John J. McNally (c. 1854, Charlestown, Massachusetts – March 25, 1931, Brooklyn, New York) was an American playwright, journalist, and drama critic. As a playwright he is best known for penning the books for many Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals staged between the years 1895–1909. Many of these were crafted for the Rogers Brothers, or were created in collaboration with the songwriting team of Jean Schwartz and William Jerome. He was a longtime drama critic and editor for various Boston newspapers.

Life and career

Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, McNally was a graduate of Harvard Law School.Fisher & Hardison Londré, p. 444 He went into journalism; working first for ''The Boston Times'' as a reporter and then a drama editor. He then worked as both a writer and editor for ''The Boston Star'' before becoming a longtime drama critic for ''The Boston Herald''. McNally's first play, ''Revels'' (1880), was written as a starring vehicle for the Rogers Brothers. He went on to write numerous more plays for them; such as ''Rogers Brothers in London'', ''Rogers Brothers in Paris'', ''Rogers Brother in Wall Street'', and ''Rogers Brothers in Tammany Hall''. His musical play ''The Widow Jones'' (1895) was created as a starring vehicle for the actress and singer May Irwin. It premiered at the Boston Museum (theatre), Boston Museum theatre before moving to Broadway. Irwin next starred in his three act play ''Courted into Court'' (1896) at Broadway's Bijou Theatre (Manhattan, 1878), Bijou Theatre. McNally collaborated with the song writing team of Jean Schwartz and William Jerome on several Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals; notably writing the books for ''Lifting the Lid'', ''Fritz in Tammany Hall'', ''Lola from Berlin'', and ''In Hayti''. He also wrote the book for the 1903 musical ''Mother Goose (musical), Mother Goose'' which was adapted from the pantomime of the same name by Arthur Collins (theatre manager), Arthur Collins and J. Hickory Wood.Dietz, p. 195 McNally also adapted several works that were created at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for the American stage. McNally died on March 25, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:McNally, John J. 1854 births 1931 deaths American dramatists and playwrights American theater critics Harvard Law School alumni