The Column Online

John Garcia

Senior Chief Theater Critic/Editor/Founder, THE COLUMN. Member, AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION


John (ACTOR'S EQUITY CANDIDATE) has over 400 productions under his belt, both in equity and non-equity productions. He has performed in Florida, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Boston, and all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Professional credits include originating the following roles in the regional premieres of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM SPELLING BEE (William Barfee), LaChusia's THE WILD PARTY (Phil D'Armano), PAGEANT (M. Bible Belt), and A NEW BRAIN (Richard). He performed in MAN OF LA MANCHA (Sancho) at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma starring John Wilkerson (of Broadway's STATE FAIR) and Milena Govich (of NBC's LAW & ORDER). Other favorite roles include FORUM (Pseudolus); HAIRSPRAY (Edna Turndblad), SPAMALOT (Patsy), JOSEPH..DREAMCOAT (The Pharaoh/Simeon); DAMN YANKEES (Applegate); ANYTHING GOES (Moonface); LIL ABNER (Marryin Sam); GUYS & DOLLS (Nicely-Nicely); 1776 (Courier); DROOD (Neville Landless); and many others.

In May 2010 he portrayed a cameo role in the national tour of XANADU the musical starring Broadway star Max Von Essen at Dallas Summer Musicals.

For two years he performed & toured the country with Walt Disney World Entertainment. While at the Magic Kingdom in Florida he had the great pleasure to work with such stars as Tommy Tune, Ann Miller, and New Kids on the Block. He also performed in many of Disney's Television specials and holiday telecasts of their parades/shows, as well as shows at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and the MGM Studios.

In 2005, John was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Theater from the University of North Texas.

As the Editor and Founder of THE COLUMN, John has had the honor to interview and meet such major stars as Val Kilmer, Constantine Maroulis, Christopher Seiber, George Hamilton, Douglas Sills, Christian Campbell, Christine Ebersole, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Charles Busch, Craig Bierko, Jarrod Emick, Wilson Cruz, Max Von Essen, Leslie Jordan, Tom Wopat, Patrick Cassidy, Morgan Fairchild, Diana DeMarco, Lisa Rinna, Matt Cavanaugh, and many others.

John is also the Executive Director/Producer/Founder of THE COLUMN Awards, which is the ONLY Awards organization in the DFW metroplex that honors excellence in Theater. THE COLUMN Awards is also the ONLY awards organization in the United States that serves as a major fundraiser for BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS. All proceeds (after operating expenses) go to BC/EFA.

John's dream came true in 2011 when he co-hosted and performed at THE COLUMN Awards gala with his idol & inspiration, Broadway legend & two time Tony Award winner, Chita Rivera. He has performed and co-hosted past COLUMN Award Galas with a variety of stars including Orfeh (Tony Award nominee, LEGALLY BLONDE), Tony Award winner (A CHORUS LINE) Donna McKechnie, Max Von Essen (EVITA Broadway revival), Ron Bohmer (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, RAGTIME), Tyler Maynard (Drama Desk nominee, ALTAR BOYZ), Original Broadway stars of RENT- Anthony Rapp & Tony Award winner Wilson Cruz, Michael Urie (TV's UGLY BETTY), Christian Campbell (TV's BOOK OF DANIEL, film TRICK), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Tony Award nominee AVENUE Q), George Wendt (Emmy winner, CHEERS), and Richard Thomas (TV's THE WALTONS). Come 2014 he will co-host the gala with Broadway superstar Rachel York (Original "Norma Cassidy" in VICTOR/VICTORIA; KISS ME KATE, ANYTHING GOES).

John is also one of the most in demand judges in high school Forensic tournaments. He has judged all over the DFW area as well as state, regional, and national competitions. Due to his unique way of judging, John was featured in the 2011 documentary THANK YOU FOR JUDGING which was all about Forensics.
Finally, since its inception, John has served as a judge for the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theater Awards.

Past Reviewed Shows listed by most recent to oldest.

