Today we’d like to introduce you to John Barton.
Hi John, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is John Barton and I’m currently a theater teacher for Lewis Middle School in Aldine ISD. How did I get here? Well, I have a degree in Theater from Sam Houston State University, and upon graduation, I started to work in the television industry for Twentieth Television in Houston, and began freelance work in the television and film industry. I have worked on several productions from American Idol to the Super Bowl and everything in between. I also spent eleven years as a radio DJ at KStar Country based in Conroe, TX. I never stopped my love of performing theater, and have been active as an actor with several theater companies in the greater Houston area including Shakespeare in the Shade, Points North Theater, Stage Right, and many more. I have a love of Shakespeare and perform it on a regular basis including being in Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and several other productions. I also love Neil Simon, and have performed as Oscar in The Odd Couple, as well as recently closing The Dinner Party. I began teaching public school right before the COVID pandemic in 2019, and have been teaching online and in person ever since. And while playing roles on stage and in film is difficult, nothing is more challenging than teaching middle school students during these days of uncertainty and attempting to return to normalcy. I’m also a father to two wonderful children, and as a single dad they are my most rewarding achievement ever!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. One of the hardest struggles for anyone in the arts is the fact that more often than not you must sacrifice what you love to do, with what you have to do to earn a living on a regular basis. How many opportunities I’ve had to pass up because of the conflicts with the support I provide for my family have been uncountable. There have been times when I’ve worked three jobs back to back in order to pursue my artistic needs as well as earn a paycheck and provide for my kids. And there is always the fear of rejection. Every audition is a chance for you to fully expose yourself emotionally to someone, only for them to reject you for any reason, no matter how minor. Then as a working parent, you also have to make time for your kids as well, and be there for when they need you. Luckily for me, both my children are now old enough that they are looking to spend less time with their dad and more time with friends, which allows me to try to achieve more artistic pursuits.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to act. I love a crowd of people and live performances. I love to hear the sound of laughter and gasps from an audience. I’m a natural performer who loves to entertain. I’ve performed in big number of musicals, I’ve performed classical Shakespeare, and I’ve performed many different roles. I tend to do comedies more than anything else, but I’ve been known to do some dramatic work too. I also enjoy design work, and love to design and build sets. I’ve recently found the enjoyment of writing as well, and penning out scripts for my students to use. I also enjoy directing, which is fun, but I’d rather be on the stage performing more than anything else. I hope to continue to perform on stage and do more film work when possible.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Acting for the most part never changes. Where we act and how we act though has changed dramatically. Due to the pandemic, virtual productions were tried but do not have the lasting appeal that in person events do. The real problem is that everyone has a portable movie studio in their pocket, everyone is trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. As someone who has had years of training, it can be frustrating to see others with much less talent and experience achieve high degrees of success all while you are still struggling to be seen. But at the same time people have so many new avenues of being seen, it gives more people opportunities than ever before. Media consumption is at an all-time high, and having talented people to produce and tell stories will always be in demand.
Contact Info:
- Email: johnbartontheaterarts@gmail.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_5qO_cSVECImC_mEG4KAA/featured
Image Credits
Johnny Barton
