Rob McQuay

Born on July 15, 1962 in Baltimore, MD to Bob & Lillian McQuay, Rob McQuay had his first stage appearance in a neighborhood pageant as the "Strongman" when he was 7 years old. Later, in the 6th grade, he portrayed Tom Sawyer in a "Reader's Theatre" piece at Towson Elementary School. Finally, when he was 14, he acted in his first real play playing the role of Dr. Humphries in "Life With Father" at Towsontowne Junior High School. Once in High School, Rob played roles in "The Solid Gold Cadillac," "Guys & Dolls" "Three Blind Mice" and "Damn Yankees." A graduate of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), Rob majored in Communications and minored in Theatre. He was involved in every Main stage production at the college in his four years either onstage or backstage. After graduation he began his theatre career working in local Community and Dinner Theatres around the Baltimore area. In 1986, Rob landed his first role at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD and met his future wife, Channez McGlasson. In 1987 the two were married and in 1989 they moved to Chicago with their 9-month old son, Daniel. In Chicago Rob landed the role of Joe Cable in "South Pacific" at the Drury Lane Dinner Theatre in Evergreen Park, IL and joined Actor's Equity Association. After a 6-month stint at Drury Lane the family moved back to Maryland and continued their acting careers. During a vacation at Ocean City, MD in August 1990, Rob had a tragic accident and broke his neck while body-surfing in the ocean. After rehabilitation, Rob returned to the stage both performing and directing around the Washington DC area and since has broken the traditional typecasting of "wheelchair actors," demonstrating to fellow actors and audiences alike the importance of focusing on abilities rather than disabilities. Attesting to his acting talent, he has performed at The Shakespeare Theatre, The Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Everyman Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, The Roundhouse Theatre, The Open Circle Theatre, Theatre on The Hill, and the Very Special Arts Young Playwrights Program at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rob has also performed at Toby's Dinner Theatre, Burnbrae Dinner Theatre, West End Dinner Theatre, The Hayloft Dinner Theatre, Towsontowne Dinner Theatre, Fells Point Dinner Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, and Center Stage in Baltimore. On the small screen, Rob has been seen in the TV series, Trinity, with Danny Aiello in his series Dellaventura, and as the spokesman for the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Moreover, his portrayal of Jesus in "Godspell" (The Roundhouse Theatre), Tateh in "Ragtime: The Musical" (Toby's), and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Circle Theatre) have earned him Helen Hayes Nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. Rob also earned a Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Godspell at Toby's the Dinner Theatre of Columbia. After a swimming accident left him a paraplegic, Rob began taking on disability advocacy while he worked at the National Endowment For The Arts. From there Rob has gone on to be the Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Committee for Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilites (Maryland), earned the County Executive Outstanding Award, The Victory Award (NRH), and has served on Panels and discussion groups for the West Virginia Division of Culture & History, WV Commission on the Arts, and VSA Arts.