Ghost Brothers of Darkland County Scaring Up Great Buzz

April 4, 2012 | by Joseph Brownell

They say save the best for last and as the 2011-2012 Alliance Theatre season comes to an end, the buzz surrounding the hotly anticipated Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, may prove to ring true again. Ghost Brothers has been in the works for over a decade and is a labor of love from horror mastermind Stephen King and music legend John Mellencamp. The production features direction by Alliance Artistic Director Susan v. Booth and musical direction from the legendary T Bone Burnett. Described as a “riveting Southern gothic musical fraught with mystery, tragedy, and ghosts of the past, along with a roots and blues-tinged score,” the excitement leading up to the world premiere is palpable throughout the Atlanta theater community.

In the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi in 1967, a terrible tragedy took the lives of two brothers and a beautiful young girl. During the next forty years, the events of that night became the stuff of local legend. But legend is often just another word for lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw it all. The question is whether or not he can bring himself to tell the truth in time to save his own troubled sons, and whether the ghosts left behind by an act of violence will help him – or tear the McCandless family apart forever. 

Photo Courtesy of John Maley

Hometown connections permeate the cast of Ghost Brothers. Tony-award winning (and Atlanta native)stage performer Shuler Hensley leads an all-star cast that also includes Georgia native Justin Guarini, who you may remember as the runner –up from Season 1 of American Idol. David magazine caught up with Shuler and Justin to ask them about the excitement surrounding Ghost Brothers and how it feels to be home.

Shuler Hensley

Welcome home! Even though you’re a Marietta native, you’ve never really performed at great length in Atlanta. How does it feel to be home?

Being home feels like I have come full circle in my career and I can now be a part of my “home town” artistic community! To be able to participate in the development of  an original theatrical piece like this is so rewarding

Among your stage roles you’ve performed in Young Frankenstein as well as playing the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera. Each of these characters have been played by others (whether film or stage). Since this is the world premiere of Ghost Brothers, has working on this production been a different experience? If so, how?

There is always an excitement when you help to create an original character. To truly bring it to “life” for the first time, is both inspiring and intimidating in a good way!! It’s a collaborative effort that I have enjoyed immensely!

Is it weird to think that others will look to you if this production goes on for years and years as the actor who originated the role?

My goal as a performer is simple: Be truthful and real. If that is conveyed in the character, than I have succeeded. It goes above and beyond just originating the role

You play Can you tell our readers about your character Joe?

Joe is the character that has kept a secret for 40 years. He witnessed a tragic event and must somehow try to tell the truth about what happened so that it is not repeated. What happens to a person and a family when the truth is kept a secret?

What has been the biggest challenge of Ghost Brothers?

The biggest challenge has also been the biggest thrill!! To work with all these legends from different art forms and to come together to create a musical that is a unique story. Stephen and John are above all things, Great storytellers!!! And that is at the heart of the whole piece.

Justin Guarini

You’re a Georgia native (born in Columbus) but moved away when you were young. Before Ghost Brothers had you spent much time in Georgia/Atlanta?

I’ve spent every Summer here from the ages of 5 to 18. My Dad (Eldrin Bell) would drag me all over Georgia and the world (via Hartsfield-Jackson).

I’m sure it’s brought up in every interview but you were the runner-up during the inaugural season of American Idol. How has Idol helped or hurt your career?

How has it not helped, really…

I had spent all my life practicing and learning to be an entertainer by that point…then I was able to show my wares (so to speak!) in front of 30 million people a night. Powerful, and a blessing for sure.

You’ve found success on the stage most recently performing in American Idiot. I would think that this type of success- outside of the sometimes cruel world of recording contracts- would be more fulfilling. Given a choice where would you be? The stage or a recording studio?

I live for the stage. I actually feel more comfortable on a stage entertaining people than I do walking around on the street. Strange, but true. Music will always be my first love though, and being able to perform in musicals has been the best of both worlds.

Tell us a little bit about your character and what attracted you to the role/production?

Drake McCandless is a small-town famous musician with dreams of hitting the big time country scene. Plagued by prior bad decisions and poor timing, he struggles through the story to find some footing in an ever deteriorating personal situation. His dysfunctional family only provides fuel for his internal and destructive fire.

I think that in some ways, I’ve felt his pain, and never really had an outlet to express it (save in a song or two). On stage I really get to play out his and, in turn, some of my own childish frustration and desire to “act out” over my perceived injustices.

 Kelly Clarkson was just here recently performing at The Fox Theater. Were you in attendance?

I was actually out of town at the time visiting my family. She’s my girl though!

Besides From Justin to Kelly (insert sarcasm), what has been your most difficult role and why?

This current role has actually proven to be the most challenging, so far. Mainting a slow-burn trending toward blind rage takes careful plotting and pacing throughout the show for me. I love it though, and am happy to be tired at the end of the day.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County opens at Alliance Theater Wednesday April 4^th and run through May 13^th. For tickets and more information visit www.alliancetheatre.org

This is exciting news!  We're going to get a recorded version of "The Look of Love" from Justin! I can't wait! :):):):):)

Justin to be featured on STAGE benefit recording- Blame it on Bacharach

Tyne Daly, Justin Guarini, Melissa Manchester, Alice Ripley Featured on Trio of STAGE Concert Recordings

By Andy Propst • Apr 13, 2012 • Los Angeles

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Kritzerland will release live recordings of three all-star annual STAGE benefits in May. Each concert and album celebrates the work of a different composer: Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Burt Bacharach. The discs will be available for purchase at the end of May.

The By Side By Side By Side By Side By Stephen Sondheim concert will be released as a two disc set and features such performers as Betty Garrett, Ann Hampton Callaway, Len Cariou, Sally Ann Howes, Felicity Huffman, Michael Nouri, Charlotte Rae, Alice Ripley, and KT Sullivan.

Among the selections on the two-disc The Perfect Year recording, celebrating Webber's musical are Tyne Daly's "If This Is What We're Fighting For," Ken Page's "The Addressing of Cats," Carole Cook's "On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada," Valerie Perri's "As If We Never Said Goodbye," Lee Lessack's "Other Pleasures," and Sean McDermott's "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)."

The Blame It on Bacharach concert will be released on a single disc and includes "Alfie," performed by Valerie Pettiford; "What the World Needs Now," performed by Marilyn Maye, "The Look of Love," performed by Justin Guarini; "A House Is Not a House," performed by Donna McKechnie; and "Anyone Who Had a Heart," performed by Melissa Manchester, among others.

Click here to pre-order the STAGE concert discs.