Broadway actor happy to come home to Canton for 'Mrs. Doubtfire' tour at Playhouse Square

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
·6 min read
David Hibbard, who grew up in Canton, performs in the national tour of "Mrs. Doubtfire."
David Hibbard, who grew up in Canton, performs in the national tour of "Mrs. Doubtfire."

Broadway veteran David Hibbard loves coming home to his huge family in Canton as often as he can.

This time, it'll be extra special for the actor to stay at his mother's house, on a street where numerous other relatives live, while performing in the Cleveland leg of the "Mrs. Doubtfire" North American tour. He'll be commuting from Canton to Playhouse Square's Connor Palace, where the tour is making its Cleveland premiere Tuesday through Jan. 28.

He's playing Mr. Jolly, a judge, Rectisol doctor and an ensemble member in the new North American tour, which kicked off in September. At Playhouse Square, he'll have a gaggle of 28 people coming to see him perform in a Sunday matinee.

As Mr. Jolly, a children's TV show host past his prime, Hibbard's character puts on a bad puppet show with puppets Mousey and Ratty. Mr. Jolly's signature tune is, of course, a jingle. The musical's score features a variety of styles, also including disco, a Taylor Swift-type tune ("Shape of Things to Come") and '80s and '90s-style rock.

With all of Hibbard's roles, this character actor has 15 costume changes and is transformed by numerous wig and makeup changes throughout the show.

"I'm sort of the utility old guy who gets to do everything," he said Friday by phone from the tour's stop in St. Louis. "That's exactly how I want it. I walk out of the stage door and nobody will recognize me."

In a nightmare scene, Hibbard executes the quickest costume change he's ever done when he appears as both the judge and Mr. Jolly.

David Hibbard, who hails from Canton, plays Mr. Jolly, seen toward the left in blue cap and jacket, in the first national touring company of "Mrs. Doubtfire."
David Hibbard, who hails from Canton, plays Mr. Jolly, seen toward the left in blue cap and jacket, in the first national touring company of "Mrs. Doubtfire."

"That's why people don't believe that it's one actor playing both parts," he said.

Also keep an eye out for Hibbard portraying former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a particularly splashy number.

Hibbard, who has taught musical theater at CAP21 conservatory in New York for 25 years, considers himself an actor first.

"I am an actor and I act like I can sing and dance," he said. "I was the guy that could do a little bit of everything."

Rob McClure reprises his Tony-nominated Broadway role as the title character in "Mrs. Doubtfire" in the national tour, which plays at Playhouse Square Tuesday through Jan. 28.
Rob McClure reprises his Tony-nominated Broadway role as the title character in "Mrs. Doubtfire" in the national tour, which plays at Playhouse Square Tuesday through Jan. 28.

Deep Canton roots for 'Mrs. Doubtfire' actor

The actor, who's lived in New York for 35 years, is one of 10 children born to the late Jackie and Jack Hibbard. He's always loved coming back to Canton, where five of his siblings, numerous nieces and nephews and even more great nieces and nephews live.

Hibbard, who graduated from GlenOak High School, did his first musical there as a junior. He moved to Canton, his mother's hometown, in eighth grade in the late 1970s after his father retired from the Air Force.

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Hibbard graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in music education before moving to New York with $275 in his pocket. After working on national tours since 1992 and on Broadway since 1996, there's still no place like home.

"My friends in New York know when I say 'Oh, I'm going home,' that I'm getting in the car and driving seven-and-a-half hours" to Canton, said the 58-year-old Hibbard.

He's now on his third national tour, following "Cats" (2,197 performances as Rum Tum Tugger) in 1992, and "Billy Elliot" in 2010. Touring was easier when he was in his 20s and 40s, Hibbard said.

"To find myself back on the road really has been an adjustment. But the good news is this show is so amazing. It is such a gift to get to do it every night," the actor said of "Mrs. Doubtfire."

Four Broadway originals in 'Doubtfire' tour

Hibbard, who understudied the role of Mr. Jolly on Broadway, is one of four "Mrs. Doubtfire" Broadway originals on the current tour. They include leading man Rob McClure, as the lovable Scottish nanny title character, who plays opposite his real-life wife Maggie Lakis Miranda on tour.

The "Mrs. Doubtfire" musical, based on the 1993 film starring Robin Williams, began previews March 19, 2020, on Broadway, only to shut down a week later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened with previews 19 months later, in October 2021, only to go on hiatus in January 2022, due to the Omicron variant of COVID. The show reopened in April 2022, before closing the next month during a rocky time for Broadway.

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Now, "Mrs. Doubtfire" has new life on its North American tour as well as on London's West End, where it launched in May.

The musical, written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell with music and lyrics by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, follows out-of-work actor Daniel Hillard, who's lost custody of his kids in a messy divorce but is desperate to stay in their lives.

"This show is meant for families. It is meant to bring your grandparents your grandkids, your aunts, your uncles, groups. The message is all about love, tolerance, acceptance," Hibbard said.

Hibbard, who previously worked with "Mrs. Doubtfire" creators in the Broadway musical "Something Rotten!," is now working with them again. Actor McClure also performed in "Something Rotten!" on Broadway, so he's come full circle with the Kirkpatricks and O'Farrell as well. McClure travels on the "Mrs. Doubtfire" tour with his wife, their 5-year-old daughter and two cats.

The "Mrs. Doubtfire" Broadway cast has become a family, Hibbard said. When McClure was cast as the lead again for the tour, that clinched it for Hibbard and other "Doubtfire" alums Aaron Kaburick (Frank) and Jodi Kimura (ensemble).

"So Rob was going to do it, and the rest of us were like, 'if you are on board, we are on board,' " Hibbard said.

"We had always known, those of us that are still attached with it, that this journey is not over," he said." I love bringing this show to audiences around the country because they deserve to see it."

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Musical: "Mrs. Doubtfire"

Where: Connor Palace, Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

When: Tuesday through Jan. 28. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays.

Cost: Tickets are $39-$139.

Onstage: Starring Rob McClure, Maggie Lakis, Giselle Gutierrez, Aaron Kaburick, Nik Alexander, Leo Roberts, Romelda Teron Benjamin, Cody Sawyer, Axel Bernard Rimmele, Emerson Mae Chan, Kennedy Pitney

Offstage: Jerry Zaks, director; Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, book; Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, music and lyrics; Lorin Latarro, choreographer; music supervisor/arranger/orchestrator, Ethan Popp; David Korins, scenic designer; Catherine Zuber, costume designer; Phillip Rosenberg, lighting designer; Brian Ronan and Craig Cassidy, sound design; David Brian Brown, wig designer

Information: playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Canton native David Hibbard featured in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Broadway tour