Timeless
Having recently wrapped up Broadway’s reimagining of the classic Our Town, Richard Thomas looks forward to wherever his far-ranging career takes him next.
Richard Thomas’s name has been hitched to many “classics.” Naturally, he felt compelled to be part of the iconic play Our Town, which recently graced a Broadway stage for the first time in more than 20 years.
Published in 1938, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is about the residents of small-town Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, at the turn of the century. Focusing on the Gibbs and Webb families, Our Town details the human experience—life, love, death, and the perfect little moments in between—in exquisite detail. The new iteration of the play, which ran at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre through January 19, was set in the present day. The 28-person cast included Thomas as Mr. Webb, Katie Holmes as Mrs. Webb, Zoey Deutch as their daughter, Emily, and Jim Parsons as the stage manager.
Our Town was Thomas’s 15th Broadway production, though he’s just as well known—perhaps even more so—for his work on the big and small screens. He performed in the black comedy Ozark and the drama The Americans, and has starred in films such as Anesthesia and Wonder Boys. He also had a memorable turn as Bill Denbrough in the 1990 TV miniseries Stephen King’s IT, based on the bestselling horror novel.
Of course, the 73-year-old actor is likely best known for his role as John-Boy Walton in the wholesome family drama The Waltons, which ran from 1972–1981, and continues to air today. We spoke with him about the show’s lasting appeal, the importance of Our Town—“arguably the greatest American play and certainly a masterpiece,” he says—and his memories of Philadelphia.
Q&A
So, why was Our Town so appealing to you?
One of the marks of a masterpiece is that you don’t have to wait for it to become meaningful again or, for the right time. It’s always the right time to do this play. [Producer] Jeffrey Richards called me while I was on tour with To Kill a Mockingbird and asked me to play Mr. Webb, and I didn’t want to be the only American actor who had never been in a production of Our Town. I’m very happy now to be a member of Our Town, and [I had] a wonderful time doing it.
So, why was Our Town so appealing to you?
One of the marks of a masterpiece is that you don’t have to wait for it to become meaningful again or, for the right time. It’s always the right time to do this play. [Producer] Jeffrey Richards called me while I was on tour with To Kill a Mockingbird and asked me to play Mr. Webb, and I didn’t want to be the only American actor who had never been in a production of Our Town. I’m very happy now to be a member of Our Town, and [I had] a wonderful time doing it.
Does it surprise you that The Waltons has held up so well?
No, because it was a great show. It was one of the best shows certainly in its era, and no, it doesn’t surprise me at all. It’s a heart-centered show. It’s a show that went into people’s hearts and people don’t forget that. And it’s still on television.
No, because it was a great show. It was one of the best shows certainly in its era, and no, it doesn’t surprise me at all. It’s a heart-centered show. It’s a show that went into people’s hearts and people don’t forget that. And it’s still on television.
The Walton family’s good-night ritual is something so many of us emulated.
Yes, I hear that all the time. I’ve heard it for 50 years. Absolutely. It’s the most mentioned thing that people do when they talk about a show, especially if they grew up in a family where they enjoyed saying good nights. I’ve even had a Vietnam War vet say that when he was a prisoner of war, they would do it from cell to cell at night.
Yes, I hear that all the time. I’ve heard it for 50 years. Absolutely. It’s the most mentioned thing that people do when they talk about a show, especially if they grew up in a family where they enjoyed saying good nights. I’ve even had a Vietnam War vet say that when he was a prisoner of war, they would do it from cell to cell at night.
You have some ties to the Philadelphia area. Please share a local story with me.
I’ve played in Philadelphia a few times, and I love it there. I did 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird there, and I did a play called Tom Paine at the old Plays and Players Theatre years ago. So, I’ve always enjoyed my theater experiences there. My friend Greg Wood is a wonderful actor and a real staple in the great New Jersey and Philadelphia theater communities.
I’ve played in Philadelphia a few times, and I love it there. I did 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird there, and I did a play called Tom Paine at the old Plays and Players Theatre years ago. So, I’ve always enjoyed my theater experiences there. My friend Greg Wood is a wonderful actor and a real staple in the great New Jersey and Philadelphia theater communities.
What’s next for you?
I have no idea. I’m just happy to be home. I finished a movie for Netflix, then I went into Ozark and after that, I went on the road with To Kill a Mockingbird for two and a half years. I came back to New York to rehearse for Our Town, so I’ll be very happy to do nothing for a little while. I mean, something’s going to pop up—it always does—so I’m not going to worry about it. It’ll be very nice to just sort of be at home and cook dinner.
I have no idea. I’m just happy to be home. I finished a movie for Netflix, then I went into Ozark and after that, I went on the road with To Kill a Mockingbird for two and a half years. I came back to New York to rehearse for Our Town, so I’ll be very happy to do nothing for a little while. I mean, something’s going to pop up—it always does—so I’m not going to worry about it. It’ll be very nice to just sort of be at home and cook dinner.
Do you have a specialty that you like to prepare?
My wife and I like to cook, and we cook together and it’s great fun. My mom made a lot of Cuban food when I was little, so I do a few of those dishes. I mean, we just like to cook. It’s a fun way to be together.
My wife and I like to cook, and we cook together and it’s great fun. My mom made a lot of Cuban food when I was little, so I do a few of those dishes. I mean, we just like to cook. It’s a fun way to be together.
Photo by Daniel Rader
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, February 2025.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, February 2025.
