Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Willie Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Willie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As an 8 year old – already very interested in singing and guitar – I would watch a soap opera called Dark Shadows and long to be in it. I told my mother i wanted to be an actor – she was supportive and told me anything i wanted to do was within my reach if you worked hard enough for it. i swore to apply myself

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Willie Wilson is the 2023 TONY-award nominee for Excellence in Theatre Education plus Montclair State University’s Joanne Fox Award winner. Willie Wilson creates a community, a loving extended family in the process of making high-quality productions. Willie lives TAG’s mission which is to “lead with love and kindness to create a safe and brave space for theatre kids.” The Record newspaper says it most succinctly, “Wilson is beloved in North Jersey as much for his altruistic nature as for his musical talent and outsize personality.” Simply put, the heart and soul of Willie Wilson is a lifelong journey of benevolence and pure musical joy. Launching in 1985 as The Metros – a popular 80’s punk/pop band, evolving into Willie Wilson and The Willies – an even more popular cover band, expanding into theatre with Willie Wilson’s Theatre Arts Group/TAG – celebrating 26 years in children’s musical theatre with a 99% repeat rate, Willie has built a large NJ/NY following with a fiercely loyal client base that stretches across generations of families.

PHILANTHROPY
It is estimated that Willie has raised over $1.5 million for pediatric cancer. In 1990, when reading a story in the local newspaper about a child fighting cancer, Willie’s heart was tugged. Initially, the family had suspicions when he called. Multiple solicitors had already called to “raise money” for the family, but when Willie explained 100% of the cover charge would be collected and kept by them, they agreed. $20,000 was collected from Willie’s fans and handed to the family. That was the first of hundreds of fundraising events which Willie spearheaded.

ABSTRACT
• First and foremost, service excellence to all clients
• Energetic, entertaining, and vibrant
• Vocals – His main instrument
• Piano and Guitar – Wide spectrum of variety
• Director- Theatre camps and after-school programs
• Coach – Vocal, Acting, Guitar and Piano lessons

ABILITY
• Founder/Owner/Director  2000 – Present
TAG/THEATRE ARTS GROUP – After-school & summer theater programs
ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOLS – after-school theater programs
• Educator  2018 – Present
MARBLE JAM – adult special needs music therapy & creative writing
Young adults with special needs
• Front man  1990 – 2023
Lead vocals and guitar for THE WILLIES
• M.C. at 98.7 FM ESPN Radio  1990 – 2022
Lead vocals and guitar for WILLIE WILSON ESPN-ALL STARS featuring Bernie Williams

APPEARANCES
• Television/Theatre/Film –
WPIX Channel 11 Magee Hickey interview; TAG was only NJ program to open a DOH-approved Covid-Safe summer program for kids in 2020
Lucca – First Rites filmed in 2024
The Michael Kay Show as emcee and leader of The ESPN All-Star band
Several appearances on “Nickelodeon’s U Pick Live”
Featured speaker on Video-Radio w/ Meg Griffin
Fagin – Oliver – Apple Cider Players
Sneaky Sam – Snow White Goes West – Prince Street Players
Lazar Wolf – Bergen County Players

• Music and Comedy appearances –
Catch a Rising Star – NYC – Multiple performances
Bananas Comedy Club – Poughkeepsie N.Y. & Hasbrouck Heights N.J. – Multiple performances
Wally’s Backstage Café – Standup Comedy
ESPN ALL STAR BAND–YES Network @ 98.7 FM – Master of Ceremonies/Lead Vocals/Front Man/Guitar/Piano. Accompanied Bernie Williams/Yankee center fielder in Bernie’s jazz band. MC for promotional, charitable, athletic ESPN events.
The Grass Roots – accompanied 1988 – 1991

CAPACITY
Baritone Vocals, Acting, Dancing, Improvisation, Music Instruction, Accomplished Guitar and Piano Player, Song Writer, Comedian, Choreographer and Director, Educator, Drama and Vocal Therapist.

MILESTONES

• 2000 – Present ~ Founder/Owner/Director – Willie Wilson’s Theatre Arts Group/TAG – This popular children’s theatre program attracts actors aged 8-15. TAG will celebrate its’ 26th year in 2025. The success of this program is defined by sell-out enrollments, sell-out show tickets, customary standing ovations, 99% repeat rate of enrollees, and 44% of tickets are purchased by the public – unrelated to TAG kids.

• 2000 – 2013 ~ Director/Producer ~ Berkeley School, Westwood, NJ
Mr. Wilson began with an original show which he wrote, called The Wonderful Imagination. This was followed by another original show; Berk-Glee, a third original show called The New Principal, a fourth original show titled The Adventures of Conrad Berkeley, followed by Give My Regards to Berkeley. These were followed by the copyrighted Wizard Of Oz, Grease, Beauty & The Beast, Bye Bye Birdie, Hairspray, Camp Rock, Willy Wonka, The Sound of Music, Annie and Oliver productions.

• 2001 – 2003 ~ Director of Youth Development – Apple Cider Players Directed productions of Wizard of Oz, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.

• 2010 – Present ~ Director, Theatre for these after-school programs:
2024-2025 – St. Elizabeth School, Wyckoff, NJ
2020-2025 – New City Elementary School, New City, NY
2017 – 2023 – Link IB World School, New City, NY
2007 – 2025 – West Nyack Middle School, West Nyack, NY
2004-2011 – Woodside School, Franklin Lakes, NJ
2010-2017 – Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Park Ridge, NJ
2011- 2013 – Bardonia Elementary School, Bardonia, NY
2012-2015 – Colonial Road Elementary School, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Customary shows = The Descendants, Shrek, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Matilda, Frozen, A Chorus Line, Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, High School Musical, Mama Mia!, Guys and Dolls, Bugsy Malone, Fiddler on the Roof, Curtains, School of Rock, Footloose, Snow White Goes West, Lion King, Into The Woods, Beauty & The Beast, Annie and Grease.

• 2018 – Present ~ Director, DramaJam Theatrical Program for the special needs community
DramaJam is an acting & performance program for ages 18 and up with special needs. Under the direction of Willie Wilson, the participants learn all aspects of theater including acting, singing, stage management, and production.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I believe my story is unique. Most kids are not orphaned and living in a car at 17 years old. Although that was rough, I have always believed music saved my life. I always had my guitar to keep me company. And three of my teachers took a special interest in keeping me safe. They are my heroes. They kept me on the right path when getting on the wrong path was inevitable.

I believe I am paying it forward when I help the kids in my theatre program. The productions are always outstanding, but improving the life of the kids is my priority. I have hundreds of kids whose parents claim I changed their child’s life. Their grades improved. Their self-esteem blossomed. And they have friends for the first time in their lives. I see myself in so many of them. I feel like resilience defines me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

COVID was the great pivoter. In the summer of 2020, the Department of Health closed all kids’ summer programs unless they had a Covid Compliance Officer with a list of needed credentials. My wife had just left healthcare after 40 years and qualified, so she registered us with the DOH. We followed their guidelines precisely, and miraculously, we came up with the idea to film a movie instead of a live performance.

All the kids were distanced and masked. When a child had a speaking part, that child was filmed at a distance without their mask. Then, the film crew edited the scenes back together and voila! We had a movie! We also did not use a theatre but showed the film at a socially-distance drive-in-theatre – another brilliant idea. Miraculously and successfully, we had 0% incidence of any COVID transmission. We didn’t make a single dollar, but we saved my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://WilsonTAG.com
• Instagram: WillieWilsonTheatreArtsGroup
• Facebook: WillieWilsonTheatreArtsGroup

Image Credits

Lynn Wilson