Tony Vincent

Tony Vincent
New York City, 2002
Background information
Birth name	Anthony Peter Strascina
Born	25 July 1973 (1973-07-25) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Occupations	Actor, Singer & Songwriter
Years active	1993–present
Website	www.tonyvincent.com

Tony Vincent, born Anthony Peter Strascina, is an American actor, singer and songwriter born in Albuquerque, New Mexico (July 25, 1973) and based out of New York City, New York. He took the stage name Tony Vincent when he was preparing to release his first EP in 1993 .

Early career

Vincent's professional career began while attending Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Using the school's recording studio, he recorded what became his first single, Love Falling Down. It was originally released only to his hometown radio station, KLYT in Albuquerque. The song proved popular. When it hit #1 on that station's charts, he and a college friend hastily organized a campaign to release the single nationally. The single was released nationwide in May 1993 and appeared for one week on the national CCM radio charts in July 1993, becoming the first independently released single ever to do so. After signing a recording contract with Star Song Records / EMI, Vincent spent six more years recording in Nashville. During that time, Vincent had six #1 songs on Billboard's radio charts and his song One Deed, from the album of the same name, was featured in a United Way of America campaign.

Musical Theatre

Rent

In 1998, Vincent moved to New York, and by March 1998 had landed a role in the American touring production of Rent. In January 1999, Vincent returned to New York and made his Broadway debut in the cast of Rent - appearing first in the role of Roger, and then later as Mark - at the Nederlander Theatre.

Jesus Christ Superstar

In 2000, Vincent was cast in the role of Simon Zealotes in the film remake of Jesus Christ Superstar in London; he was the only American to be cast in the film. This new production brought about a revival of the show on Broadway, and Vincent and several of his castmates from the film were asked to star in it. Vincent was again cast as Simon, understudying the lead roles of Jesus and Judas, but in a change just three and a half weeks before opening night, Jason Pebworth - who was originally cast as Judas - left the show, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber moved Vincent into the leading role. Vincent's performance as Judas won him a nomination for an Outer Critics award for "Best Featured Actor". Impressed with his Broadway performances, Webber selected Vincent to travel through China in 2001, introducing the composer's music in a cultural exchange production later released on DVD as Andrew Lloyd Webber-Masterpiece (Live in Beijing).

We Will Rock You

In 2001, Vincent landed the lead role of Galileo Figaro in Queen's musical, We Will Rock You on London's West End. He performed the role from May 2002 through November 2003. Vincent also performed Bohemian Rhapsody with Queen for the band's June 2002 appearance at Party at the Palace, a celebration of Queen Elizabeth's 50th anniversary as monarch.

The North American premiere of We Will Rock You opened in Las Vegas in 2004. Vincent again starred in the production, where he met his future wife, Aspen Miller (now Aspen Vincent), who played his love interest Scaramouche. Vincent remained with the show until July 2005, when he returned to New York City to resume work on his solo music career.

American Idiot

Vincent originated the role of St. Jimmy in American Idiot, the Tony award-winning stage musical based on Green Day's award-winning album of the same name. The production premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009 and, after being extended twice, became Berkeley Rep's most popular and highest grossing production.

When American Idiot opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre (opening April 20, 2010) Tony Vincent received considerable praise for his portrayal of St. Jimmy. Charles Isherwood of the New York Times praised the show as "performed with galvanizing intensity by a terrific cast, ... a pulsating portrait of wasted youth that invokes all the standard genre conventions ... only to transcend them through the power of its music and the artistry of its execution," and describing performance as having "mesmerizing vitality and piercing vocalism." Peter Travers from Rolling Stone, in his review of American Idiot, wrote "the standout is vocal powerhouse Tony Vincent as St. Jimmy, Johnny’s dealer and toxic id.... American Idiot...cuts its own path to the heart. You won’t know what hit you. American Idiot knows no limits — it's a global knockout."

In April 2010, Vincent, along with co-star John Gallagher, Jr., received a 2010 Drama League Award nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award.

Tony Vincent played his final performance as "St. Jimmy" on December 30, 2010, and was succeeded by Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. The show closed on Broadway on April 24, 2011.

Music career

Vincent has released four solo albums: Love Falling Down (1993), Tony Vincent (1995), One Deed (1997), and a five-song EP entitled A Better Way (2007), a collaboration with platinum-selling producer Adam Anders and songwriter Nate Campany. Vincent has had six #1 songs on Billboard's CHR/CRR radio charts: Simple Things, Whole New Spin, Out of My Hands, High, Do You Really and One Deed. He is currently working on a new project with his band, Mercer.

Side Projects

In 2005, the multi-platinum vocal group Il Divo included the song, Hoy Que Ya No Estas Aqui (As Far As Any Man Can See), co-written by Vincent and Jorgen Elofsson (translation by Rudy Perez), on their self-titled debut album. Also a voice-over actor, Vincent provided the voice for the Fisher-Price interactive game, I Can Play Guitar. Vincent has been featured as a guest artist with The SAS Band for several live concert events in England, and performed at the Matthew Shepard Foundation's Embrace! benefit at the Westside Theatre in February 2006. Vincent is also a recurring guest artist at the Vanemuine Theater in Tartu, Estonia, most recently starring in their original production, Queen-The Doors Of Time.

In February 2011 Vincent formed a group called "Bad Omens" with Kevin Max (formerly of DC Talk) and David Larring and proceeded to write tunes for an upcoming recording. However, Vincent left the fledgling, yet promising endeavor in April 2011, apparently to focus on his theatre pursuits.

Discography

Year	Title	Label	Producer
2010	American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording	Warner Bros.	Billie Joe Armstrong
2010	21 Guns, featuring American Idiot cast	Warner Bros.	Billie Joe Armstrong
2007	A Better Way	Adobe Music	Adam Anders
2005	Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen	Hollywood	Oliver Leiber
2004	We Will Rock You (The Original London Cast Recording)	EMI UK	Brian May
2001	Jesus Christ Superstar	Sony Music	Simon Lee
1997	One Deed	EMI/CMG	Dennis Matkosky
1995	Tony Vincent	EMI/CMG	Charlie Peacock and Brent Bourgeois
1993	Love Falling Down	Lampeetone	Tony Vincent

Filmography

Year	Title	Role
2009	Freud's Magic Powder	El Conquistador
2007	Fable	Michael
2001	The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece Live in Beijing	Himself (concert film)
2000	Jesus Christ Superstar	Simon Zealotes

Stage Work

Year	Title	Role	Venue
2010	American Idiot	St. Jimmy	Broadway
2009	American Idiot	St. Jimmy	Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2004-05	We Will Rock You	Galileo Figaro	Las Vegas
2002-03	We Will Rock You	Galileo Figaro	London
2000	Jesus Christ Superstar	Judas Iscariot	Broadway
1999	Rent	Mark / Roger	Broadway
1998	Rent	Swing	First National Tour

External links

• Tony Vincent's Homepage
• Tony Vincent's Official Fan Site
• Tony Vincent's Facebook Page
• Tony Vincent's MySpace Pace