A man in a three-piece grey suit stands in the middle of a crowd with his arms raised in jubilation. The crowd carries picket signs that have photographs of his face and the words “John Doe.”
James Moye as John Willoughby with the cast of Meet John Doe. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Meet John Doe

An American Musical

date March 15, 2007 — May 20, 2007

When 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. 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.

Artistic Team

Director Eric Schaeffer
Musical Staging Karma Camp
Music Director Jaime Schmidt
Scenic Designer Derek McLane
Costume Designer Alejo Vietti
Lighting Designer Rui Rita
Sound Designer David Budries
Wigs and Hair Designer Cookie Jordan
Orchestrator Jonathan Tunick
Fight Director David Leong
Assistant Stage Manager Jess W. Speaker III
Production Stage Manger Craig A. Horness

Cast

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Heidi Blickenstaff

Ann Mitchell

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Joel Blum

Colonel

Silhouette of a human head on black.

James Moye

John Willoughby

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Guy Paul

Richard Connell

Stephen Gregory Smith

Beany

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Patrick Ryan Sullivan

D.B. Norton

Headshot for Christopher Bloch.

Christopher Bloch

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Suzanne Briar

Ensemble

Michael Bunce

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Thembi Duncan

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Daniel Cohen

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Danielle Eden

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Eleasha Gamble

Ensemble

Amy McWilliams

Ensemble

Tracy Lynn Olivera

Ensemble

Thomas Adrian Simpson

Ensemble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Kimberly McNeese

Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Joe Peck

Understudy

From the Gallery

A man in a three-piece grey suit stands in the middle of a crowd with his arms raised in jubilation. The crowd carries picket signs that have photographs of his face and the words “John Doe.”

James Moye as John Willoughby with the cast of Meet John Doe. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A woman stands behind a typewriter and desk with her right hand raised in the air. In her right hand she clutches a white piece of paper where she’s just typed a powerful editorial for the make-believe man John Doe.”

Heidi Blickenstaff as Ann. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A woman stands on an industrial staircase above a line of 10 men and woman who wear long trench coats and read the day’s newspaper.

Heidi Blickenstaff and the cast of Meet John Doe. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A female journalist (standing at right) smiles as she watches a newspaper editor shake the hand of a poor man in their offices. She has written editorials under the nom de plume “John Doe” and they’ve hired the man to embody the character for the public. The poor man’s friend is also present.

Guy Paul, James Moye, Joel Blum and Heidi Blickenstaff. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A woman stands and sings, holding a framed photograph in her hands.

Heidi Blickenstaff. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A man dressed in a three-piece suit, overcoat stands behind a radio broadcast microphone and reads from a script.

James Moye and (background) Heidi Blickenstaff. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A man dressed in a three-piece suit, overcoat stands behind a radio broadcast microphone and reads from a script, while extending his hat high in his right hand. Behind him are patriotic buntings and a crowd that has gathered to listen to him speak.

The cast of Meet John Doe. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.