Jeffrey Mylett
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Mylett was an American
actor
and songwriter
. Born in North Canton, Ohio
, he attended Hoover High School
there, and studied theater
at Carnegie Mellon University
.
He appeared in the original off-Broadway
production of Godspell
. During its initial two-week run at La MaMa
in New York City, the show featured songs by cast members, including two by Mylett. When a team of producers interested in presenting the show in an open-ended commercial transfer brought in songwriter
Stephen Schwartz
to compose a new score, all the original songs (including Mylett's) were replaced, except for "By My Side" by Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon
.
He also appeared in the off-Broadway musical Thoughts (1973), written by Godspell
castmate Lamar Alford, and the Broadway
musical The Magic Show
(1974), in which he was Doug Henning
's standby and also played the role during Henning's vacations. During his scheduled appearances in the show, the character's name was changed from "Doug" to "Jeff."
He recreated his stage role in the film version of Godspell
(1973), and also appeared in the films Money Talks (1972), Brewster's Millions
(1985) and My Man Adam
(1985). He hosted The Rock 'n' Fun Magic Show, a 1975 television special featuring music, magic and comedy, with appearances by Doug Henning
, Bill Cosby
and the Hudson Brothers
. An anticipated series following this special never materialized.
In early 1977, he participated in the workshop in which the musical Working
was created, but when the show premiered at the Goodman Theatre
in Chicago
and later played on Broadway
, the roles he developed in the workshop were performed by Joe Mantegna
.
He was devoted to spiritual teacher Meher Baba
. In The God-Man, a documentary concerning Meher Baba produced for Australian television in 1976, he is interviewed and performs his song "House of the Lord."
He died in Los Angeles
of AIDS
in 1986.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Born in North Canton, Ohio
North Canton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,369 people, 7,114 households, and 4,382 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,697.1 people per square mile . There were 7,506 housing units at an average density of 1,236.8 per square mile...
, he attended Hoover High School
Hoover High School (North Canton, Ohio)
Hoover High School is a public high school in North Canton, Ohio.-Name:The school's original name was simply North Canton High School which students affectionately referred to as No. Ca. Hi...
there, and studied theater
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
.
He appeared in the original off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
production of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
. During its initial two-week run at La MaMa
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is an off-off Broadway theatre founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, and named in reference to her. Located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the theatre grew out of Stewart's tiny basement boutique for her fashion designs; the boutique's space acted as a theatre for...
in New York City, the show featured songs by cast members, including two by Mylett. When a team of producers interested in presenting the show in an open-ended commercial transfer brought in songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz may refer to:*Stephen Schwartz , American musical theater and film lyricist and composer*Stephen Suleyman Schwartz , journalist, political author, and historian...
to compose a new score, all the original songs (including Mylett's) were replaced, except for "By My Side" by Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon
Peggy Gordon (singer)
Peggy Gordon is a singer/songwriter best known for her role as Peggy in the original 1971 Off-Broadway cast of Godspell.Gordon wrote the music By My Side with fellow CMU student Jay Hamburger writing the lyrics. It was the only song that survived the re-scoring of the show by Stephen Schwartz...
.
He also appeared in the off-Broadway musical Thoughts (1973), written by Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
castmate Lamar Alford, and the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical The Magic Show
The Magic Show
The Magic Show is a one-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning. Produced by Edgar Lansbury, it opened in May 1974 at the Cort Theatre and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978...
(1974), in which he was Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
's standby and also played the role during Henning's vacations. During his scheduled appearances in the show, the character's name was changed from "Doug" to "Jeff."
He recreated his stage role in the film version of Godspell
Godspell (film)
Godspell, released in 1973, is the film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical Godspell created by John-Michael Tebelak.Set in modern New York City, the film stars Victor Garber as Jesus and David Haskell as John the Baptist/Judas...
(1973), and also appeared in the films Money Talks (1972), Brewster's Millions
Brewster's Millions
Brewster's Millions is a novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902, originally under the pseudonym of Richard Greaves. It was adapted into a play in 1906, which opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and the novel or play has been made into a film nine times .-Plot introduction:The novel's...
(1985) and My Man Adam
My Man Adam
-Plot:High schooler Adam Swit constantly daydreams about the same beautiful girl. Soon new student Sabrina McKay shows up who's identical to the girl of his dreams. Struggling to win her over, he doesn't do so well until a complex conspiracy throws them both into potential peril.-Principal cast:...
(1985). He hosted The Rock 'n' Fun Magic Show, a 1975 television special featuring music, magic and comedy, with appearances by Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
, Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and the Hudson Brothers
Hudson Brothers
The Hudson Brothers are an American music group formed in Portland, Oregon in the 1970s and consisting of Bill Hudson, Brett Hudson and Mark Hudson...
. An anticipated series following this special never materialized.
In early 1977, he participated in the workshop in which the musical Working
Working (musical)
Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead....
was created, but when the show premiered at the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and later played on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, the roles he developed in the workshop were performed by Joe Mantegna
Joe Mantegna
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Mantegna, Jr. is an American actor, producer, writer,director, and voice actor. He is best known for his roles in box office hits such as Three Amigos , The Godfather Part III , Forget Paris , and Up Close & Personal...
.
He was devoted to spiritual teacher Meher Baba
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
. In The God-Man, a documentary concerning Meher Baba produced for Australian television in 1976, he is interviewed and performs his song "House of the Lord."
He died in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in 1986.