For those with or those who have had young children or grandchildren and are going to the Hartford Stage presentation of "Our Town," you may see another familiar face besides that of narrator and show lead Hal Holbrook.

Playing young George Gibbs in the production is Donovan Patton, the baby-faced former star of Nickelodeon's daytime children's series "Blue's Clues." The curly headed actor earned a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2005 for outstanding performer in a children's series.

A self-proclaimed "military brat" who was born in Guam and has lived all around the world, Patton, who is a descendant of Gen. George S. Patton, took time out from his stage performance and from roaming around Hartford to spill the beans with Java.

Q: How old are you? When you were on "Blue's Clues," you couldn't tell. ... You were like a grown-up voice with a kid's face.

A: I'm 29. The "Blue's Clues" character never really had an age. I used to shave really, really close and then wear makeup so you really couldn't tell how old I was. I was the second "Blue's Clues" Joe. I took over for Steve Burns. I was waiting tables, doing some theater work and auditioned for "Blue's Clues" and "Blair Witch 2" at the same time and was selected for "Blue's Clues." It took me a while for it to sink in what "Blue's Clues" was all about. But I had a little sister who was in the right demographic at the time, so I got a pretty quick education. I was fortunate to have a job like that because not only was it good for my career, but I have worked with all kinds of charitable foundations, and that has been good for me.

Q: George Gibbs is such a dark character in "Our Town." Do you have a dark side?

A: I could keep doing this play a hundred times and come back with something different each time. This play encompasses all that life can be in terms of human connections. I think we all have dark sides. You think about the fact that George's wife died in childbirth, and his father is a doctor and was there and couldn't do anything to save her or the baby. It's not dark in a malicious way, but it is definitely difficult. The reason George goes back and lays down on her grave is because what do you do when you lose your wife? What do you do when you have to lay down in that bed for the first time alone? It's reality. It's very interesting.

Q: Do you remember your first love?

A: My first love was Capt. Crunch [laughing]. No, I know what you mean. I remember being in love a bunch of times. The one I won't forget was in fourth grade, and her name was Jordan. She was so cute. It was just after the time when girls would stop chasing us around. Doing this play has been interesting because I am recently engaged. Her name is Jackie, and we have been going out for five years. We are getting married in September 2008. I can relate to the commitment of love. It's neat doing this play because it deals with the scope of human life. It helps me put my own life in perspective.

Q: Are you really related to George Patton?

A: If I am to believe my father, I am. He was a cousin in the family. I have several family members in the military. My father was; my brother is. But I don't think it's genetic.

Q: When did you get bitten by the acting bug?

A: I started acting when I was in eighth grade. I started taking acting classes because my brother did. It didn't hurt that there were girls in the class. I first performed in "Charlie and the Six Chicks," and then someone else dropped out of another play, and I was put in that one. The shows went well, and when I came out for the curtain call, everything was a blur, but something clicked. To use a bad metaphor ... the slot machine of my soul came up three pineapples. I knew then that it was what I wanted to pursue for a career.

Q: How did you miss out on the Emmy?

A: I was beat out by Elmo, actually Kevin Clash, the puppeteer for the little hairy guy.

Q: What's next for you?

A: This is such a wonderful experience. Watching Hal Holbrook work is really a treat. I have had the opportunity to work with some really incredible people in a pretty limited stage career so far. I am working with Nickelodeon on another children's show. I'm doing a voice on it. I think I am going to possibly have more freedom to do other things if I continue to work with that show. It's an interesting thing. I'm a fairly young actor, so who knows?

Q: How's Hartford been treating you?

A: I don't have a driver's license, so I've been doing a lot of walking around. I like Trumbull Kitchen and went on a date with my fiancee to Max's and really liked Koji. But I do have a learner's permit. My fiancee is insisting I get my license before we get married.