J. McNally

John J. McNally (c. 1854 – March 25, 1931) was an American playwright, journalist, and drama critic whose work spanned several decades of Broadway musical theatre. Born in Charlestown, Boston, he earned a degree from Harvard Law School before pursuing a career in journalism. He began as a reporter for The Boston Times, where he also served as a drama editor, and subsequently held writing and editorial positions at The Boston Star. He later became a longtime drama critic for The Boston Herald.

McNally's career as a playwright commenced with Revels in 1880, written as a vehicle for the Rogers Brothers. He continued writing for the same performers in a series of productions, including Rogers Brothers in London, Rogers Brothers in Paris, Rogers Brothers in Wall Street, and Rogers Brothers in Tammany Hall. His musical play The Widow Jones (1895), conceived as a starring vehicle for actress and singer May Irwin, premiered at the Boston Museum theatre before transferring to Broadway. Irwin appeared again in his three-act play Courted into Court (1896), which ran at Broadway's Bijou Theatre.

As a book writer, McNally collaborated frequently with the songwriting team of Jean Schwartz and William Jerome on Broadway musicals including Lifting the Lid, Fritz in Tammany Hall, Lola from Berlin, and In Hayti. He also wrote the book for the 1903 musical Mother Goose, adapted from the pantomime of the same name by Arthur Collins and J. Hickory Wood, and adapted several works originating at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for American audiences. His Broadway credits as a performer include the 1918 musical You Know Me Al!. McNally's work as a playwright was concentrated primarily between 1895 and 1909. He died on March 25, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York.