Casting for Paper Mill's Drawer Boy — with John Mahoney— Now Complete

By Andrew Gans
January 3, 2005

James Gammon and Louis Cancelmi have joined the cast of the Paper Mill Playhouse's forthcoming production of The Drawer Boy.

A spokesperson for the theatre confirmed that Gammon and Cancelmi will play the roles of, respectively, Angus and Miles. As previously announced, "Frasier" veteran John Mahoney will star as Morgan in the Michael Healey play under the direction of Anna D. Shapiro. The Drawer Boy will play the New Jersey theatre Feb. 23-April 3, 2005.

According to a production statement, The Drawer Boy concerns "two Canadian farmers, boyhood friends and WWII veterans, [who] share a mysterious secret. Their lives are comically interrupted when a young actor asks to live and work with them as 'research' for a play about farming. As he becomes part of their lives, their fascinating story becomes a part of his play and the lines blur between theatre and life, memory and reality."

The creative team for the production comprises Todd Rosenthal (set design), Jess Goldstein (costume design) and Kevin Adams (lighting design) with original music and sound design by Robert Milburn and Michael Bodeen.

James Gammon appeared on Broadway in Buried Child, earning a Tony Award nomination for his work as Dodge. His other theatrical credits include Lie of the Mind (Dramalogue Award), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (Los Angeles Critics Circle Award), Bus Stop (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award), Picnic, Simpatico and Curse of the Starving Class. Gammon's screen credits include "Nash Bridges," "Middle Ages," "Bagdad Café," "Homefront" "Truman," "Roe vs. Wade," "Gore Vidal's Lincoln," "Cool Hand Luke," "Leaving Normal," "Major League," "Ironweed," "Silverado," "Any Which Way You Can," "Urban Cowboy," "The Milagro Beanfield War" and "Vision Quest."

Louis Cancelmi made his Broadway debut in Vincent in Brixton as the understudy for the role of Vincent van Gogh. His regional credits include Until WeFind Each Other, The Nest, Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, The Vortex and Sincerity Forever. On screen Cancelmi has been seen in "Misunderstand," "The New Guy," "Si' Laraby," "Éloge de Rien" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

The Paper Mill Playhouse is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ. Call (973) 376-4343 for more information or visit www.papermill.org.