Neal Matthews
starring as
Johnny Chastain
(1997, 1998 & 1999 World Tours)
Neal Matthews charmed audiences with his exasperatingly lovable rendition of Johnny Chastain for longer than any other actor who has played the role -- 121 shows -- an impressive number considering that a touring play can only stage two or three shows a week.
Neal started his acting career in high school and has been in demand ever since. Like his previous costar Michelle Rosen, Neal's forte has been musical theatre, playing King Arthur in Camelot and Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. He also has a solid background in Shakespeare, as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and the title role in Hamlet, among others. His experience in stage combat came in handy when he played Porthos in The Three Musketeers.
To prepare for his role as Johnny Chastain in Letters from the Front, Neal drew on his experience playing the extravagant Harold Hill in The Music Man, his favorite role in musical theatre. "There's a lot of him in Johnny Chastain," Neal says. "Both are charming, manipulative, funny, and in your face. And both are scoundrels, until they meet the woman who makes them realize that beneath their callused hides they do have a heart after all."
During his tenure, Neal worked opposite three actresses in the role of Katharine Hartgrove: Dannette Bock, Michelle Rosen, and twice with Della Cole, who originated the role in 1991. Della's long association with the play and her thorough knowledge of both characters provided Neal sure footing during his rookie year as Johnny. "She was very supportive of me while I was trying to step into the very big shoes Bob Harter left behind, and in my efforts to define my own interpretation of Johnny."
Neal's portrayal of Johnny Chastain was in equal parts comic, soulfully chilling, and heartwarming. That he succeeded brilliantly in the role has been confirmed by the enthusiastic response of audiences both stateside and overseas. Standing ovations were common occurrences, often accompanied by cheers and requests for autographs.
Taking Johnny back to the Spring of 1945, during which the WWII version of Letters from the Front is set, brought added challenges to Neal. Instead of a fading TV sitcom star, his character was now a former radio celebrity. But the trickiest part of portraying Johnny in a 40s setting were the subtle changes in syntax and slang. "When you consider that I've played Johnny one way for over 100 performances, these changes make me feel like the guy who used to dance blindfolded around a row of eggs. One wrong move and it gets a little messy." But if there's one thing Neal Matthews loves, it's a challenge.
Touring the world allowed Neal to pursue his passion for mountain climbing -- from Pike's Peak in Colorado to Mt. Etna in Sicily. Being a true son of the Shamrock, Neal made a point of locating an Irish pub in each city he visited -- whether in Chicago, Illinois or Rota, Spain -- and sharing a brew (or two) with his kinsmen.
Neal makes his home in Atlanta, GA.
David Regelmann
Bob Curren Bob Harter Neal Matthews
John Squire
Patrick Dizney Melanie
Collup Della Cole Dannette Bock Michelle Rosen
Kathy Tyrell Bobbi
Kravis