John Barrowman's performing career began when he was just a wee lad. He would climb onto the counter of his mother's Glasgow record shop and sing songs from the Top Ten. And, back at home, his mother says that "he would sing kids’ songs and use a baking spoon as a microphone."
John was born in Glasgow on 11 March 1967. When he was eight years old, Clan Barrowman was relocated by Caterpillar Inc from Glasgow to Aurora, Illinois. But, despite crooning into mom's baking spoon and wowing them down at the record store, it wasn't until John's teenage years that the acting bug finally bit.
At Joliet West High School and the Joliet Drama Guild, John played the role of Barnaby in Hello Dolly during his Freshman Year. This, together with the combined support of his teachers and parents, spurred his ambition to go on the stage. He continued to perform throughout his High School years. With graduation looming, his guidance counselor asked what he wanted to do with his life. John replied, "I want to go into the arts." The counselor said, "Okay, but what do you want to do to fall back on?" John replied, "If I have to have something to fall on, it will have to be my ass."
After High School in the summer of his Freshman and Sophomore years at college John performed at the Opryland USA, a musical Theme Park in Nashville Tennessee. Here, John learned the value of interacting and being accessible to his audience - which has stood him in good stead throughout his life and career.
While working at Opryland, John was offered another theme park performance job with Disney. But John had other plans and turned them down. The Disney representative told him, "You know, most of the people who turn us down end up doing something really BIG. I'm sure we'll see your name in the future."
John’s studies were cut short when he attended an open casting call for a young man who could sing, dance, act and had an American accent. He immediately impressed and was cast as Billy Crocker in Cole Porter's Anything Goes, opposite one of London's premiere theater stars, Elaine Paige.
Shortly after the run began, John received a letter from that same Disney representative. He wrote, "I told you so. The people who know what they want are always the ones we lose."
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