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Nathan Johnson

Nathan Johnson

Nathan Johnson is a queer performer/playwright/artist. He was a finalist for the Dramatists Guild Fellowship, a recipient of the National Queer Theatre-WIO Fellowship and a recipient of the Mary Louise Rockwell Scholarship from Primary Stages. His plays have been performed and/or received finalist positions at The SAUK, American Stage, Woven Theatre, Meanwhile Park Playwriting Prize, Bite Sized Theatre, The Chain Theatre, and The Magnetic Theatre.

As an actor, he’s worked in off Broadway, television, and film (My Big Gay Italian Wedding, The Party planner with David Tutera, One Life to Live). He has done makeup for hundreds of celebrities including Paul McCartney, Liza Minnelli, Kate McKinnon, Lea Michele, Paula Abdul, Annette Bening—and his most beloved Charles Busch and Julie Halston. He is most recognized from his time as the on-air artist on two seasons of Project Runway. He has been featured as a writer/expert in Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Brides, New Beauty and many others.

He earned his MFA at Columbia University. @nathanwalnut on all the socials.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Nathan Johnson

First Show:

Cats!

Favorite Show:

Kinky Boots, Waitess, Kimberly Akimbo....

Favorite Stories:



MOST POPULAR ARTICLES


Review: Josh Groban's FIND YOUR LIGHT BENEFIT CONCERT was magical
Review: Josh Groban's FIND YOUR LIGHT BENEFIT CONCERT was magical
October 31, 2024

The night’s entertainment, including performances by the likes of Sara Bareilles, Josh Groban and Lin Manuel Miranda was extraordinary. Find Your Light is fueled by a clear mission: to bridge the gap where arts education is scarce and support the teachers who make these programs possible.

Review: Hannah Gadsby's WOOF! at Abrons Arts Center Is Everything
Review: Hannah Gadsby's WOOF! at Abrons Arts Center Is Everything
October 7, 2024

The brilliance of Gadsby’s show doesn’t just lie in the variety of topics but in the way they weave them together into a tapestry of ideas that is somehow both hysterically absurd and deeply logical. Jaws dropped, minds were altered. Hannah doesn’t deliver their message with a sledgehammer—they plant the seeds and let us arrive there ourselves

Review: JIMMY FALLON'S TONIGHTMARES at Rockefeller Center Is Thrilling
Review: JIMMY FALLON'S TONIGHTMARES at Rockefeller Center Is Thrilling
September 20, 2024

See what our critic thought of TONIGHTMARES. Walking through Tonightmares is like stepping through one perfectly crafted horror movie after another. Even if you’re not the screaming type, the sheer majesty of what’s been created in the heart of New York will blow your mind. And if, like me, you’re a big ol’ chicken. you’ll be screaming again and again. Buckle up, listen to Jimmy, and follow Taylor.

Review: MURDER FOR BREAKFAST at Joe's Pub Is “Chef’s Kiss”
Review: MURDER FOR BREAKFAST at Joe's Pub Is “Chef’s Kiss”
September 9, 2024

Sayre’s genius isn’t just in tapping perfectly into the noir world that inspired him. He crafts bold, over-the-top characters who, despite their outrageousness, feel completely believable in this heightened reality. The script is loaded with sharp one-liners, brilliant turns of phrase, and expertly executed callbacks. It has the feel of an old radio play—think *Haunted Honeymoon*, but with no werewolves and plenty of d*ck.

Review: KIKI BALL-CHANGE: HOE DOWN at Joe's Pub
Review: KIKI BALL-CHANGE: HOE DOWN at Joe's Pub
September 5, 2024

Kiki is brilliant in every way. I walked in expecting campy Dolly drag, but what I got was parody perfection, endless belly laughs, and a deeply moving experience. This is a must-see show for anyone who loves drag and queer comedy.

Review: Alexis Michelle Shines in HEROINE WORSHIP at Joe's Pub
Review: Alexis Michelle Shines in HEROINE WORSHIP at Joe's Pub
June 27, 2024

Michelle paid tribute to Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Stockard Channing, Dionne Warwick, and many others, each song revealing new sides of Alexis and showcasing her range as both a singer and an actress. With the change of a lyric, she could shift from funny to touching, from charming to deep. Alexis exudes star quality.

Review: Linda Eder is Breathtaking at 54 Below
Review: Linda Eder is Breathtaking at 54 Below
June 22, 2024

Linda Eder is a talent so magnificent, she doesn't seem real. Song after song, with a constant sparkle in her eye, Eder drops to the lowest lows and soars to the highest heights with ease. To be in a room with that voice is a privilege. One moment, her rich tones carry you away; the next, they break your heart.

Review: Robert Bannon's PRIDE PLAYLIST at 54 Below Is a Celebration!
Review: Robert Bannon's PRIDE PLAYLIST at 54 Below Is a Celebration!
June 16, 2024

Robert is a party and always has a genuine smile on his face, as if, in his own impish way, he is inviting anyone with joy in their hearts to join him. I will say, there is one major flaw with every Robert Bannon show, at least the two I’ve seen: they aren’t long enough!

