John Mellencamp and Stephen King Musical to Feature All-Star Cast

Posted on Dec 28th 2009 3:00PM by Steve Baltin
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The New Year is still four days away, but 2010 already has a hard-to-beat contender for all-star project of the year. John Mellencamp and Stephen King's long-discussed musical collaboration, 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,' has assembled a cast worthy of two pop culture behemoths like Mellencamp and the author of 'Carrie,' 'The Shining' and a trove of other best-sellers.

According to Fire Wire, the project, which centers on domestic turmoil, will feature the most perfect choice of Kris Kristofferson as the patriarch and the equally fitting choice of Rosanne Cash as the matriarch. The inspired casting continues with four sons we believe could totally be the musical offspring of Cash and Kristofferson -- Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Will Dailey and Mellencamp.

Musical members outside the family include Elvis Costello in the role of a Satanic character, as well as Neko Case and Sheryl Crow. Adding to the already immense cool factor is former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier playing a caretaker, King cast as Uncle Steve and '24' actor Glenn Morshower as the narrator.

The play will debut in Atlanta next September at Alliance Theater, but for those not in Atlanta there will be a three-disc soundtrack to be produced by T-Bone Burnett and a book package that Mellencamp hopes to have out before the premiere. According to Mellencamp, who said the project is like listening to an old radio program from the 1930's, the music is "down-home" with the vibe of acoustic folk-blues-country of the era. Whatever it sounds like, we're there.