = 1999–present | alma_mater = Frankston High School<br />Stephen F. Austin University | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | spouse = | relatives = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = }}
'''Neal Medlyn''' (born Jerry Neal Medlin on May 21, 1975, in Palestine, Texas) is a New York City-based performance artist and musician. His works include Champagne Jerry,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.champagnejerry.com/|title=Champagne Jerry |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> his reenactment of a Beyonce concert DVD, his Pop Star Series<ref>{{cite web |url=http://artfcity.com/2015/02/02/must-like-loud-neal-medlyns-explosive-seven-part-opus/ |publisher=Art F City |title=Must Like Loud: Neal Medlyn's Explosive Seven Part Opus |date=February 2, 2015 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> of performance pieces, and his work in the variety show, ''Our Hit Parade''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/our-hit-parade |work=Time Out |title=Our Hit Parade |accessdate=May 8, 2017 |archive-date=June 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608172312/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/our-hit-parade |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has appeared on Bridget Everett's Comedy Central special,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cc.com/episodes/781ug0/stand-up-library-bridget-everett--gynecological-wonder-season-1-ep-101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818014557/http://www.cc.com/episodes/781ug0/stand-up-library-bridget-everett--gynecological-wonder-season-1-ep-101 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=Comedy Central |title=Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder |date=July 12, 2015 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> in the online series People Are Detectives,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://peoplearedetectives.com/|title=People Are Detectives|accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> and in video work by the artist Guy Richards Smit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grossmalerman.com/|title=The Grossman- Full Episodes|accessdate=May 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131042822/http://www.grossmalerman.com/|archive-date=January 31, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life==
Medlyn attended school in Palestine, Texas and Frankston, Texas. He studied theater at Kilgore College and worked as an actor at the Texas Shakespeare Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2000-12-29/79933/|work=The Austin Chronicle |title=Will Anybody Ever Love Neal Medlyn? |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> He received a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1999.<ref name="nyt22Aug2004">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/22/style/weddings-celebrations-ada-schjeldahl-jerry-medlin.html|work=The New York Times |title=Weddings/Celebrations; Ada Schjeldahl, Jerry Medlin |date=August 22, 2004 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> He has published personal essays about coming out as bisexual<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nerve.com/personalessays/medlyn/comeasyouare|publisher=Nerve |title=Come As You Are |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> and about how the Gathering of the Juggalos helped him understand his Pentecostal upbringing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/08/20/in_defense_of_the_juggalos/|work=Salon |title=How I found a home with the Juggalos |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> His video "East Texas" includes a TV clip of him winning a rap contest at the Tyler Mall as a teenager.
==Career==
He performed in punk and noise bands in East Texas and was part of an avant-garde music scene in Nacogdoches, Texas, before moving to Austin, Texas, in 1999. In 2000, he began performing each week at coffee shops, public parks, and hotel rooms in Austin.
In 2001, he moved briefly to Berlin, Germany, and then to New York City.
From 2001 to 2005, he performed at the downtown theaters Surf Reality and Collective:Unconscious. He was named "Mr. Lower East Side" in 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://gaycitynews.nyc/gcn_334/murrayjoinshowl.html|magazine=Gay City News |title=Murray Joins the Howl |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> In 2005, he had a weekly show at the Apocalypse Lounge bar, where he debuted ''The Lionel Richie Opera''.''The Lionel Richie Oper'' was the first of what became a seven-show series of performances, each built around a different pop star.
In 2004, he co-starred with Karen Finley for a theatrical run and subsequent tour of ''George and Martha'', in which he played George W. Bush to Finley's Martha Stewart.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/theater/reviews/hes-from-the-white-house-shes-from-a-clean-house.html|work=The New York Times |title=He's From the White House, She's From a Clean House |date=September 23, 2004 |accessdate=May 8, 2017|last1=Isherwood |first1=Charles }}</ref>
In 2005, Medlyn became a regular in the show Automatic Vaudeville at Ars Nova, performing alongside VIDS, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Billy Eichner, and the show hosts, Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nypress.com/from-the-basement-to-broadway/|work=New York Press |title=From the Basement to Broadway |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref>
Medlyn was cast as a dancer by Adrienne Truscott in ''they will use the highways'' in 2000 and appeared in three dances choreographed by David Neumann, including "feedforward". He designed sound for Miguel Gutierrez (choreographer), winning a 2010 Bessie Award as part of the creative team for Gutierrez's "Last Meadow".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miguelgutierrez.org/pieces/last-meadow/|publisher=Miguel Gutierrez (choreographer)|title=Last Meadow (2009)|accessdate=May 8, 2017|archive-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509162935/http://www.miguelgutierrez.org/pieces/last-meadow/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==The Neal Medlyn Experience Live==
Medlyn reenacted a Beyoncé concert DVD, ''The Beyoncé Experience Live'' for the New Museum called ''The Neal Medlyn Experience Live''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/77871-boys-will-be-beyonce/|publisher=New York Public Radio |title=Boys Will Be Beyoncé|accessdate= May 8, 2017}}</ref> The show toured through the United States and Canada and was featured as a part of Gang Dance in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/blog/werk-put-a-ring-on-medlyn//|work=Buddies In Bad Times |title=WERK: PUT A RING ON MEDLYN|date=February 5, 2010 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref>
==''Our Hit Parade''==
Medlyn was one of the co-founders and co-hosts of ''Our Hit Parade'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/our-hit-parade/|work=Time Out|title=Our Hit Parade|accessdate=May 8, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608172312/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/our-hit-parade|url-status=dead}}</ref> a monthly top-ten pop music countdown show which ran for five years at Joe's Pub. In 2011, it was named one of Best Cabaret Shows by Time Out New York.
