CHELMSFORD — The love story between Diane and Kenny Meehan can be closely tied to two characters they’ll play in an upcoming theater performance in April: Billy and Hope in “Anything Goes” — a winding, 1934 musical that sees protagonist Billy Crocker stowed away on an ocean liner heading from New York to London while in love with heiress Hope Harcourt.
The Meehans are used to being partnered in local plays, from “Romeo and Juliet” or Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson in “Grease.” They even first met in their 20s playing husband and wife in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?”
Two years ago that wasn’t the case, though. The couple, in their 40s and going through a rough patch, were divorced while rehearsing another dramatic play set on a boat in the middle of the ocean, “Titanic.” They were living separately and attempting taking care of their three children.
They weren’t cast as opposites for the first time in years.
But like Billy and Hope, love finds a way. Sometimes, love just needs space and time.
The Meehans’ love for theater and local volunteer organization, Voices of Hope, has brought the star-crossed lovers under the same roof once again. The family of five have rekindled a love that can be seen evidently when the two discuss old plays they shared inside a home still being refurnished back to normalcy.
The two will star in the lead roles of “Anything Goes” in the near future. The play — based off Cole Porter’s scores like “You’re The Top,” “Friendship,” and “Blow” — will have two performances at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly. The play was originally planned for April 4 and 5 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But when they do take the stage again, it will be like old times.
“We got a divorce a few years ago as that tends to happen,” said Kenny, who recently moved back into the family’s Fairbanks Road home. “And Diane was working with this group, Voices of Hope, over the years … And last year, they were doing the show “Titanic.” They had a lot of auditions but “Titanic” is a male-heavy show and there tends not to be as many men in theater.
“So Diane called me and asked if was willing come and be in the show because they needed men,” Kenny added.
“We were divorced at this point and weren’t spending a lot of time together,” Diane interjected, beginning to blush as she looked at her husband. “But Voices of Hope has been very important to me for a long time. Not only am I super committed to the mission, I have a social work background. … When we got divorce, I reached back out to Voices of Hope and it was a safe community and a place that I needed to be to recreate myself and find myself again in a safe way.”
Voice of Hope Director Dana Siegel asked the cast of “Titanic” to reach out to local men who are willing to volunteer for the show. Diane thought of one person: Kenny.
“We prefer to work together, honestly,” Diane said before the couple smiled at each other. “And he’s one of the best male community actors.”
The couple met in 2004 after beginning their theater careers at young ages. Kenny started singing and doing theater as a kid in Dorchester and Peabody before becoming a police officer in Chelmsford. The hobby is important to him as some police officers tend to have trouble socializing with others outside the field, he said.
Originally from Burlington, Diane began acting around the age of 8. She remembers singing in turtle costumes. Her parents also met through theater.
Both said Voices of Hope’s mission toward local cancer research is important to them.
“We’re teaching our kids about doing something bigger and more important than yourself,” Diane said. “We’re lucky that we haven’t had our immediate family that has been touched by cancer but have had people close to us and in our lives that have been impacted.”
In 2017, after about 13 years of marriage, the couple split but remained in touch due to their children and the nonprofit organization based in Lawrence that gets volunteers from all around the Merrimack Valley.
When they were cast for “Titanic,” they hardly missed a beat on stage — but still able to see each other in “a different, healthier light,” Siegal said.
“They we’re awesome together. You would’ve never known,” said Siegal, who performed the couple’s marriage ceremony at the Voice of Hope’s theater in Lawrence. “It is a delight to see those who have genuine feelings for each other and see them bring them to a performance. Hope and Billy are just discovering each other over the course of the play. It’s a unique opportunity because we see a couple renew their romantic journey as well.”
Proceeds from the play benefit cancer research being conducted at the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Tickets for are: $40, $50, and $75 and can be purchased by contacting the Theatre Box Office at 978-232-7200, online at www.nsmt.org, or in person at 62 Dunham Road in Beverly.
The organization has donated $700,000 to local cancer research since 2009, per the organization.
“It worked out,” Kenny said, smiling.
“It did. It all worked out in the end,” Diane replied.
Luke O’Roark on Twitter: @LukeORoark
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