Neal McDonough, Guest Conductor

Neal McDonough

GUEST CONDUCTOR

In 2018, Dermot Mulroney set a new standard when he not only guest conducted the Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea, but played the cello. Last year, Erich Bergen added a new twist to the concert when he served as both the guest conductor and the guest performer.

Now Neal McDonough will pull his own form of double high school’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie

duty, guest conducting both this year’s Pops by the Sea at-home edition as well as next year’s in-person.

When he eventually steps onstage at the Hyannis Village Green, it will serve as a highlight for the 1984 Barnstable McDonough says. “It all starts with him. He gave me my

High grad, who recalls recommending the iconic event to guests at his parents’ Rainbow Motel in Hyannis in the early years of the Pops.

“This is such a cool thing for a Hyannis boy. When I was at the motel, I’d tell people, ‘This is the Pops weekend. You of Tomorrow,” where he played villain Damien Darhk; None of this is lost on McDonough, who is grateful for

have to go down to see it. It’s fantastic,’” he says. “For me to finally get to go to it and be onstage and conduct with Keith Lockhart, are you kidding me? How cool is that?

“I’m so looking forward to what we do this year for fun and I’m really looking forward to when I get to do the real thing,” he continues. “I’m going to be so good at conducting a year from now, you have no idea.”

It’s a comment made in jest by the affable McDonough, who boasts over 125 acting credits, many of which have him playing the part of the bad guy.

Off-screen, he is a devoted family man; he and his wife Ruvé currently live outside of Vancouver, Canada, where they are raising five children. “Acting is fun and it’s my job. I love the heck out of it, but it’s a deep third place behind Still, he has a deep appreciation for the arts and how they can enrich a person’s life. “The most successful people are the real artists in life,” he says. “Look at Keith Lockhart. Look at Muhammad Ali. Look at the greats, they also were the most artistic guys and so completely unique to breed such success.”

McDonough’s passion for the arts dates back to his childhood. His first starring role was as Snoopy in his Brown.” On opening night, he received a standing ovation.

To this day, he credits the school’s drama club director John Sullivan for “having faith in this kid who was not doing well in school and not on any sports teams,” first break.”

That first break has led to countless others, recently snowballing to a string of bigger and better TV and film roles that have included “Arrow” and “DC’s Legends “Yellowstone” opposite Kevin Costner; and most recently “Red Stone,” a feature which he executive produced and which also stars Bruce Willis.

God and my family,” he says. having the opportunity to do what he loves. “For me, it’s been 30 years of people paying me to do something I would do for free,” he says. “I’ve been blessed with so much work the past five years. It’s been really nonstop. It is a blessing to be here. I can’t say how fortunate I am. God is certainly on my side, telling me where to go. It is pretty humbling to say the least.”