Champlin, Blum, Moye and Sullivan Set for Goodspeed's Meet John Doe

By Andrew Gans
October 12, 2006

Complete casting has been announced for the Godspeed Musicals production of Meet John Doe, which will play the Norma Terris Theatre — the company's home for the development of new work — Nov. 9-Dec. 3.

Directed by Michael Baron, who replaces the previously announced Eric Shaeffer, the romantic new musical will feature Joel Blum as the Colonel, Keegan Michael Brown as Beany, Donna Lynne Champlin as Ann Mitchell, James Moye as John Doe, Guy Paul as Connell, Patrick Ryan Sullivan as DB Norton and Melanie Vaughan as Mother.

The ensemble comprises David Andrew Anderson, Ronald L. Brown, Rachel Clark, Monique French, Victoria Huston-Elem, Aaron Lambert, Nicole Mangi, Mark Sanders and Jaron Vesely.

Meet John Doe features music by Andrew Gerle, lyrics by Eddie Sugarman and a book by Gerle and Sugarman with additional story by Matt August. The musical, according to press notes, "tells the tale of a Depression-era reporter who pumps new life into a dying newspaper with a hoax that ignites a national frenzy to save 'John Doe' from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Scrambling to keep the stunt going, she recruits a washed up ballplayer to play the part. But how far will she go to keep up the scam of the century?"

The creative team also includes Alejo Vietti (costume design) and Court Watson (set design).

Tickets, priced at $41, are available by calling (860) 873-8668. For more information visit www.goodspeed.org.