Meet John Doe - Synopsis

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

Can't Read the Paper Any More

I'm Your Man

Page Eight, At the Top

I'll Know Him When I See Him

Perfect Days

Money Talks

This Other Guy

Be More

What A Man

The Man For Me

He Speaks To Me

ACT II

Meet John Doe Radio Jingle

Thank You

Bigger Than Baseball

Who The Hell (Forgot To Tell My Heart)?

Lighthouses

Here's To America

John's Stand / Baseball Reprise

Before You

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.

Ann's Mother

Sixties, petite, a keen judge of character who quietly holds the world to a high standard.

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.

Two Newsboys

Two boys or a boy and a girl, teens-early twenties, the paper's relentless sales force, bright-faced voices of grim reality.

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 Can't Read the Paper Any More I'm Your Man Page Eight, At the Top I'll Know Him When I See Him Perfect Days Money Talks This Other Guy Be More What A Man The Man For Me He Speaks To Me ACT II Meet John Doe Radio Jingle Thank You Bigger Than Baseball Who The Hell (Forgot To Tell My Heart)? Lighthouses Here's To America John's Stand / Baseball Reprise Before You 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. Ann's Mother Sixties, petite, a keen judge of character who quietly holds the world to a high standard. 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. Two Newsboys Two boys or a boy and a girl, teens-early twenties, the paper's relentless sales force, bright-faced voices of grim reality. Ensemble Six to ten (or more) strong personalities, of all types and ages, representing a real cross-section of America.