Christie, Murphy Unite Over ‘Worst Gov. Candidate Ever’ (VIDEO)

MILLBURN, NJ — “Who the hell is Ned Newley?” That’s the question that managed to unite outgoing governor Chris Christie and his replacement Phil Murphy, as well as a host of other prominent New Jersey politicians… all in the name of helping a beloved nonprofit theater to promote their new play.

On Tuesday, Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn released a video ad for their new production, “The Outsider,” by Paul Slade Smith. The video includes appearances from a cast of well-known Garden State politicos that includes Christie, Murphy, Christie Todd Whitman, Jim McGreevey, Tom Kean, Jon Corzine, Don Difrancesco and Richard Codey.

In the video, the politicians each offer comedic riffs on the same question - “Who the hell is Ned Newley?” – a reference to the play’s titular character, who is possibly “the worst candidate to ever run for office.”

Here’s how the award-winning community theater describes the upcoming play, which debuts on Wednesday, Jan. 24 and runs until Sunday, Feb. 18 (see show times and dates here):

“In politics, the less you know, the higher you’ll go! At once a razor-sharp satire and an inspirational tribute to democracy, The Outsider is a timely and hilarious send-up of modern American politics. In the midst of a political scandal, Ned Newley, the ultimate policy wonk, is unexpectedly thrust into the position of governor. A complete unknown, with no political instincts and a paralyzing fear of public speaking, Ned seems destined to fail. But his political consultants see things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for… the worst candidate to ever run for office!”

The cast features Kelley Curran (“Present Laughter”) as Rachel Parsons, Julia Duffy (“Newhart”/”Designing Women”) as Paige Caldwell, Manoel Felciano (“Sweeney Todd”) as Dave Riley, Erin Noel Grennan (“Law & Order: SVU”) as Louise Peakes, Mike Houston (“Orange is the New Black”) as A.C. Petersen, Burke Moses (Beauty and the Beast) as Arthur Vance, and Lenny Wolpe (PMP’s “The Baker’s Wife”) as Ned Newley.

Tickets are on sale now starting at $34. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org

• See related article: Millburn's Paper Mill Playhouse Earns Tony Award For Regional Theater

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Photos: YouTube / Paper Mill Playhouse

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