Review: Betty Buckley Enchants at Joe's Pub
Review: Betty Buckley Enchants at Joe's Pub
May 20, 2024

From the first notes of 'It's a Lovely Day Today,' Betty Buckley's iconic voice resonated through the intimate venue. It was the perfect start to an evening that blended new songs and beloved classics. It truly was a collage of perfection. Buckley is unparalleled when it comes to song interpretation. I’d go as far to say she is the master’s master.

Review: Celia Berk's A DREAM AND A SONG at The Laurie Beechman Theatre is a triumph!
Review: Celia Berk's A DREAM AND A SONG at The Laurie Beechman Theatre is a triumph!
May 14, 2024

Sullivan's work is tailor-made for an instrument as pure and nuanced as Berk’s voice. The May 12th show was phenomenal.

Review: SHINING IN MISERY at 54 Below Shines!
Review: SHINING IN MISERY at 54 Below Shines!
May 11, 2024

The madcap adventure took us on a tour de force celebration of some of Stephen King’s most beloved characters, brimming with so many references that even the biggest King aficionado would have their work cut out for them. And it’s not only King who earns the honor of a parody—no musical theatre show or pop culture icon was safe!

Review: SAUNA BOY at Laurie Beechman Theatre is Fun and Deep
Review: SAUNA BOY at Laurie Beechman Theatre is Fun and Deep
April 20, 2024

In SAUNA BOY, Dan Ireland-Reeves offers audiences a captivating and intimate glimpse into London’s gay bathhouse culture. Dan effortlessly draws laughter from the audience as we follow his journey from his initial interview at the sauna to its climactic final days. Dan seamlessly embodyies a variety of vivid and fully realized characters.

Review: Adam Sank's BAD DATES at The Stonewall Inn Is Queer Comedy Gold
Review: Adam Sank's BAD DATES at The Stonewall Inn Is Queer Comedy Gold
April 9, 2024

Adam Sank is a comedy mainstay in the queer community, so it's no surprise that BAD DATES was awarded not just one, but two BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards last year. With sold-out runs in NYC, Wilton Manors, and Palm Springs, and now two encore performances, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It all boils down to one simple factor: Adam Sank.

Review: Orfeh Shines the Brightest at Café Carlyle with 'MY OTHER GREAT LOVES'
Review: Orfeh Shines the Brightest at Café Carlyle with 'MY OTHER GREAT LOVES'
March 23, 2024

In a city with no shortage of stars, Orfeh shines among the brightest. Catch her at Café Carlyle on 3/23. Equal parts class and sass, Orfeh sings like a master, exuding calm, cool, and effortless charm. Despite the awe-inspiring vocal pyrotechnics, the petite powerhouse never breaks a sweat. The evening was nothing short of perfect.

Review: THE TITANS OF MEDIA TRILOGY: MARTHA STEWART at Joe's Pub is a Good Thing
Review: THE TITANS OF MEDIA TRILOGY: MARTHA STEWART at Joe's Pub is a Good Thing
March 2, 2024

THE TITANS OF MEDIA TRILOGY: MARTHA STEWART is a delight for the senses. From the moment Rafferty steps onto the Joe’s Pub stage, the atmosphere crackles. His infectious energy is a firecracker of joy and passion and once that fuse is lit, there’s no going back.

Review: THE LOVE BALL Is a Masterclass in Drag Excellence at Warsaw
Review: THE LOVE BALL Is a Masterclass in Drag Excellence at Warsaw
March 4, 2024

The Love Ball is a spectacle of wigs, fashion, makeup, body, and talent. It’s part concert, part pageant, part Paris Fashion Week, part multimedia Broadway-level production, with first-class performers at the top of their game that needs to be seen to be believed.

Review: A ROBERT BANNON CHRISTMAS SPECIAL at Chelsea Table + Stage is Merry and Bright!
Review: A ROBERT BANNON CHRISTMAS SPECIAL at Chelsea Table + Stage is Merry and Bright!
December 13, 2023

The 70-minute show kicked off with the festive'Happy Holidays,' establishing the cheerful tone for the entire night. By the second song, the entire audience was joyfully singing along, creating a sense of community that held until the final bow.

Review: John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin's CASSETTE ROULETTE at Joe's Pub Is a Winner!
Review: John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin's CASSETTE ROULETTE at Joe's Pub Is a Winner!
November 20, 2023

When the charismatic bartender at Joe’s Pub takes it upon himself to kick off the evening with an unprompted “I've seen this show three times. It's unbelievable,” you just know you're in for an extraordinary experience. And let me assure you, he wasn't exaggerating. It's not just great; it's freakin' awesome.

Review: David Dean Bottrell Teaches A Master Class In Storytelling With THE DEATH OF ME YET at Pangea
Review: David Dean Bottrell Teaches A Master Class In Storytelling With THE DEATH OF ME YET at Pangea
November 16, 2023

If I were to ask a hundred people, 'Who wants to attend an eighty-minute show about death?' I'm reasonably certain that at least ninety-percent would say, “I’m busy!' In most instances, those ninety percent would have saved themselves from a dull evening. However, in the unique case of David Dean Bottrell, they would have been dead wrong.

Review: MAMIE PARRIS - SURRENDER : AN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER THRILL RIDE Is All That and More at The Green Room 42
Review: MAMIE PARRIS - SURRENDER : AN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER THRILL RIDE Is All That and More at The Green Room 42
November 10, 2023

We are only just seeing the tip of the stardom that Mamie Parris is destined to achieve.



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