World Premiere John Mellencamp Musical 'Small Town' Heads to Ogunquit Playhouse in Fall 2026

Theater professionals and actor-musicians take note: a major new musical is heading to the Maine coast, and casting is open now. Small Town, a world premiere stage musical built around the songs of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp, is set to run at Ogunquit Playhouse from its first preview on October 1, 2026 through closing night on November 1, 2026. With a book by acclaimed playwright Naomi Wallace and direction by Lisa Peterson, this is one of the most creatively ambitious new works heading into development this year, and the production is actively seeking talent and crew.

The project's creative pedigree is genuinely impressive. Director Lisa Peterson is a seasoned theatrical director with deep roots in new American work, known for her long association with the La Jolla Playhouse and productions at major regional theaters across the country including Arena Stage and the Goodman Theatre. She brings an instinct for grounded, character-driven storytelling that maps naturally onto Mellencamp's catalog. The book comes from Naomi Wallace, the Kentucky-born playwright whose work including One Flea Spare and The Fever Chart has earned her an Obie Award, an Kesselring Prize, and an international reputation for politically charged, poetic drama rooted in working-class American life. Wallace's voice as a writer feels like a genuinely organic match for Mellencamp's heartland rock sensibility, and that combination alone signals a production aiming for something beyond a standard jukebox format.

Music supervision is in the hands of Andy York, a guitarist and arranger with decades of experience in the rock world, including his long tenure with John Mellencamp's own touring and recording band. York's direct connection to Mellencamp's musical universe makes him uniquely qualified to shape how these songs translate to the stage. Music direction is being handled by Jason Hart, and choreography by Richard J. Hinds, who has built credits across regional theater and Broadway-adjacent productions. The production is using an actor-musician company format, meaning performers will be expected to play instruments live on stage while acting. That is a specific and demanding skill set, and it is almost certainly the central requirement that casting directors Mark Brandon (CSA), Jarrett Reiche (CSA), and associate Jaron Cole are screening for right now. Actors with strong roots rock, folk, or Americana vocal styles and genuine instrumental ability should be paying close attention to this one.

The production is presented by Ogunquit Playhouse, one of the most storied summer and fall regional theater destinations in the Northeast. Founded in 1933, the Playhouse has a long history of producing world premieres and pre-Broadway tryouts, and its intimate but professional scale makes it well suited to a new musical finding its footing. The producing structure lists ARC Inc. alongside Ogunquit Playhouse, with Bradford T. Kenney serving as Executive Artistic Director and Brian J. Swasey as Producing Director. Tiana Jones is attached as Associate Producer, with Amber Wallace serving as Artistic and New Works Associate, a title that underscores the developmental significance of this production within the Playhouse's programming identity.

Logistically, this production operates across two hubs. The performance run is anchored at the Ogunquit Playhouse itself, located in Ogunquit, Maine, a small coastal community roughly 75 miles north of Boston and 35 miles south of Portland. The theater seats approximately 750 and operates as a fully professional Equity house with strong regional name recognition. Ogunquit is a destination venue, which means productions typically draw cast and key creatives from New York and beyond, with local Maine crew supplemented by imports depending on the department. The second listed location is New York City, which almost certainly reflects where pre-production work, casting sessions, and developmental activity are being based before the company moves north to Maine ahead of first preview. Actors and crew in the New York market should expect auditions and initial meetings to take place there.

With an October opening, rehearsals will likely begin in September 2026, giving the production roughly a year of runway for casting, design, and developmental work. The actor-musician format adds production complexity that will require close collaboration between the music department, sound design, and the director's vision from early in the process. Sound designers, production stage managers, and theatrical general management professionals with experience on actor-musician shows will find this a particularly relevant opportunity to track. The show's roots rock and Americana musical identity also signals specific needs in costume and scenic design, where an authentic, unglamorous working-class American aesthetic will likely be central to the creative brief.

For the full production listing including casting contacts, production office information, and the complete crew roster as it develops, visit ProductionList.com and search Small Town. Given that casting is already underway this far in advance, actor-musicians and theatrical department heads should reach out sooner rather than later. This is the kind of world premiere with genuine developmental legs, and the teams that get in early tend to be the ones who shape what the show ultimately becomes.

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