The Carroll Theatre Department’s John Harvey recently received a Schmidt and Jones Award Nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. John is a senior at Carroll Senior High School.

John is an active member of the Carroll Senior High Thespian Troupe, recently earning the rank of National Honor Thespian. During the four years John has dedicated to the theatre program, he has performed in the musical productions of White Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and the Beast, and Legally Blonde The Musical as Professor Callahan.   John has also participated as a cast member in the One Act Play competition of Unexpected Tenderness and New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch De Spinoza, playing the part of Baruch De Spinoza. John participated in the Musical Theatre Showcase and competed in the Poetry Slam Competiton in 2011. Juggling his time with Carroll Dragon Band, John helped with The Haunted Asylum, The Haunted Circus, and The Mystery Time Machine. Due to his diligent work in the Theatre department, John was awarded the Rising Star Award in 2011, also winning the Poetry Slam competition that year as well.   Selected as Best Actor for his portrayal of Baruch De Spinoza in the UIL District 4 One Act Play Competition in 2013, and awarded Best Actor in Carroll Theatre, John has also just been nominated for the Schmidt and Jones Awards, presented by Lyric Stage, for Best Supporting Actor in the Carroll Theatre production of Legally Blonde The Musical.

Throughout John’s life, performing has been a passion, beginning at an early age participating in church musicals. Music has always been an integral part of his life. John has taken piano lessons since kindergarten, expanding his formal training to other percussion instruments starting in sixth grade and formal voice lessons in eighth grade. Through music he can feel what the composers are trying to convey, and in performances, share that mood or feeling with the audience. To John, performance is a liberating way to express one’s own self as well. To say that John is passionate about theatre is a huge understatement. He loves the long hours of collaboration with other actors. John believes taking instruction from directors is a wonderful way to learn and grow, and that inhabiting the mind of each character played is fascinating and educational. Because of this passion, John plans to continue his training at Texas State University, where he will work toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting.  Asked how he feels about the Schmidt and Jones Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Professor Callahan, John simply states, “It is an unexpected honor just to be nominated.  I am so proud of all in the cast and crew of Legally Blonde The Musical, and feel honored to be a part of such a wonderful show.”