Davis Gaines, Julie Johnson to Star in Night of the Hunter Musical at Lyric Stage

Broadway veterans Davis Gaines and Julie Johnson will star in Lyric Stage’s production of the musical, The Night of the Hunter, to be presented in the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Performance Hall, October 29-November 7. Cheryl Denson will direct, with music direction by Scott A. Eckert.

Based on Davis Grubb’s 1954 novel, the show features book and lyrics by Stephen Cole and music by Claibe Richardson. In the musical, Ben Harper steals ten thousand dollars. Just before being sent to prison he hides the money in his daughter’s doll, setting in motion a thrilling, frightening, and heartfelt story. For sharing Ben’s prison cell is Harry Powell, aka The Preacher, who will do anything to get his hands on the stolen money. Anything, including murder.

Gaines, who will playThe Preacher, starred in the title role of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and , in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where he received the Bay Area Critics’ Award for Best Actor. Johnson, who will play Willa Harper, won a Theatre World Award for Das Barbecu and appeared on Broadway in Candide.

The production will feature scenic design by Scott Osborne, lighting design by Julie Simmons Moroney, and costume design by Drenda Lewis.