Today we’d like to introduce you to John Garcia.
Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Since my college days, friends would take me aside or ask me, “What did you REALLY think of the show? My performance?” And I would give them my blunt, honest opinions. That-let’s call it a “fun quirk” stayed within me always. I have been on a stage since I was 8 years old. I’ve done practically all of it- community, summer stock, regional, Equity, Non-Equity, and toured. I spent two years with Disney Entertainment, then came back to Dallas. I took a day job to pay the rent but kept doing theater. A small group of friends and I created this small email chat group. Throughout our day we would share jokes, gossip, good/sad news, etc. I would share with them my mini-reviews of the shows that I saw. It was just for our little group. But then, members within this group forwarded my reviews to their fellow castmates, and then those castmates forwarded it to their friends and families, and so on and so on. And in a short few months, it exploded like wildfire. I was shocked, embarrassed, excited, and nauseous. Why would anyone want to read what I had to say? But then a couple within the group said, “You should start a Column and post these.” I had NO knowledge of the computer, let alone the power of the internet. Back then NO ONE did, that was almost 30 years now! So, I thought about it for several days. What harm will it do? I mean nobody won’t really care. Only our theater friends will read them anyway. Also, it’s a unique, fresh, original voice for theater friends to read. Because my reviews came from the point of view of an actor. A working actor who eats, breathes, bleeds, and is in the very shoes of those performers. There’s NEVER been a voice like that here in DFW. So why not? Where is it written that this cannot happen? There’s no “theater bible” that says actors can’t be critics. Plus, come on. Let’s be honest here. All of us theater folk when we get in our cars or get in a small group in the lobby, or on the phone the next we chat about the show we saw last night. Good or bad. You know it’s true! Okay, I’ll do it! It’ll be fun. Oh, was I so green, blind to the blood-thirsty vultures called trolls and haters that slithered in the darkness.
After about five-six years when THE COLUMN was skyrocketing in numbers with subscribers, that’s when I had the idea of creating THE COLUMN Awards. An awards gala honoring Equity and Non-Equity theatre within the DFW area. But the gala would also serve as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids. Because of the pandemic, we are on a holding pattern right now, but once the theater community returns to full swing, so do we!
Now almost 30 years later with THE COLUMN, I have a staff of 26 Associate Theater Critics, the largest staff than any other publication in the DFW area. We are in fact the longest-running online all theatre-related publication in the DFW metroplex. As Senior Chief Theater Critic I was the only critic (and publication) invited to review two major musicals during their out-of-town tryouts (Boston and Atlanta) before they reached Broadway. THE COLUMN and I are the only publication that reviews (and gets invited to) Broadway productions currently and in the last six years. THE COLUMN is the ONLY online theater publication that does review Equity and Non-Equity productions ALL over the DFW area. We respect ALL theater, not just a “select” group.
While over at THE COLUMN Awards, we have raised thousands of dollars for BCEFA. We have brought some of Broadway’s biggest stars to serve as our special guest hosts, such as my personal inspiration, the iconic Broadway Legend, two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera, Tony Award Winner Donna McKechnie, Golden Globe winner Michael Urie, Tony Award Nominee Max Von Essen, Tony Award Nominee Orfeh, Tony Award Nominee Rachel York, Anthony Rapp, among others.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
While on paper it looks all amazing and incredible, a lot of great personal sacrifice had to be paid to make a lot of this to happen. I gave up so much to make these two major mammoth beasts to come alive, and to thrive. Do I regret it? I do at times. Would I do it all again? I honestly don’t know if I would knowing all that I know now. I really don’t know. I debate over that question a lot over these last five years.
