On the heels of a successful off-Broadway production, Conway’s own Tyler Conroy wants to set the record straight — he’s more than just that “Taylor Swift guy.”
While being a “superfan” has awarded Conroy some incredible opportunities, like being able to create a book on Swift’s career, and he admits a good chunk of his successful career he owes to her — in fact, he thanks her in some of his videos on his YouTube channel — Conroy’s passion for performing started at a young age right here in western Massachusetts. While he would later take the stage in performances for Frontier Regional School, Ja’Duke and Shea Theater, Conroy traces the exact moment he knew he wanted to be a performer to when he was not quite a fourth-grader at Conway Elementary School.
“I remember once you were in fourth grade, you could audition to be in the solo numbers. Every year I was like, ‘I’m one year closer to fourth grade, and one year closer to auditioning,’” said Conroy.
Finally, the day would come when Conroy could go after that spotlight and he wound up nailing the audition, earning the role as the lead singer in its production of “The Temptations.” He recalls the sheer joy of being able to perform songs like “My Girl” in front of his peers — and a certain teacher’s feedback that would solidify his choice to pursue a path toward the stage.
“My teacher came up to me at the end of the show and she was just like, ‘This is what you’re supposed to do for the rest of your life.’ That just really inspired me.” Conroy said.
More positive reinforcement would come for Conroy through his employment at Yankee Candle. While Conroy works for the company today out of its New York City office as an associate manager of marketing, he was encouraged early on by his employers to embrace his creative side and subsequently given an opportunity to produce a video for the company — Conroy’s first paid performing gig. He was tasked with creating a song, directing and starring in the ‘flash mob’ video for Yankee Candle. Following the success of that video, Conroy was given more opportunities to assist with social media projects for the company. He happily admits his co-workers at his New York City office are just as supportive as the ones he had as a teenager working for the company.
“The entire team in my office came to support my show I just did in the city,” Conroy said. “They’ve always encouraged, supported and given me platforms to show what I love doing.”
Conroy’s recent show, an off-Broadway production titled, “Tyler Conroy’s Very Broadway Bae Christmas,” sold out at its venue — Feinstein’s/54 Below, a New York City club beneath the once infamous Studio 54. The holiday-themed night featured Conroy doing duets with eight Broadway stars from shows like “Hamilton,” “The Lion King,” “Book of Mormon” and “Anastasia.” This show marked his second for the venue, the first was in May, after being approached by venue organizers while he was on a book tour in support of his Taylor Swift biography.
“I had just released this Taylor Swift book and was doing shows around the country, and was doing one in New York City where it was just like 120 of her fans in a room. I had a guitar and we just had a big Taylor Swift sing-a-long session,” said Conroy. “One of the programming directors of the venue, 54 Below, was at that show and they were like, ‘Hey, you should bring something like this to 54.’”
This venue is known for Broadway performers getting to show what they love more than anything — they can just do things (here) different than their usual shows. I was like, ‘I want to do something different … I want to show people I’m more than just the guy who loves Taylor Swift.’”
Conroy put out the word on social media, calling for Broadway talent to step forward and join him for a duet, and going off the success of the May production, Conroy adopted the same format to his recent Christmas show — this time pulling in Broadway “heavy hitters.”
“I wanted to go after people who don’t ever do stuff like this, that I just am inspired by and love so much. So that’s when I went after the girl who’s currently playing Anastasia, I wanted to get Simba from ‘The Lion King,’ I wanted to get somebody from ‘Hamilton’ … I was determined,” Conroy said. “I wanted to show Broadway and New York City now that I live here that I’m ready; I’m ready to play in their ball game.
Following the success of his Christmas show, Conroy has been invited back to be a part of 54 Below’s next production — a Taylor Swift murder mystery dinner concert on Valentine’s Day. He’s delighted to be a part of this event, where he will play dual roles as host and performer alongside Kathryn Gallagher, a singer and Broadway actress who joined Conroy on stage during his Christmas show for a Swift duet.
“I don’t want to be known as just the ‘Taylor Swift guy,’ but then I do Taylor Swift stuff, so I guess it’s really the best of both worlds,” said Conroy, laughing just a bit at the irony of it all.
While he can’t seem to completely run away from links to Swift, which seems to be doing wonders for his career, he recalls not being able to run away from western Massachusetts either — a scenario that did wonders for his career, as well.
“I spent all of high school so excited to leave western Mass. behind, and it wasn’t until after college when I realized everything I loved, everything I wanted, western Mass. taught me,” Conroy said. “It was where I learned music, where I had opportunities to perform for people, and the opportunity to share original songs at open mic nights and coffee shops. I feel like I took it for granted … I didn’t see it as the platform that sprung me to where I am today.”
Conroy recalled graduating from college and feeling “stuck” in western Massachusetts. He said the time he spent here not only allowed him to appreciate what he was so eager to escape, but also prepared him for future successes. When he made the move to New York City this year, he recalled feeling ready because of his experiences in the Pioneer Valley.
“The hardest part was getting out of my head that western Mass. is ‘bad’ and that it wasn’t ‘the city,’ because while I’ve had some success in New York City, it’s all because I had been preparing in western Mass. for all those years to come here and do stuff like I’m doing now,” said Conroy. “Don’t fear the path, don’t fear where you are in your own personal journey — just keep working on it and moving forward, and you’ll get there.”
Going forward, Conroy is taking things one step at a time, but continues to keep his eye on the prize — a role in a Broadway play. Although he jokes that he may be a ‘bit too old’ for his dream role of Link Larkin in “Hairspray,” he vows to stay committed to his dream until he finds his spot on that coveted stage.
“I always tell myself I wouldn’t mind being in my late 30s, early 40s in a Broadway show. As long as I eventually get onto an actual Broadway stage and I’m doing eight shows a week, then I’ll be happy.” Conroy said. “I don’t care what kind of age that is, and I think by not putting too much of an emphasis on an age limit on myself, I won’t disappoint myself along the way.”
Conroy produces original videos every Tuesday for his YouTube channel. Watch them as well as a full performance of his Christmas production at: YouTube.com/TylerConroyMusic or follow Conroy on Twitter at: @tyvid5