Scott Rathbun and Matthew Dailey in Gutenberg! The Musical!. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

Meet the cast of DCPA Cabaret’s Gutenberg! The Musical!. And yes, there are supposed to be that many exclamation points in the title, because the cast is so delighted to share this show with Denver audiences.

In this musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, ill-advised project – a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them that elusive Broadway contract.

Check in with Brett Ambler (Bud/Doug Alternate), Matthew Dailey (Doug), and Scott Rathbun (Bud) with the quick Q&A below.

DCPA: Can you describe Gutenberg! The Musical! in less than 26 words?

Brett Ambler: Gutenberg is about two guys who have so much heart and enthusiasm that it almost makes up for their lack of talent and common sense.

Matthew Dailey: A mega-musical pitch from two gentlemen who know just enough about musical theatre to be dangerous!

Scott Rathbun: A silly, sometimes ridiculous, show about two theater nerds with a knack for picking terrible subject matter trying desperately to write the next musical masterpiece.

DCPA: What is your favorite Gutenberg “fact” in the show?

Ambler: A motif is when you use the same music over and over again – but it’s not lazy.

Dailey: Who knew that the first printing press was a re-purposed wine press?!

Rathbun: The “fact” that the font “Helvetica” was named after Gutenberg’s love interest.

DCPA: Would you buy into Bud and Doug’s pitch?

Ambler: I would absolutely buy…these guys a beer.

Dailey: Absolutely. That much conviction and passion is hard to pass on!

Rathbun: Absolutely, while their show may be a bit of a trainwreck, you have to fall in love with the effort and heart they put into their story.

DCPA: If you had to choose a historical figure to base your own musical around, who would you choose?

Ambler: Anne Rutledge.

Dailey: Elvis. I’m a huge fan and have read almost a dozen biographies on him. I’d probably forgo the historical fiction route and stick to the facts though…

Rathbun: Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt because the stories that have followed him and the larger-than-life reputation he built over his lifetime would make for a great musical comedy!

DCPA: Why should audiences see the show?

Ambler: Because it’s not the success that matters – it’s the dream!

Dailey: There is something in it for everyone! Except people that aren’t funny…they may not like it.

Rathbun: With everything going on in the world today, everyone deserves to escape from reality and laugh for a few hours.