Goodspeed Opera House News

Strong performances highlight this production. Beach, who created the role of Henry in The Great American Mousical at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in 2012 is a comic genius (loved him in the original Urinetown on Broadway). He's sleazy enough to be believable as the devil, yet sarcastic enough to be likable.

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson - A world premiere production in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco has been extended! Due to popular demand - six Performances have been added! Now playing thru May 21, 2014.

Broadway In Chicago has announced additional principal casting for the world premiere of AMAZING GRACE, the new musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre (Andrew Lippas' The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies).

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2014 season at the Goodspeed Opera House with the home run hit Damn Yankees. Goodspeed brings a unique New England flavor to its production, setting it in 1955 Boston and pitting the storied Yanks against the beloved Boston Red Sox. This ace musical comedy runs now through June 21 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

On April 27, 2014 a private reading of the upcoming musical adaptation of BRAVE NEW WORLD took place in an undisclosed Midtown Manhattan venue.

The Muny announced principal casting for the second show of its amazing 96th season, Tarzan, directed by John Tartaglia, choreographed by Chris Bailey, with musical direction by Rick Bertone. Tarzan is sponsored by U. S. Bank.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Teal Wicks on Thursday, May 8th at 9:30 PM. Broadway star of Wicked (Elphaba) and Jekyll and Hyde (Emma Carew), Wicks brings a night of songs inspired by folk, rock, soul and blues to 54 Below, with an acoustic set led by the visionary Jasper Grant (musical director of The Color Purple, Altar Boyz). Join her for a reimagining of works from Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Patty Griffin and more of the musical storytellers that have inspired Wicks on her journeys from coast to coast. It will be a night celebrating the spirit of the underdogs, survivors, troubadours, seekers, lovers and dreamers.

Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director Anthony Freud announced today that two major Broadway and TV performers – Jenn Gambatese and Edward Hibbert – have been cast in the new production and company premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic The Sound of Music, to be presented at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, in Chicago, this spring.

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the production of My Fair Lady, the hummable, quotable, utterly enjoyable musical for the whole family. Playing for the first time at the Guthrie, under the direction of Joe Dowling, My Fair Lady will feature Helen Anker as Eliza Doolittle, Tony Sheldon as Colonel Pickering, Donald Corren as Alfred P. Doolittle - all in their Guthrie debuts - and Jeff McCarthy as Professor Henry Higgins. Performances begin on the Wurtele Thrust Stage on Saturday, June 28. Single tickets start at $28 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The Muny announced principal casting for the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Billy Elliot the Musical is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

Goodspeed Musicals has announced that designer Mark Adam Rampmeyer has joined the organization as the Costume Rental Manager. Mr. Rampmeyer's career has spanned more than 30 years in professional theater and he is very excited to pursue this new career opportunity. In this new position Mark will be responsible for curating the collection of over 250,000 pieces which can be used in Goodspeed productions and rented to professional theatres and universities across the country. "This is a brand- new direction for my career and for Goodspeed's collection," he stated, "I look forward to the first time I get to hang the work of an emerging designer next to that of some of the theater world's greatest talents like Gregg Barnes, Willa Kim, William Ivey Long and so many others currently in this incredible collection."

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson will have its world premiere in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco for a limited engagement, running four weeks only.

For the final show of the its 50th Anniversary Season, Hartford Stage will present Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - the most popular play in America this year and the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play - from May 22 to June 15. Maxwell Williams, Hartford Stage Associate Artistic Director, will direct this rollicking comedy by Christopher Durang (Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All to You, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, and Betty's Summer Vacation).

Award-winning composer and lyricist Joe Iconis will take the stage on Monday, May 5, 2014 at New World Stages as part of MURDER FOR TWO's newly launched concert series Murderous Musical Mondays. The unplugged concert, which will feature both new songs and fan favorites, will take place immediately following the 7pm performance of MURDER FOR TWO at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street) on Monday, May 5th, 2014. Admittance to the concert is free to all those with tickets to the May 5th performance of MURDER FOR TWO. Tickets are available now on Telecharge.com.

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, are pleased to announce the three new works that will be featured on the Mainstage during the 2014 Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York). Subscriptions go on sale May 7; full programming and ticket sale information will be announced at a later date.

After the sold-out premiere of his autobiographical show, PUB CRAWL, Tony Award nominee Rory O'Malley (THE BOOK OF MORMON) will play a return engagement at Joe's Pub on May 30, 2014 at 7 and 9:30pm.

With Broadway's 2014 season now in full swing, there's a solid group of performers making their Broadway debuts this Spring. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 205th season with an all-new production of Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best Musical, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. Directed by Casey Hushion, with choreography by Michele Lynch, this musical extravaganza begins previews on May 13th, opens on May 21st and runs through July 13th on the WST Mainstage.

Grammy and Emmy Winner JOHN McDANIEL and Tony Nominee BILL RUSSELL have joined the creative team of BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE MUSICAL, currently in development, as Co-Composer and Lyricist. They join a team that already includes Ben Andron as Book Writer, Jonnie Rockwell as Co-Composer, and Tony Nominated Director, Sheryl Kaller. John McDaniel is also attached as Music Director.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb's Tony winning musical Cabaret, starring Tony Award-winner Alan Cumming and Golden Globe-winner Michelle Williams, begins previews tomorrow, Friday March 21. Cabaret officially opens on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). This is a 24-week limited engagement. Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus watch a TV spot for the production below!