Meet John Doe - a new American musical by Andrew Gerle and Eddie Sugarman

hen ambitious newspaper reporter Ann Mitchell loses her job in the middle of the Depression, she prints a phony letter from a "John Doe" who, protesting the state of society, promises to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge on Christmas Eve. Circulation goes through the roof and Ann convinces her editor to hire an out-of-work ballplayer, John Willoughby, to stand in while she ghost-writes the "John Doe" column. With her words and his down-home charm, John Doe quickly becomes a national sensation. As Ann, John and "John" tour the country, a strange love triangle begins to form, and when the paper's powerful owner reveals his true plans for John Doe, both Ann and John must confront the hoax they've created and decide what they truly believe in.

Musical numbers

ACT I

Overture

Yesterday's News

I'm Your Man

Page Eight, at the Top

Fast Talking

I Hope You Can See This

I Feel Like a Man

Get the Picture

Be More

Money Talks

He Threw Me

He Speaks To Me

ACT II

Entr'acte and Radio Jingle

Thank You

Bigger Than Baseball

Who the Hell...?

Lighthouses

New American Times

I'm Your Man (Reprise)

Finale

Cast Breakdown

Ann Mitchell

Early thirties, smart, ambitious newspaper reporter who's less cynical than she thinks she is.

John Willoughby

Thirty, down-and-out ex-baseball pitcher, tall, plain-spoken, with a deep sense of fair play.

D.B. Norton

Forties-fifites, a ruthless, charming and wealthy oil mogul turnwed newspaper owner.

Richard Connell

Late fifties, an experienced and unsentimental newspaper editor; surprisingly, also a true patriot.

The Colonel

Fifties, professional hobo and grouch, suspicious of the system and intent on living "off the grid".

Beany

twenties, Connell's high-strung assistant who reveals a sober, mercenary side.

Ensemble

Six to ten (or more) strong personalities, of all types and ages, representing a real cross-section of America.


	W hen ambitious newspaper reporter Ann Mitchell loses her job in the middle of the Depression, she prints a phony letter from a "John Doe" who, protesting the state of society, promises to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge on Christmas Eve. Circulation goes through the roof and Ann convinces her editor to hire an out-of-work ballplayer, John Willoughby, to stand in while she ghost-writes the "John Doe" column. With her words and his down-home charm, John Doe quickly becomes a national sensation. As Ann, John and "John" tour the country, a strange love triangle begins to form, and when the paper's powerful owner reveals his true plans for John Doe, both Ann and John must confront the hoax they've created and decide what they truly believe in.
	Musical numbers ACT I Overture Yesterday's News I'm Your Man Page Eight, at the Top Fast Talking I Hope You Can See This I Feel Like a Man Get the Picture Be More Money Talks He Threw Me He Speaks To Me ACT II Entr'acte and Radio Jingle Thank You Bigger Than Baseball Who the Hell...? Lighthouses New American Times I'm Your Man (Reprise) Finale
	Cast Breakdown Ann Mitchell Early thirties, smart, ambitious newspaper reporter who's less cynical than she thinks she is. John Willoughby Thirty, down-and-out ex-baseball pitcher, tall, plain-spoken, with a deep sense of fair play. D.B. Norton Forties-fifites, a ruthless, charming and wealthy oil mogul turnwed newspaper owner. Richard Connell Late fifties, an experienced and unsentimental newspaper editor; surprisingly, also a true patriot. The Colonel Fifties, professional hobo and grouch, suspicious of the system and intent on living "off the grid". Beany twenties, Connell's high-strung assistant who reveals a sober, mercenary side. Ensemble Six to ten (or more) strong personalities, of all types and ages, representing a real cross-section of America.