David Coffee plays Mayor Shinn in The Bushnell's production of The Music Man - A 50th Anniversary Tribute, running April 22-27. Welcome to The Bushnell Blog, David!

Dear Bushnell Blog,

Howdy! This is David Coffee writing to you from beautiful Hartford, CT. (And, it really IS beautiful!) I am here to play Mayor Shinn in the Bushnell's concert staging of "THE MUSIC MAN," but I actually make my home in Arlington, TX.

This is a very special production. It is the first show produced by the Bushnell! It's not a tour. It also incorporates the talents of Edward Cumming of The Hartford Symphony as well as a chorus from the Hartt School of Music! It is also a special reunion for our two stars. Shirley Jones played Marian (the Librarian) in the film, but she told me she had not performed the show since her screen appearance. She is playing Mrs. Paroo in our production. Patrick Cassidy (her youngest son and our Harold Hill) is also seen in the film version; but you have to look VERY closely because Shirley was pregnant with him at the time of the filming. Patrick said he has been waiting his whole life to play this role.

This is the 50th anniversary of the show's debut on Broadway. Personally, I'm celebrating my 40th anniversary of acting this year! I started when I was eleven!

One of the neatest things about being in the Theatre is the people! One may go for years without seeing someone and suddenly, being cast in a show with them, you pick up old friendships like it was yesterday. I am enjoying that experience with several of our cast members. Our fantastic Marian (Lisa Vroman) and I had the pleasure to appear together in Kopit & Yeston's "PHANTOM" in 1992. Lisa went on to perform the role of Christine in Lloyd Webber's "PHANTOM" for YEARS afterward! Her voice is amazing! And when you hear her and Shirley and little Abigail McMillan as Amaryllis sing "Goodnight My Someone" - well, just bring a hankie! It sends a shiver of pride to see three generations on that stage! I am also delighted to be reunited with Kym Chambers (who plays Mrs. Squires), Adam Cates (Ensemble and Dance Captain), Mary Jo McConnell (who plays Alma Hix), Buddy Crutchfield (who plays Oliver Hix) and Florence Sturgeon (who plays Maud Dunlop). Kym and I did "THE WIZARD OF OZ" last summer with our director, Phil McKinley and Adam. We also appeared in "CAMELOT" at Boston's Shubert Theatre (where it played its original out of town tryout). Mary Jo and I appeared in a ten-person production of "MY FAIR LADY" for Portland Center Stage (Oregon) and the Dallas Theater Center. Buddy is also a Texas boy who got his start where I did: Casa Manana's theatre-in-the-round in Fort Worth, Texas. We did "GUYS AND DOLLS" together back in the mid 1990's. Another Casa Manana alum is our marvelous Music Supervisor on this show, the incredible Eugene Gwodz. Florence and I go back even farther. We both attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. (Home of the Fighting Horn Frogs!)

Then there are my new dear friends: My wonderful stage family (the delightful Mary Stout as my wife and Bradley Benjamin and Laura Spineti as my talented daughters Zaneeta and Gracie), great roommate Bob Freschi (who plays the anvil salesman, Charlie Cowell) and my part-time chauffeur, the hilarious Jason Graae (who plays Harold Hill's old pal, Marcellus Washburn).

When you come to "THE MUSIC MAN" (and I strongly encourage you to do so), you'll see a tremendously talented group of people who came together eight days before our opening to begin to prepare this classic for your enjoyment. I hope YOU will see a small midwestern town develop before your very eyes. And, I hope you see what I see: an amazing family (somewhat dysfunctional) of players, performers and staff presenting you with the gift of a memorable evening you will never forget.

See you there,
David Coffee