| Portrait of Broadway Actor Gannon McHale |
| Written by Kayla O'Connell | |||
| Thursday, 07 July 2011 02:07 | |||
 On a beautiful summer afternoon, the Summer Solstice to be exact, I met with Gannon McHale, Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre performer. I thought, what better than a "New York Actor" for TimesSquare.com's New Yorkers section. He is the ultimate New York stereotype; someone who left their hometown for all the wonderful things New York has to offer. As is usually the case, what I experienced turned out to be not quite what I expected. Mr. McHale is a storyteller to the core. His entire life is, in some way, connected to this intrinsic skill. Sitting with him while he recounted his experiences as a New Yorker, and the events and adventures that brought him here was enlightening and always entertaining. McHale is from the smallest state in the country, Rhode Island (not to be confused with Long Island!). Bored with college and facing possible failure, he quit in the fall of 1965. More than aware that the military would soon be calling on him through the Draft, McHale beat them to the punch when he joined the Navy in the spring of 1966, beginning an adventure that would significantly shape who he would become. McHale served on the USS Sturgeon (SSN637), a nuclear powered, fast attack, stealth submarine...the newest the Navy had to offer. During the Cold War when the nation and the world was experiencing extreme unrest, McHale saw and felt it all through the backdrop of the U.S. Navy. He watched the Vietnam War crumble and The Stones and Beatles rise to super stardom all while still just a kid, performing risky, life threatening operations on the Sturgeon and getting drunk and partying like "frat boys could only dream of" on his off days. The Navy taught him responsibility, loyalty and the value of friendship. He formed some of the closest relationships in his life with the men aboard the Sturgeon, bonds that grew stronger over time, and still exist now over 40 years later. After his service in the Navy, McHale attended Rhode Island College for Theatre and English Literature and while there he began to truly develop his acting career. He went professional while still in school and found himself in New York City in 1977. McHale fell in love with New York and has been in the 'city that never sleeps' ever since. He earned that ever elusive title of "Broadway Actor" when he performed in shows like THE SOUND OF MUSIC and JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD. In doing so he learned that there are only two other people who can say they are both Qualified in Submarines by the U.S. Navy and have worked on Broadway. "If there are any others, I would like to meet them!" Like every other aspiring actor who isn't supported by a trust fund, McHale had to have a day job and for many years he paid his bills by "hustling" office work between gigs. He explained that like many journeyman actors his career has had its "peaks and valleys", and he worked hard for those peaks. He recently portrayed Morrie in TUESDAY'S WITH MORRIE at the Barter Theatre in Virginia and for him, this was a high peak. A "two-hander", the play requires an incredible emotional commitment from both actors. "Danny Vaccaro and I left it all out there in a 'puddle of blood' on the stage every night" he said. A true performer, McHale is proud of his work and speaks with conviction about his desire to produce quality work in all areas of his life. When not acting, McHale is a skilled writer. He chronicled his experience on the USS Sturgeon in 2008 in the book "Stealth Boat: Fighting the Cold War in a Fast-Attack Submarine". This book is not only a story about what life was like on such a boat, but it's a history lesson and a mischievous coming of age story as well. McHale puts his storytelling skills to work and weaves an entertaining and informative story about not just a part of his history, but ours as well. It is evident in talking to Mr. McHale and reading his book that he has a profound respect for his military experience and the U.S. Navy. In fact, his respect goes beyond his experience as a young man. In November of 2007, McHale was diagnosed with Stage IVa Squamos Cell Carcinoma. He underwent aggressive radiation and chemotherapy, leaving him unable to swallow or eat and quickly dropping sixty pounds. It was "touch and go" for awhile, but he is now three years cancer-free and although he contributes some of his success to his outlook, he is eternally grateful to the nurses and doctors at the Veteran's Administration New York Harbor Healthcare for saving his life. He vehemently advocates for them, saying "If anyone ever has anything bad to say about the V.A., you send them to me, and I'll set them straight. I would not be here without them." Now a respected actor, Navy veteran, author and cancer survivor, McHale is looking for quality in his future. He has other books he wants to write, and he continues to act, hoping for a future of challenging roles and quality productions. McHale is fiercely intelligent and talented, yet humbly grounded. When I asked if he had any advice for young actors making the same trek he did to the "big city", he hesitated. He finally delivered one of the soundest pieces of advice I have ever heard on acting, he said "you have to know who you are before you can be anyone else". It would seem that Mr. McHale has taken his own advice, he is grounded and clear-headed, not looking back on the past but allowing it to inform his future. He is looking forward to many more years of quality theatre, perhaps film and definitely writing. Theatre folk can take heart that actors like McHale are still willing to leave their blood, sweat and tears on the stage and personally, I eagerly look forward to his future endeavors. McHale is a survivor, a creative problem solver, and a tough spirit; he is truly a New Yorker. For more articles like Portrait of Broadway Actor Gannon McHale, please visit the NYC/The New Yorkers Section of TimesSquare.com
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