Lawrence A. Neals Jr Discusses his Career & Learning the "Business" Part of "Show Business"!

I would like you to meet the multi-faceted Lawrence A Neals, Jr. Lawrence is the Co-Creator (Along with Alison Holman) of the​ brand-new Broadway Bound Musical titled, Nobody's Child the Musical. Born and bred in New York City, Lawrence is a Drama graduate of the original “Fame” School of Performing Arts and has performed around the world for over 30 years. Credits include the title role in Julie Taymor’s (Dir. Broadway’s The Lion King) musical, Juan Darien; Smokey Joe’s Café, Rent, and most recently Motor City Live!, Freedom’s Song: A New Musical; Vocalist: New York Shakespeare Company, NY Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, soloist @NYC’s famous Duplex & Bound for Broadway Cabarets. With Carnival Entertainment: lead vocalist on 5 Inaugural ships and 11 original productions and one of the original 8 cast members for CCL’s Playlist Productions. Along with performing worldwide in his salute to Motown and classic soul, Nightshift: A Legacy of Rock and Soul, he is also the Founder/Creative Director of the GeekLifeRules: NY Cosplay Cabaret.

With all Lawrence has accomplished I can truly attest that he is only scratching the surface of his amazing career on both sides of the table, I am so honored to have the chance to feature this amazing artist in my series!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to go into the arts?

I started performing professionally at a very young age (11) but I don’t think I KNEW this is what I wanted to do until a few years later. By the time I was getting ready for high school (I’m a Drama alum of LaGuardia HS of Performing Arts) I was pretty sure that this was going to be my career path.

When did writing and composing come into the picture?

Fairly recently. To be honest, this is probably my first major “serious” project. It’s only in the last 5 or so years that I’ve had a bug to create my content or work with other creatives. After life spending being the instrument of other people’s visions, I’ve found myself wanting to explore what I have to say and how to share that with the world.

Are there any mentors or figures in your life that helped make you the amazing artist you are today?

Well, one: I wouldn’t consider myself an “amazing artist” but, thanks for the compliment. I would say that I’m hard working and strive to have a determined work ethic in my craft. There are signposts or people who I look back on as both being inspirational to me and instrumental in my journey to where I am. My very first professional choir director (of the Brooklyn Boys Choir & BBC school) at BAM, James R. McCarthy instilled discipline right from the beginning. Julie Taymor gave me my first job and theatre and expanded my horizons beyond music. James L. Moody, my mentor from high school taught me more things than I can imagine but most importantly, humility in my craft.

Are there any moments in your career (writing or performing) that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

The very first time that I stood on stage for the curtain call of my first production, Julie Taymor’s Juan Darien when I was 11. Also, the first time I curtain called my first solo show while working on Carnival Cruises. The exhilaration of knowing that something I poured myself into was appreciated by both my peers and the audience was, and is, intoxicating.

What advice would you give any young artist who would like a career in the arts?

Learn the “business” part of “show business” just as well as you learn your craft. And learn to take the reins and be the master of your creative voice as soon as possible. These are the two things that I’ve developed over the decades of my career but wish I had learned when I was a teenager. Teenagers today learn that straight away but it was a different generation back then. Being able to value yourself and a business person, as well as an artist in a world that will laud you but seldom want to compensate you appropriately for it, is a great skill. And being able to give voice to your art without having to depend on someone else is a Godsend.

To learn more about Nobody's Child make sure you visit - https://www.nobodyschildthemusical.com

Nobody's Child the Musical Promo Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CcAdbHi_Dw