Goodspeed Musicals Announces 2009 Season

Goodspeed Musicals, under the leadership of Michael P. Price, is pleased to announce the 2009 musical season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The 46th season includes three extraordinary musicals that are sure to delight theatregoers: the dazzling Broadway song and dance extravaganza 42nd Street will run from April 17 - June 28; the second production, the Tony Award-winning Camelot will run from July 10 - September 19; and completing the season is the zany adventure A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, featuring such memorable classics as "Comedy Tonight," which will run from September 25 - November 29.

From the team that brought you Singin' in the Rain, the 2009 season opener will be 42nd Street, with Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, and Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble.

The biggest, brightest, boldest, most sparkling dance musical ever on the Goodspeed stage! It's the ultimate Broadway fairy tale as a stage-struck understudy becomes an overnight star. Packed with razzmatazz and plenty of pizzazz, it will set your heart pounding with its rhythmically tapping feet and hit parade of songs: "Lullaby of Broadway," "We're In The Money," "Shuffle Off To Buffalo," and of course "42nd Street." Tony Award winner for Best Musical, it's Tap Dance Heaven!

42nd Street Director, Ray Roderick, returns to Goodspeed where he directed the 2007 production of Singin' in the Rain and Double Trouble in 2001. Roderick's other credits include Associate Director of the 2001 Broadway revival of The Music Man. 42nd Street will be choreographed by Rick Conant who returns to Goodspeed where he previously choreographed the sensational Singin' in the Rain and worked as Assistant Choreographer on Lucky In The Rain. Rick appeared on Broadway in 42nd Street and A Chorus Line, and as CosMo Brown in Singin' In The Rain and Bobby in A Chorus Line on the first national tours.

Camelot, the Lerner & Loewe classic, is a legendary musical version of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table adapted from the T.H. White novel The Once and Future King.

Goodspeed Musicals Announces 2008 Season At The Historic Goodspeed Opera House

Experience "one brief shining moment" that was Camelot. Relive the enduring legend of King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table in an enchanting fable of chivalry, honor and brotherhood. Dazzling and spellbinding with sweeping romance and historic grandeur, this classic musical speaks to our time and for all time. The celebrated score includes the classics "If Ever I Would Leave you," "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood," and "Camelot." Winner of 4 Tony Awards.

Goodspeed's Camelot will be directed by Rob Ruggiero of Goodspeed's 1776 and last season's audience favorite Big River . Rob Ruggiero has directed numerous productions during his tenure as Associate Artistic Director of Hartford's TheaterWorks and recently brought his William Finn revue Make Me A Song to New World Stages in New York City. The choreographer will be announced at a later date.

Non-stop laughter awaits you with America's Funniest Musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, with Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Screamingly funny! Downright hilarious! Comedy reigns when a thoroughly disarming slave named Pseudolus schemes to gain his freedom by helping his master's son get the girl he desires. It's an accelerating whirl of mixed identities, swinging doors, double takes, double entendres, outrageous puns and gags that will keep you laughing all the way home. Winner of tons of Tony Awards including Best Musical.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be directed and choreographed by Ted Pappas whose previous Goodspeed Musicals credits include On the Twentieth Century; Kiss Me, Kate; Promises, Promises and The Norma Terris Theatre premiere of Gotham!.

Advance season subscriptions are now on sale through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at www.goodspeed.org. Subscription prices range from $78 - $204 at the Goodspeed Opera House for one person, all three shows. Single tickets go on public sale beginning February 22, 2009.

Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The only regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of American Airlines, official airline of Goodspeed Musicals, Hoffman Auto Group, Robinson & Cole LLP, Webster Bank, Blum Shapiro and support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism