Arcelus, Gabler, Koplin, Holmes and Weisman Featured in Man of the People Web Series

By Andrew Gans
August 28, 2008

Man of the People, a new weekly audio-only web series, features several Broadway actors.

A satirical take on the 2008 election, the series was penned by 2007 Kleban Award winner Jeremy Desmon with additional contributions from Sammy Buck, Chris Nelson and Victor Wishna.

The weekly program concerns a heated mayoral race in the fictional hamlet of Daltonville, which has a population of 1,799. The cast features the talents of Sebastian Arcelus (Jersey Boys, Wicked, Rent), Linda Gabler (Young Frankenstein, Drowsy Chaperone), Russell Koplin (Les Misérables, James Joyce's The Dead), Michael Thomas Holmes (Oklahoma!) and Lauren Weisman ("Canterbury's Law").

"Comprised of the 'found' tapes of a small-town mayor secretly audiotaping his every political move," press notes state, "this episodic download follows Woody Woodson as he drags Daltonville through a series of political minefields, trudging along his quixotic quest for re-election (and, of course, his place in history)."

The first episode, entitled "Woody Takes on Childhood Obesity," launched April 26. New episodes — 12-15 minutes in length — will be posted each Tuesday until Election Day; downloads are free of charge.

Brent Lord is the audio producer and editor of the project.

Among the other titles in the 11-part series are "Mr. Doug's Haircuts for Boys" and "Woody Battles Big Oil." For more information or to view the series, visit www.woody4mayor.com.