From his Broadway roles in Bright Star, garnering a Drama Desk nomination, La Cage aux Folles, a benefit performance of Brigadoon, and Paradise Square, for which he received Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations, to his Lucille Lortel Award-winning and OCC-nominated performance in A Man of No Importance at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company, to his recent appearances in Philadelphia, Here I Come! Off-Broadway at Irish Repertory Theatre, earning The Theatre World Awards’ Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, and with Joe Iconis & Family at 54 Below, stage and screen star A.J. Shively has made an indelible impression with his outstanding acting, singing, and dancing, and his extraordinary facility with an Irish accent. No, the NYC-based triple threat is not from the Emerald Isle, but from Dublin, Ohio, and received his training at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, before launching his highly acclaimed professional career.
In addition to his numerous stage credits, both in New York and regional theater, Shively has broken the clock on his ever-flourishing “fifteen minutes of fame” on screen as Jerry McConnell in CBS’s Bull, as Chef André Soltner in Julia on HBO Max, as Randolph in NBC’s The Blacklist, and in many other featured parts on TV and film. Graciously, the in-demand A.J. took a brief end-of-summer break to take our Warhol-inspired Pop quiz and to let fans everywhere get to know more about him, his background, and his personal tastes.
- Which came first for you – acting, singing, dancing, or feigning an Irish accent?
A.J.: Ha! You know, as a little kid I was pretty good at impressions. I was famous throughout the neighborhood for my authentic horse whinny. But first for me was story. Reading and books are important in my family and from my earliest memories I’ve been disappearing into stories. I guess that’s acting? I’ve always been pretty musical as well, singing all the time. Hard to say what came first. So, to not answer your question at all, dance was last!
- What’s your first creative memory?
I had a very vivid imagination. My grandmother handmade a trunk full of costumes for me and my siblings (think pirate, Peter Pan, cowboy, etc.) and we called it the dress-up box. Hours and hours of fun!
3. What three emotions did you feel when Joe Iconis invited you to be part of his Family at 54 Below?
I’ve known Joe since I moved to New York. He gave me my first job post college! It felt like being invited to a reunion! I was grateful to be available for every night, creatively impatient to sing one of my favorite songs of Joe’s, and so happy to have such a good excuse to see so many good friends.
- What do you love most about performing live?
I love the connection with the audience. There’s nothing like it. I love surfing the arc of the story from beginning to end in one go. I love the focus and spontaneity required when things go wrong. It’s alive!
- What’s the most memorable reaction you’ve ever gotten from an audience member?
Well, once I was working in New Jersey and during the final scene of the piece a woman got up and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m loving it, but the train!’ Hahahahahaha! Beyond that, I loved hearing individuals figure out the big mystery at the heart of Bright Star. You’d hear little gasps scattered around the theater.
- Do you have a favorite song or line you’ve performed that you find most relatable?
I didn’t sing it, but “Love Who You Love” from A Man of No Importance is such a beautiful song. The company was all onstage for the whole show in the CSC production, and I loved watching it every night.
- Is there a dream role or show you’d like to play in the future?
My answer to this question is always that I love developing new work, so my dream role hasn’t been written yet!
- Who’s been the biggest inspiration in your career?
I’ve been lucky to work with a long list of incredibly talented people. I couldn’t single any single biggest person, but the single biggest lesson they’ve taught me is to lead with joy whenever you can.
- What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Lanky, curious, and distractible.
- What three things do you always have in your dressing room?
SNACKS! SNACKS! SNACKS! Mandarin oranges, peanut butter-filled pretzels, grapes, chocolate-covered almonds, potato chips, apples, so many snacks.
- What’s your favorite comfort food or beverage?
Ice cream. Any flavor. Any brand. I’m on a personal quest to have tried all the ice cream.
- What do you love most about NYC?
I love the variety. You have so many world class experiences at your disposal anywhere you go.
- What do you do for fun when you’re not performing?
I’m a nerd. I like to read. I try to understand quantum physics. I watch a lot of furniture restoration videos on YouTube. I have a lot of houseplants that I take good care of.
- If you weren’t an actor, what career would you have pursued?
This is a question I ask myself all the time. A majority of my family are in education. I was very into architecture when I was in high school. I like the idea of being a consultant and telling people what to do, hahaha.
- What’s the biggest lure of being famous?
Oh man, financial stability maybe, but at what cost?!
Thanks, A.J., for sharing a fast and lively fifteen minutes with us! It’s been a pleasure to see you on stage and to have the opportunity to talk to you; I look forward to your upcoming performances and your never-ending fame!
