I hear Alan Doyle before I see him. He’s humming as he approaches, music seeping out like breath. “I’m Alan,” he says, extending a hand as we meet in July in P.E.I.’s Confederation Centre of the Arts hours before he performs in a two-show day of Tell Tale Harbour, Charlottetown Festival’s all-Canadian hit musical. His role? Loveable rogue, lead character, Frank.

“Another rebirth. I’m like a cat,” chuckles Doyle, 56, on his latest incarnation, which he co-created with Adam Brazier, Bob Foster, and Edward Riche.

For Doyle, from Petty Harbour, N.L., crushing a new role isn’t unprecedented. In an accomplished life, he’s had a string of hits: frontman of Newfoundland’s Great Big Sea, solo musician, actor, and author of four books, the latest, The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador, now out.

“I’ve had a very lucky life in the arts,” he says. “All I wanted to do was to be the guy in the band. That’s enough for me. It was joy of joys when Great Big Sea started.”

Creativity though carved detours. The latest: a call from Confederation Centre artistic director Adam Brazier.

Brazier conceived the idea for the feel-good show after watching the Quebecois movie La grande séduction. “It had this farcical heist quality. It screamed musical theatre. I immediately started writing out how this could become a musical if we put it in Atlantic Canada. I wanted it to be generic Atlantic Canada so all Atlantic Canadians could see themselves in it.”

Originally thinking it could be a Great Big Sea jukebox musical, Brazier cold-called Doyle, who suggested writing an original score.

“I was jumping up and down on the other side of the phone,” remembers Brazier.

It was Doyle’s first foray into musical theatre, where songs need to be good and tell where the story’s going. “When I write songs for me, nothing trumps the song,” he says. “It is nowhere near the most important thing here. It’s ‘Does it make the play better?’”

Brazier sent some lyrics. Doyle rejigged and returned them.

“I knew without a doubt, he’s figured it out.” says Brazier. “It’s indicative of his character and his capacity for creativity.”

Tell Tale Harbour debuted in P.E.I. in 2022 and returned this year, a tighter, more powerful version with story and music much the same but with new sets and costumes, slight character and order tweaks, and an elevated role for the townsfolk.

Mirvish Productions caught that 2022 show. “This is fantastic. We want in,” Doyle remembers them saying. That “in” saw Tell Tale Harbour premiere Sept. 23 at Toronto’s historic 1,400-seat Royal Alexandra Theatre for an almost sold-out six-week run.

“It’s going to be glorious. It’s already glorious in my mind,” he said when we talk on this July day, imagining that hallowed stage.

The making of Frank
While digging into production, Doyle recalls, “I thought sheepishly, I wonder if I could take a shot at playing Frank.”

Brazier and Foster were way ahead.

“Bob Foster and I kept looking at each other and thinking ‘It should be him! It should be him!’” recalls Brazier. “When Alan broached the subject, we said, ‘Yes!’ … We were writing the part for him as Frank.”

Doyle’s willingness to perform, and guidance from directors and choreographers, clicked. “He’s an incredibly brave performer,” says Brazier. “He’s an open spirit like that … Alan doesn’t bring any ego to anything. But he brings the confidence of years of performing and talking to audiences. When someone has celebrity, it’s easy to throw some weight around. He doesn’t bring that … Alan never thought of himself as any more important than anyone in the room.”

The importance of terror
What made Doyle want this challenge?

“Because I’m old,” he answers. “It’d be super easy to be not terrified. I could make money doing it, and it would all be fine. That’s why it’s important to be terrified. There is so much more to learn, if you can get a chance to run with a whole new gang of crazy people.”

“I still don’t know what I’m doing, especially because it’s such a big role,” says Doyle. “It’s physically hard. It’s mentally hard. It’s also super fun.”

Playing Frank intrigued him.

“I knew people exactly like him growing up,” says Doyle. “I’m related to lots of people like Frank. He’s king of the town, and unjustifiably so, just because he’s the most fun ... I know guys like him and how fun it is to be that guy. We’re a lot alike, until we’re not. We’re both suckers for attention and we both believe a song and a good time will cure all, to a fault. But where we differ is Frank is terrified by what lies at the edge of the town. I’m fascinated by it.”

Themes of home
In the show, Frank spearheads a slapstick scheme to save the town. To have themes of home anchoring an Atlantic Canada production feels appropriate, says Doyle.

“People go away from Newfoundland and spend their life savings coming home every vacation. The thought that there never could be anything better than home is almost delusional. It is delusional. I think that that’s cool and wonderful to have a show wrapped around their love of home and the maniacal will to protect it.”

Remarkably, during the packed season, Doyle continued with music gigs.

“Alan can’t be still. He has to be doing something and for him doing is creating … for all I know the guy is building houses,” jokes Brazier. “He has a focus and creative energy that is endless, that is restless and is willing to explore and try new things.”

He adds, “He’s fearless and he’s beautifully Canadian in that he aims to make everyone comfortable, happy, and feel welcome. His goal is to give everyone the best night out.”

Floating with goats
Doyle and his family spent two dreamy summers on P.E.I. “We’ve been practically everywhere. It’s so gentle, so easy.” The standout? “Beach Goats. Full stop. It was the greatest day of my life. I don’t need anything else here,” he says of the beachside business where visitors interact, even paddle board with goats. Then there’s the gardening. Doyle jokingly shares his dad’s efforts to grow one turnip at home. “I called to tell him you can pick up dirt here and there’s a potato in your hand.”