Auto Writer Turned Playwright Helps Jeff Daniels Highlight Industry in New Play

Richard Johnson spent 35 years covering the auto industry and drew on that experience to write his first play, "The Classic King", which is being produced at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Richard Johnson, a former auto industry journalist who spent over 35 years covering the automotive world, has transitioned into playwriting with the help of acclaimed actor and Purple Rose Theatre founder Jeff Daniels. Johnson's new play, "The Classic King", is a comedic and poignant tale of three veteran used car salesmen at a struggling metro Detroit dealership. Daniels directed the production, which opened on February 6th and has been extended through March 15th due to high demand.

Why it matters

This story highlights the intersection of journalism, the auto industry, and the performing arts. It showcases how Johnson's deep knowledge and experience covering the auto world allowed him to create an authentic and relatable play that provides insight into the challenges facing small businesses and the changing nature of the car sales industry. The collaboration between Johnson and Daniels also demonstrates how established artists can help nurture new creative talent.

The details

Johnson spent the bulk of his career as a journalist, covering the automotive industry for publications like Automotive News. After retiring in 2019, he was inspired to write a play about the industry he knew so well. He initially struggled to finish a play about Henry Ford II, but after getting feedback from his former boss and Purple Rose Theatre board member Peter Brown, Daniels read Johnson's work and saw potential. Daniels worked with Johnson to develop a new story centered on a small used car dealership, and the two collaborated over 14 months and multiple drafts to bring "The Classic King" to the stage. The play features four characters - three veteran used car salesmen and a younger salesman who brings hope to the struggling dealership. Daniels said he wanted to highlight the "art to selling cars" and the humanity of the characters, rather than simply mocking car salesman stereotypes.

  • Johnson started writing the play almost immediately upon retiring in 2019.
  • In the summer of 2023, Johnson finished his initial play about Henry Ford II.
  • In January 2024, Daniels invited Johnson to the Purple Rose Theatre for a conversation about developing a new play.
  • Rehearsals for "The Classic King" began two days after Christmas 2025, giving the actors about five weeks to fully memorize the script.
  • "The Classic King" opened on February 6, 2026 and was originally scheduled to run for a month, but it sold out and has been extended to March 15, 2026.

The players

Richard Johnson

A 72-year-old former journalist who spent over 35 years covering the automotive industry, including stints as the European editor and Asia editor for Automotive News. He has transitioned into playwriting, with "The Classic King" being his first produced play.

Jeff Daniels

An acclaimed actor best known for roles in films like "Dumb and Dumber", "Terms of Endearment", and "The Purple Rose of Cairo". Daniels is also the founder of the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, where he directed Johnson's play "The Classic King".

Peter Brown

The former long-time publisher of Automotive News, who has a master's degree in theater from the University of Michigan. Brown is on the board of directors at the Purple Rose Theatre and helped connect Johnson with Daniels.

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What they’re saying

“I spent my whole life writing nonfiction as a reporter, asking questions and quoting people. It was a real delight to create dialogue and characters out of thin air.”

— Richard Johnson, Playwright

“It's about us, people we know, where we live, where we work, what we make. It's about what happens when you wake up one day and who you are is who you were.”

— Jeff Daniels, Actor and Founder, Purple Rose Theatre (Detroit Free Press)

“The reason I wrote a play about this industry is because I wanted to kind of honor, pay tribute to this industry. That was a motivation for me — and prove that it wasn't a waste of time.”

— Richard Johnson, Playwright

What’s next

The play "The Classic King" is scheduled to run at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan through March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how a veteran journalist can successfully transition into creative writing, using his deep industry knowledge and experience to craft an authentic and compelling play. It also highlights the value of mentorship and collaboration between established artists like Jeff Daniels and emerging playwrights like Richard Johnson.