When the publication started to really start making a name for itself, our membership grew by the hundreds (it still does every day), and our reviews were being shared and plastered all over social media, that’s when things started to REALLY change. I was allowed to do full press coverage with the major national tours, got to interview the stars that came with the tours. These interviews in turn got me in contact with Press agents, publicists, PR Firms, etc. in New York because they really liked my work and invited me to review Broadway shows. It all just started to happen so fast. At one press night at a national tour my guest and I sat down, I started to read my Playbill, then my guest whispered, “You made the top tier circle.” “Huh?” “Look around you, the major critics from both papers, plus….” And sure, enough around me were the top critics (during that time). I laughed it off. But at intermission, I ended up side by side as we went up the aisle with one of “those” critics. This critic has always been nice to me, gave me favorable reviews as an actor. I said hello, and he asked if we could speak alone for a moment. He told me that what I was doing is wrong. “You are a great actor on stage, but you should not be a critic. This is wrong. Very unethical.” I replied, “But no one reads or cares what I say. I’m doing it for fun. My opinion is from an actor’s point of view.” “Well, lots of people are reading it and taking it seriously. Pick a lane.” And he walked off. He no longer is a critic. In fact, every single one of those critics that were sitting around me that night are gone, and over HALF of their publications do not review theater anymore.
On one hand, if it weren’t for social media I, nor THE COLUMN would be where I am today. BUT on that other hand, social media has played a HUGE role in giving evil, cruel, and vile individuals to slaughter you, your reputation, your spirit, your very soul- and not face any consequences for their actions.
I have blocked anyone that sprays or vomits that kind of hatred. I, unfortunately, had to unfollow mutual friends that way I don’t get their postings slide into my social media accounts. I don’t need, want, nor care to read them. I have no use for them.
I will and always welcome constructive feedback and opinions that can actually improve or make better anything that is attached to my two organizations. Those I do want to read, but those are far and few. Everything is just bland noise that I tune out.
In 2019 I did an honest mistake, had no clue it had occurred, and felt awful once it happened. But the way it exploded and the overwhelming backlash, especially when it come from some close who I thought were friends, I spiraled down a very dark hole. I got scared cause I knew where I was heading to, and if I don’t get help……. so, I did. Since then, I have been in therapy that greatly helped me out of that dark hole.
There have been great, amazing, incredible highs, major achievements in creating THE COLUMN and THE COLUMN Awards to life. I’ve had beautiful, wonderful, supportive board members, colleagues, and supporters in keeping these two organizations alive, and for that, I am forever grateful.
But I sacrificed so much, and I can’t get those things back. Was it worth it? That’s what I debate within myself from time to time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Someone said this to me over dinner during the last weeks of the Presidential election and I never thought of this, and to be honest, no one ever said this on social media. A non-theater friend of mine from out of state was here on business and we had dinner, as we caught up, he said with blunt frankness, “Has it ever occurred to your subscribers or the general public, or the theater community for that matter, that this much in demand theater publication you run and the only awards organization you created- it all comes from- and is helmed by a Hispanic? And you’re in a red state? I mean you have a Latino running these two things, has anyone ever thought that was kinda interesting, or unique? Or how open-minded the theater community is?” And you know, it took me by surprise, because it never crossed my mind. I think everyone sees me as just “John” and that was it. But from the outside world, he had a point. I thought that was a really interesting thought. I honestly do not think no one has thought of that. But he had a point. Maybe I should run for Governor now! lol.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That me- Mr. Musical Theatre, who is addicted to glitter- is equally an addicted fan to NFL football! Don’t hate me, but not a Cowboy fan. Sorry. I was during the Jimmy Johnson era but jumped ship once Jerry Jones entered the picture. I’m Raiders fan as well as a Chiefs fan. Raiders started out so good, but ouch are they hitting walls now. But the Chiefs getting back on track, especially yesterday! Oh… and BOOOOO Aaron Rodgers!!! lol.
Contact Info:
- Email: thecolumnbyjohngarcia@yahoo.com
- Website: www.thecolumnonline.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johngarciasthecolumn/
- Other: www.thecolumnawards.org
Image Credits
Chita Rivera
Beth Leavel
Betty Buckley
Christopher Sieber
Adam Pascal
Cady Huffman
Tim Hughes
Liz McCartney
Rachel York
Steve Blanchard
Meredith Blanchard
Craid Bierko
Val Kilmer