Show Theatre Company Posted
9 to 5: THE MUSICAL (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 5/20/2011
A CHORUS LINE MainStage Irving-Las Colinas 11/8/2019
A DIVINE EVENING WITH CHARLES BUSCH AT&T Performing Arts Center 10/30/2015
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER AT&T Performing Arts Center 8/17/2016
AIDA The Firehouse Theatre 9/14/2018
ALL ABOUT BETTE: An Interlude with Bette Davis Giant Entertainment 8/21/2017
AMERICAN IDIOT (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 5/9/2012
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS - A NEW MUSICAL Dallas Summer Musicals 2/3/2017
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS- A NEW MUSICAL Palace Theater, New York 5/12/2015
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LOVE NEVER DIES Dallas Summer Musicals 7/29/2018
ANYTHING GOES
(National Tour)
AT&T Performing Arts Center 2/15/2013
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 6/13/2011
BRING IT ON (National tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 2/15/2012
BURN THE FLOOR (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 4/7/2011
BUYER & CELLAR AT&T Performing Arts Center 9/4/2014
CABARET Dallas Theater Center 5/4/2011
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - THE MUSICAL
(National Tour)
Dallas Summer Musicals 2/13/2013
DADDY LONG LEGS Lyric Stage 1/20/2018
DEAR EVAN HANSEN Dallas Summer Musicals 11/29/2019
DIRTY DANCING THE MUSICAL Dallas Summer Musicals 6/25/2015
Disney's NEWSIES AT&T Performing Arts Center 5/1/2015
DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID - National Tour Dallas Summer Musicals 2/20/2014
Disney’s ALADDIN - The Broadway Musical Dallas Summer Musicals 6/11/2019
Disney’s FROZEN Broadway Dallas 7/24/2022
Disney’s NEWSIES - The Musical Lyric Stage 9/26/2018
DREAMGIRLS Dallas Theater Center 6/20/2016
EVITA Dallas Summer Musicals 4/16/2014
FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENT THEATRES VARIOUS THEATER REVIEWS: Festival of Independent Theatres 6/3/2013
FINDING NEVERLAND AT&T Performing Arts Center 7/13/2017
FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 6/27/2013
FLY BY NIGHT Dallas Theater Center 5/6/2013
FUN HOME AT&T Performing Arts Center 9/20/2017
GHOST THE MUSICAL (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 1/29/2014
GIANT Dallas Theater Center 2/3/2012
GIVE IT UP! Dallas Theater Center 1/26/2010
HADESTOWN The Myth. The Musical AT&T Performing Arts Center 1/21/2022
HAMILTON - An American Musical Dallas Summer Musicals 11/19/2021
HAMILTON - An American Musical Dallas Summer Musicals 4/11/2019
HANDS ON A HARDBODY (Second Review) Granbury Theatre Company 6/2/2018
IF/THEN: A New Musical AT&T Performing Arts Center 1/28/2016
IN THE HEIGHTS AT&T Performing Arts Center 3/14/2012
IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS - National Tour Dallas Summer Musicals 12/18/2013
JEKYLL & HYDE THE MUSICAL (Pre-Broadway National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 12/7/2012
JERSEY BOYS (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 6/17/2012
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (National Tour) Broadway Dallas 4/8/2022
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Granbury Theatre Company 8/31/2017
KINKY BOOTS (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 2/27/2015
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 4/11/2012
LES MISERABLES Dallas Summer Musicals 4/27/2018
LES MISERABLES Dallas Theater Center 7/9/2014
LES MISERABLES (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 12/21/2011
MAMMA MIA! Brick Road Theatre 10/25/2018
MEAN GIRLS (National Tour) Broadway Dallas 5/6/2022
MEMPHIS (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 5/16/2012
MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL AT&T Performing Arts Center 7/30/2015
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL! Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts 8/14/2018
NEXT TO NORMAL Uptown Players 6/20/2011
ON YOUR FEET: THE EMILIO & GLORIA ESTEFAN BROADWAY MUSICAL Dallas Summer Musicals 3/6/2018
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND AT&T Performing Arts Center 12/18/2019
PIPPIN Dallas Summer Musicals 7/10/2015
PIPPIN (second opinion review) The Firehouse Theatre 8/10/2017
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the musical Dallas Summer Musicals 5/16/2013
RAGTIME - 2nd Review Plaza Theatre Company 11/6/2012
ROCK OF AGES (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 5/18/2011
RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA Dallas Summer Musicals 6/11/2015
SCHOOL OF ROCK- The Musical Dallas Summer Musicals 8/17/2018
SISTER ACT (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 6/6/2013
SIX The Musical AT&T Performing Arts Center 12/9/2022
SOMETHING ROTTEN AT&T Performing Arts Center 6/14/2017
SPRING'S AWAKENING Outcry Theatre Company 7/9/2018
SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical AT&T Performing Arts Center 4/27/2022
SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York, NY 6/22/2018
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 10/5/2012
THE BODYGUARD Dallas Summer Musicals 7/21/2017
THE BOOK OF MORMON AT&T Performing Arts Center 12/21/2016
THE BOOK OF MORMON (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 8/24/2013
THE BOY FROM OZ Uptown Players 7/29/2014
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Dallas Summer Musicals 2/3/2016
THE COLOR PURPLE Dallas Summer Musicals 1/25/2018
THE DIVINE SISTER (Regional Premiere) Uptown Players 7/16/2012
THE HUMANS AT&T Performing Arts Center 5/10/2018
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Dallas Summer Musicals 12/21/2018
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT&T Performing Arts Center 8/11/2014
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG AT&T Performing Arts Center 6/14/2019
THE PROM AT&T Performing Arts Center 7/28/2022
THE PROM: A NEW MUSICAL The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta) 9/22/2016
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL Plaza Theatre Company 3/22/2011
THE TEMPERAMENTALS (Regional Premiere) Uptown Players 10/9/2011
THE VISIT Lyceum Theatre, New York 5/13/2015
TRACES
(National Tour)
AT&T Performing Arts Center 6/12/2013
WAITRESS Dallas Summer Musicals 3/31/2018
WAR HORSE AT&T Performing Arts Center 9/14/2012
WE WILL ROCK YOU, The Musical by QUEEN and Ben Elton (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 3/5/2014
WEST SIDE STORY (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 10/5/2011
WICKED Dallas Summer Musicals 4/22/2016
WICKED
(National Tour)
Dallas Summer Musicals 4/15/2013
XANADU WaterTower Theatre 8/5/2013
XANADU (National Tour) Dallas Summer Musicals 4/9/2010
YOUNG FRANKESTEIN (National Tour) AT&T Performing Arts Center 1/5/2011