Places Everyone: JJ Niemann Gets Real About His Life On Stage.

If you’re anything like the staff at 47Magazine or one of his 1.1 million followers, you will have been lucky enough to spot JJ Niemann on your TikTok For You Page. Creating a diverse slew of consistently quality and entertaining content, Niemann has garnered a loving and passionate fan base, as well as maintaining his “day job” - living out the career of his dreams. In this interview, 47Magazine was able to get down to the nitty gritty with JJ Niemann of what it means to be a social media influencer while also being a full-time actor. Niemann, the newest cast member of Hamilton, got open and honest with us about past projects, grief, rejection, and even plans for the big screen. 

47Magazine: How do you feel that being a social media influencer has affected your path as an actor? Has it hindered or supported your journey? 

JJ Niemann: The coolest, most tangible difference is that I now feel supported by an online community of millions of friends. At the stage door, no matter what role I’ve played that night, usually 50% or more of the stage door know me by name or have seen my content, and express that they were excited to see me in the show. It truly means the world to feel that support and to get to meet people IRL after connecting online and sharing common laughs and cries together there. Of course, having a platform comes with having some haters and naysayers here and there, which can feel overwhelming at times. But the pros WAY outweigh the cons, and I choose to focus on the joy that content creation brings me, and the joy I can bring to others.

47: Working in some of Broadway's most famous shows and theatres, some performers have built superstitions or rituals they live by to pull off a good show. Do you have any you’ve learned from past cast members or developed yourself? 

JN: Honestly, I don’t have any wild rituals! I just take properly warming up seriously - doing a vocal routine and physical routine before the show so that everything is in alignment. I do love to steam or nebulize my voice, and I swear by my Ricola for my voice and Tiger Balm for the aches and pains!

47: From Broadway to underground theatre, the arts have been graced with some truly amazing roles. What is your DREAM role (ANY show, ANY gender, etc)? 

JN: A dream role I’ve had since college is Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me if You Can. I love roles like that where it’s truly a triple threat role - singing, acting, and dancing while leading big production numbers. However, if gender bent roles are an option, Anne Boleyn in SIX would be SO fun! I identify with her chaos.

47: Musical Theatre is full of powerhouses and iconic performers, who are your three biggest inspirations?

JN: I’m very inspired by artists that I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, whose kindness and work ethic match their massive talent. Susan Stroman, an icon and legend, ran the Smash rehearsal room as it should be - with kindness and grace. I was fortunate enough to play alongside Roger Bart in Back to the Future many times, and he truly took me under his wing, and I learned so much about comic timing and how to command a stage from him. Getting to witness James Monroe Iglehart tear the roof down every day in Hercules, but also be the sweetest and most supportive cast member, is something that really stuck with me. Those three really stick out to me at the moment.

47: Would you ever consider making the leap from stage to screen? Why or why not? 

JN: I’d absolutely LOVE to! The bulk of my training so far as a performer has been for on-stage performance, and I feel my skill sets lend itself naturally to the stage. I’ve definitely started to take more camera acting classes and have been pursuing some of those auditions. It’s such a different medium, and half of the battle is being in the right place at the right time for on-screen work. The other half is having the right tools in your toolbox to know how to best approach self-taping and auditioning for those jobs, which I’m actively working on.

47: With such a long history in the industry, you must have had your fair share of rejections. How do you react to “no’s”? What’s some advice you have for upcoming actors when it comes to auditioning and callbacks, and moving on from a no? 

JN: One of my favorite quotes from a castmate of mine has been “Rejection is Redirection.” We can be thankful for that. And a “no” isn’t even necessarily always a “NO,” sometimes it’s just a “not yet.” I think about doors that have closed for me in the past, and how thankful I am looking back that those doors closed, because it led me to a different door that was open for me, one that I was ready for, and one that was in more alignment with who I am and what I want. I often think about when I initially auditioned for Hamilton years ago, and I was considered for going on tour with the show. I was devastated that it didn't work out, and I thought that door was closed. I'd missed out on doing Hamilton, one of my dream shows. But… if I had taken that tour, I wouldn’t have been in NYC for my callbacks to book my first Original Broadway Cast, Back to the Future, which was a life-changing experience I needed. Now, two and a half years later, the same role I almost did in the touring production opened up in the Broadway company of Hamilton, and I’m getting to do this dream show on Broadway. It was just a “not yet!"

