Name: John Gallagher Jr.
Age: 26
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Occupation: Actor/singer/songwriter. Tony winner (for Spring Awakening) starring in American Idiot on Broadway; playing a benefit show for Ars Nova’s 54/10 Music Marathon on July 18.
Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Dave Van Ronk.
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
The number 21 with pepper jack cheese instead of Swiss at City Sub.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
I sweat.
What was your first job in New York?
A toy commercial when I was 15. I can’t recall the name of the toy, but I remember the commercial had a psychedelic theme. Presumably because Austin Powers was very in that year.
What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
It was either Next Fall or A Behanding in Spokane.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
Sometimes. I wait for signs.
What’s your drink?
Bourbon. Irish whiskey also does the trick.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Several times a week.
What’s your favorite medication?
Advil.
What’s hanging above your sofa?
The same map of New York that Liz Lemon has in her office on 30 Rock, a picture of a dam in North Dakota, and an Egon Schiele painting.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
I always let my hair go until I get a job and someone cuts it for me.
When’s bedtime?
I’m filling this questionnaire out at 2 a.m. if that’s any indication.
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I can’t really say, since I’ve only ever experienced the new Times Square. I find the grit and the grime of the Taxi Driver–era 42nd Street pretty alluring, though.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
The guy did a cameo in Zoolander. I like that he’s able to make fun of himself. I think that’s an important quality.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
The occasional bout of claustrophobia.
Who is your mortal enemy?
I’m still mulling over a few candidates.
When’s the last time you drove a car?
February in Los Angeles. I drove a rental into the wall of a rehearsal studio in Burbank. I thought I’d put the car in reverse.
How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
A lot of great small theaters and independent performance venues in the city have been struggling and shuttering.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
Times.
Where do you go to be alone?
The subway or my couch when it gets late.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
I don’t feel like it’s my place to decide. I grew up in a small town and count myself lucky to be living and working here.
