Doonesbury
A Musical Comedy
Book & Lyrics by Garry Trudaeu
Music by Elizabeth Swados
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip, Doonesbury is a zany musical comedy set at the mythical Walden commune in Connecticut in the early 1980’s — on the momentous occasion of college graduation. While they try to survive commencement, the roommates must fend off Zonker’s Uncle Duke, who wants to bulldoze their off-campus house and replace it with condos. Meanwhile, Mike Doonesbury steadfastly pursues his feisty girlfriend J.J., while contending with the estrangement between she and her mother Joanie.
Doonesbury: The Musical
Auditions: Monday/Wednesday, August 16/18, 6-9 PM
&
Sunday August 22nd 11am – 2pm
The Original Broadway Cast Album was never released on CD, but has been posted to YouTube beginning here:
Cast Album Playlist:
A 25-minute animated TV special was produced in 1977. The program is not directly related to the Broadway musical, but it contains similar themes. It features Zonker, Mike, Mark, B.D., Boopsie, and Joanie. It’s posted to YouTube here:
Doonesbury Cast
Roland Hedley (male, 40-50, average build, baritone)
Self-important, conservative, Intrepid News Correspondent for ABC reporting on today’s college graduate; has a rich baritone voice. Sings “It’s the Right Time to be Rich” (a vaudeville novelty number)
Mike Doonesbury (male, mid-20s, average build, tenor)
Smart, quirky Business Major who is about to propose to J.J. Sings “Just One Night” (a pop ballad) and “Get Together” (a folk-rock love duet)
.
Mark Slackmeyer (male, mid-20s, average build, baritone)
Aspiring Talk Radio Host in need of a paying gig. Sings “Baby Boom Boogie Boy” (a fast-talking rap number). In the Doonesbury comic strip, Mark came out in later years as gay, however there is no hint of this the musical.
B.D. (male, late-20s, stocky/muscular build, baritone)
Grumpy, conservative Vietnam Vet and aspiring Professional Football Player. Sings “It’s the Right Time to be Rich” (a vaudeville novelty number)
Barbara Ann “Boopsie” Boopstein (female, mid-20s, fit, belter)
Bubbly, aspiring Cheerleader, film actress and fitness nut; B.D.’s live-in girlfriend. Sings “I Can Have It All,” “Complicated Man” and “Muffy and the Topsiders” (all upbeat comedic pop numbers)
Zonker Harris (male, mid-20s, fit/slim, tenor)
Wacky, Peter Pan-like, perpetual Flower Child; Professional-Amateur Tanning Expert. Sings “I Came to Tan” and “Real Estate” (both comedic novelty numbers)
Duke (male, 40s, average build, bari-tenor)
Zonker’s Uncle Duke; former U.S. Ambassador to China; hapless career criminal. Sings “Guilty” and “Real Estate” (both comedic novelty numbers)
Honey Huan (female, 30s, average build, belter)
Duke’s Gal Friday, Chinese translator and love interest. Sings “Complicated Man” (an upbeat comedic pop number)
J.J. Caucus (female, 20s, average build, alto/mezzo)
Smart, independent, aspiring artist; Mike’s intended. Sings “Get Together” (a folk-rock duet) and “Mother” (a heartfelt duet)
Joanie Caucus (Female, 40s, average build, alto/mezzo)
Attorney; liberal activist; estranged from J.J. for leaving her marriage and abandoning her daughter to pursue college and a professional career. Sings “Mother” (a heartfelt duet)
Kyle Head  Paul Green