47: How do you react to a yes? What’s the most exciting “yes” you’ve gotten? 

JN: It depends, honestly! When you get a “yes,” it can be the most THRILLING feeling in the world. It means you got the job and put in the work to land that job. But then, immediately, you wrap your head around the fact that the hard work is just beginning, and the road ahead to do the work will be fulfilling but tough. The best “yes” I can remember was getting that call to be in Back to the Future on Broadway, covering Marty McFly. It meant I was going to be in my first Original Broadway Cast, and it also meant that I was going to get to take the final bow on a Broadway stage when I went on for the role. Even though I truly never doubted that the job was mine (I had a lot of intuitions and just a feeling about it), I had waited 5 weeks after my callbacks to hear back. It was like a wash of emotions when my agent called me right before Christmas in 2022. It was truly the best Christmas present ever!

47: I’m sure it’s hard to choose, having done numerous productions over the years, but what has been your favorite part of being able to work on Broadway?

JN: My favorite part of working on Broadway and in this industry is the community. Genuinely, I have met the greatest people and forged the most special friendships through showbiz. I like to joke to people that I got into theatre for “social reasons” in the first place, but it really is true - the best part about these experiences is the people you get to share them with.

47: Having a strong support system is important when doing full show weeks, pushing your body and mind to bring out an amazing performance isn't always easy. Who has been your biggest supporter?

JN: My biggest supporter and hugest fan my entire life was my father. He sadly passed in March, pretty unexpectedly, and it has been the most challenging chapter of my life I’ve ever faced, not having him to go to or call for life advice, career tips, or even the smallest things. However, I know in my heart of hearts he has the best seat in the house every night at my theatre and is cheering me on. I’m honored to be his son and to continue his legacy in this world.

47: To pursue a career in the arts is one of both triumph and uncertainty, for those who choose to do so, they are pushed by their “love for the game.” When was the first moment you realized this is what you wanted to do? 

JN: I had a director in high school when I did a summer production who told me and my parents that if I wanted to pursue this as a career, he thought I genuinely had what it takes if I pursued it and studied it in college. I always knew I loved theatre more than anything else, but I never really considered that I could make it, or even realized there were programs out there to hone my skills. Having that director believe in me gave me the kick I needed to audition for college programs and pursue training in theatre!

47: What’s one piece of advice you’ve kept with you along your acting journey that you always look back on? 

JN: In terms of keeping my head on straight, the best advice has been simple: what’s meant for you won’t pass you by. If it’s for you, it’s FOR you. That has helped me remember to stay in my own lane and path, and not look too much to my left or my right, getting distracted by what others are doing or achieving. Another simple bit of advice that has stuck with me is to “be the kind of person that I would want to be around and work with.” It’s a small world, so it’s always good to operate and act in a workplace or rehearsal room as the kind of person YOU would want to hire and be around every day.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Keep up with JJ on his socials: 

@jjniemann

Or on stage: https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/

Written by Lucy Anderson and Jazzi Almestica for 47 Magazine. 

Creative direction — Lucy Anderson (@lugzyjane), Toni Desiree (@tonidesireethomas)

Production — Emma Oviedo (@emmaovi_), Jazzi Almestica (@shes.so.dope)

Photography — Mark Bluemle (@barks.mindd)

Styling — Shelby Leeming (@shelbyleeming)

Makeup — Emma Oviedo (@emmaovi_)

Hair/asst. — Natasha Teiman (@natasha_teiman)

Clothing from Electrix Vintage @electrixvintage