Forrest McClendon
Encyclopedia
Forrest McClendon is an American
stage actor, singer and professor
. McClendon received a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
nomination in 2011
for his portrayal of Mr. Tambo in the Broadway musical, The Scottsboro Boys
. The Scottsboro Boys had marked McClendon's Broadway debut.
. He was raised in the Roodner Court public housing project in South Norwalk. His mother, Ruthie Mae Brown, still resides in Norwalk. He attended Nathan Hale Middle School
and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1983. McClendon received his first formal singing lessons from Lewis Cisto, a teacher in the Norwalk High School music department. He also received lessons from Betty Jones, a Connecticut opera singer, and Cassandra Eaton, the music minister of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk.
He initially studied engineering
at the University of Connecticut
(UC). However, he switched majors to vocal studies, for which he obtained a bachelor's degree
.
in Faith Journey. He also appeared as CC White in a 2005 Prince Music Theatre
revival of Dreamgirls: The Musical
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
He made his Broadway debut as Mr. Tambo in the 2010 musical
, The Scottsboro Boys
, after appearing in the musical off-Broadway. The role led to McClendon's first Tony Award
nomination in May 2011 for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
.
The actor is now in rehearsal
for a regional production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
at the Two Rivers Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey
.
McClendon is a faculty member at Temple University
and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Arts
in Philadelphia. He is a resident of East Lampeter Township, a suburb
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, as of 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage actor, singer and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. McClendon received a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been presented since 1947...
nomination in 2011
65th Tony Awards
The 65th Annual Tony Awards was held on June 12, 2011 to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2010–2011 season. They were held at the Beacon Theatre, ending a fourteen-year tradition of holding the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. The Awards ceremony was broadcast live on CBS...
for his portrayal of Mr. Tambo in the Broadway musical, The Scottsboro Boys
The Scottsboro Boys (musical)
The Scottsboro Boys is a musical with a book by David Thompson, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Based on the Scottsboro Boys trial, the musical is one of the last collaborations between Kander and Ebb prior to the latter's death...
. The Scottsboro Boys had marked McClendon's Broadway debut.
Biography
McClendon was born and raised in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. He was raised in the Roodner Court public housing project in South Norwalk. His mother, Ruthie Mae Brown, still resides in Norwalk. He attended Nathan Hale Middle School
Nathan Hale Middle School
Nathan Hale Middle School is a middle school in Norwalk, Connecticut, Fairfield County, United States of America. Nathan Hale is the top middle school in Norwalk due to the outstanding test scores of the class of 2007. It feeds into Norwalk High School, a high school with a renowned music program...
and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1983. McClendon received his first formal singing lessons from Lewis Cisto, a teacher in the Norwalk High School music department. He also received lessons from Betty Jones, a Connecticut opera singer, and Cassandra Eaton, the music minister of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk.
He initially studied engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
(UC). However, he switched majors to vocal studies, for which he obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
.
Career
In 1993, McClendon appeared off-BroadwayOff-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in Faith Journey. He also appeared as CC White in a 2005 Prince Music Theatre
Prince Music Theatre
The Prince Music Theater was a non-profit theatrical producing organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and specializing in music theatre, including opera, music drama, musical comedy and experimental forms. At it's height it was run by managing director Joe Farina. It was run into the...
revival of Dreamgirls: The Musical
Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
He made his Broadway debut as Mr. Tambo in the 2010 musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, The Scottsboro Boys
The Scottsboro Boys (musical)
The Scottsboro Boys is a musical with a book by David Thompson, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Based on the Scottsboro Boys trial, the musical is one of the last collaborations between Kander and Ebb prior to the latter's death...
, after appearing in the musical off-Broadway. The role led to McClendon's first Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nomination in May 2011 for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been presented since 1947...
.
The actor is now in rehearsal
Rehearsal
For other uses, see Rehearsal or Dress rehearsal A rehearsal is a preparatory event in music and theatre that is performed before the official public performance, as a form of practice, and to ensure that all details of the performance are adequately prepared and coordinated for professional...
for a regional production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
at the Two Rivers Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
.
McClendon is a faculty member at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Arts
University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
in Philadelphia. He is a resident of East Lampeter Township, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, as of 2011.