==''The Pop Star Series''==
'The Pop Star Series' comprises seven performance pieces: * ''The Lionel Richie Opera''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatermania.com/off-off-broadway/shows/neal-medlyns-lionel-richie-opera_111291/ |publisher=TheaterMania |title=Neal Medlyn's Lionel Richie Opera|accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> (Apocalypse Lounge, Ars Nova, and tour performances in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Portland, Oregon, Austin, Texas) * ''Coming in the Air Tonight''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gothamist.com/2007/04/06/pencil_this_in_208.php|publisher=Gothamist|title=Pencil This In|accessdate=May 8, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105191955/http://gothamist.com/2007/04/06/pencil_this_in_208.php|archivedate=November 5, 2017}}</ref> (Galapagos Art Space) * ''Unpronounceable Symbol''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/theater/reviews/11neal.html |work=The New York Times |title=The Ultimate Outsider Under a Purple Umbrella|date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=May 8, 2017|last1=Rocco |first1=Claudia La }}</ref> (PS122) * ''...Her's a Queen''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/arts/dance/27dance.html |work=The New York Times |title=Dance in Review|date=October 26, 2009 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> (Dance Theater Workshop, American Realness Festival and tour performances in Portland, Oregon) * ''Brave New Girl''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/arts/dance/02girl.html|work=The New York Times |title=One Man's Fascination With Miley, Real and Not|date=October 2010 |accessdate=May 8, 2017|last1=Kourlas |first1=Gia }}</ref> (The Chocolate Factory) * ''Wicked Clown Love''<ref name="mtv">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2695350/neal-medlyn-kathleen-hanna-wicked-clown-love/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119013732/http://www.mtv.com/news/2695350/neal-medlyn-kathleen-hanna-wicked-clown-love/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2016|publisher=MTV News |title=Neal Medlyn and Kathleen Hanna Talk 'wicked Clown Love' |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> (The Kitchen and tour performances in Kittery, Maine, Los Angeles, California) * ''King''<ref name="mtv"/> (The Kitchen, American Realness Festival)
The series was presented as part of the American Realness Festival in 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=http://americanrealness.com/portfolio-type/neal-medlyn-5/ |publisher=American Realness |title=Pop Star Series, The 2015 Emerald Edition |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> and as part of the Live Art Festival at Kampnagel in Hamburg Germany in 2014.<ref name="kampnagel">{{cite web|url=http://www.kampnagel.de/en/program/pop-stars-series-vol-1-6/|publisher=Kartentelefon|title=Live Art Festival 2014 Neal Medlyn: Pop Star Series, VOL 1-6|accessdate=May 8, 2017|archive-date=May 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505022834/http://www.kampnagel.de/en/program/pop-stars-series-vol-1-6/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2015, 53rd State Press published a coffee-table book featuring photos and text of the shows.<ref name="kampnagel"/>
==Champagne Jerry==
In 2013, Medlyn began performing as the rapper Champagne Jerry at venues including the Brooklyn Academy of Music,<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/photos/crossing-brooklyn-ferry-2013-night-1#1|magazine= Impose Magazine |title=Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 2016- Night 1 | accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> The Kitchen,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thekitchen.org/event/synth-nights-champagne-jerry-penis-and-tami-tamaki|publisher=The Kitchen|title=Synth Nights: Champagne Jerry, Penis, and Tami Tamaki|accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> New York Live Arts,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/bridget-everett-adam-horovitz-murray-hill-carmine-covelli-playing-champagne-jerrys-shows-this-week/|publisher= Brooklyn Vegan|title=Ad-Rock & more playing Champagne Jerry's release shows; Mike D DJing Panorama|accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> Union Pool, and Pianos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.creative-capital.org/2014/12/say-something-ridiculous-celebrating-champagne-jerry/ |publisher= Creative Capital |title=Say Something Ridiculous – Celebrating With Champagne Jerry |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref>
Champagne Jerry was named one of the top ten best performers in New York by Time Out. He was profiled in ''Rolling Stone'',<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ad-rock-plays-ball-with-champagne-jerry-20131208 |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=Ad-Rock Plays Ball With Champagne Jerry|date=December 8, 2013 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> ''Brooklyn Vegan'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/tags/champagne-jerry/ |publisher=Brooklyn Vegan |title=Champagne Jerry |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> and ''Interview''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/champagne-jerry-the-champagne-room#_ |magazine=Interview |title=Inside Champagne Jerry's Champagne Room |accessdate=May 8, 2017}}</ref> In 2016, he appeared as the musical guest on The Chris Gethard Show on Fusion TV.
Champagne Jerry's collaborators include Max Tannone, Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz)), Sophia Cleary, Farris Craddock, and Gillian Walsh, who performs as "the Ghost of Champagne Past."
Champagne Jerry has produced two albums: ''For Real, You Guys'' and "The Champagne Room". He has posted several videos on YouTube, including one for "Yo Kev" that features Adam Horovitz, Murray Hill, and Bridget Everett.
==Personal life==
At age 18, Medlyn married and had a son. The marriage ended in divorce. In 2004, he married author Ada Calhoun,<ref name="nyt22Aug2004" /> with whom he also has a son, they split in 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Calhoun |first1=Ada |title=An Ode to Arms |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/ada-calhoun-arm-essay |magazine=Vogue |date=March 21, 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Medlyn, Neal}} Category:1975 births Category:Stephen F. Austin State University alumni Category:Artists from New York City Category:People from Palestine, Texas Category:Bisexual male musicians Category:Living people Category:Kilgore College alumni Category:American bisexual men Category:American bisexual musicians Category:LGBTQ people from Texas