Noah Aberlin News

This week has been out of control busy. Since we are still in previews, the show is still changing and that means rehearsals by day and then shows at night (plus matinees). Much like the phrase 'twerking', we are tired and in need of being used less. That's the job though, and the end product and successful run is the reward waiting for us.

Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights below!

Standing backstage in the wings of the theatre, you begin to notice that your pulse has increased and you're a little sweaty despite the freezing AC coming down on you. 'Rosabella' is singing the last 16 bars of 'Somebody, Somewhere' and you can feel the vibration of the automation kicking in that will soon roll the diner off and take the audience from San Francisco to the Napa Valley. You check and recheck that your prop comb is in your pocket and that your prop newspaper is tucked into your waistband and ready for use. The actors next to you are doing similar actions, whether checking their own props or running lines in their head, looking at times like a manic person on the New York City subway talking to themselves. The song ends and since the scrim is down in front of you, you only hear muffled applause, therefore unable to gauge how things have gone these first 15 minutes of the show. The scrim lifts, the lights blare into your eyes and you see the once vacant seats now full of strangers who have paid to have a great evening of theatre. The time has finally arrived…ladies and gentlemen, it's time for your first preview.

Today's blog is brought to you by my second cup of coffee and the last tiny flecks of energy I have left after this insane tech week. The insanity and long hours though, have brought us to this, our first preview, where the world will see what we've been working on for that last five weeks. Will it be a hit for the Goodspeed? Will people find our grapes to be sour? (Grant me at least one Napa Valley pun…I'm exhausted). I have my opinions on our show, which I've mentioned at length on here, but the audience member is the one who truly decides our fate.

Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below!

So this show marks my first time in the ensemble in my professional career. Now, I mean that just as a fact, not as an "ugh, the ensemble" type comment. In fact, my mind has been blown in these past two weeks as to the amount of extra work one must put in when the circumstances given to you are sing, dance and insert random line during a scene change where you're grabbing a stool to take offstage. Our director, Rob Ruggiero, is very detail oriented and insists on an ensemble that has their own backstories and aren't just "peas and carrots" and "hub-bubbing" in group scenes. This cast has risen to the challenge and have created a warm and inviting community chock full of relationships and intricacies. Me? I'm giving you a full committed three act riff of August: Osage County deep within my subtle, "Well, hi boss!" and "Yeah, I seen her picture. She's beautiful." As I always say, "If you give a mouse a cookie…"

Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power.

Spotlights will race across the sky, ticket holders will arrive on a red carpet, and the celebration of the Broward Center's 20th anniversary year will be launched Wednesday, October 6, at 8 P.M. with the season premiere of THE NEW MEL BROOKS MUSICAL YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN marking the first salvo of the excitingly diverse 2010 2011 Broadway Across America-Fort Lauderdale 8-musical theatrical season, presented by the Florida Theatrical Association at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Spotlights will race across the sky, ticket holders will arrive on a red carpet, and the celebration of the Broward Center's 20th anniversary year will be launched Wednesday, October 6, at 8 P.M. with the season premiere of THE NEW MEL BROOKS MUSICAL YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN marking the first salvo of the excitingly diverse 2010 2011 Broadway Across America-Fort Lauderdale 8-musical theatrical season, presented by the Florida Theatrical Association at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Spotlights will race across the sky, ticket holders will arrive on a red carpet, and the celebration of the Broward Center's 20th anniversary year will be launched Wednesday, October 6, at 8 P.M. with the season premiere of THE NEW MEL BROOKS MUSICAL YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN marking the first salvo of the excitingly diverse 2010 2011 Broadway Across America-Fort Lauderdale 8-musical theatrical season, presented by the Florida Theatrical Association at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, a new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash The Producers, opened on Broadway November 8th 2007 at the Hilton Theatre and began the national tour in September, 2009.

As previously reported, Goodspeed Musicals' first ever prduction of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN will open tonight, May 12 in East Haddam, CT. The show will run through June 27. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production below!

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is fired up to announce the cast of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. This wild west musical from the director who brought you Goodspeed's 1776 and Camelot will run from April 16 - June 27 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is fired up to announce the cast of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. This wild west musical from the director who brought you Goodspeed's 1776 and Camelot will run from April 16 - June 27 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

THE WIZARD OF OZ is heading to the Lyric Opera House! THE WIZARD OF OZ runs Friday, November 13 at 8pm, Saturday, November 14 at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, November 15 at 1pm.

Abingdon Theatre Company's Marathon '33 was a star-studded celebration and special presentation of a new stage show inspired by June Havoc's 1963 play of the same title for one night only on Monday, October 19th at Webster Hall. BroadwayWorld.com's Monica Simoes, a true artist, documented the evening in her expert fashion.

Abingdon Theatre Company's Marathon '33 is a star-studded celebration and special presentation of a new stage show inspired by June Havoc's 1963 play of the same title for one night only on Monday, October 19, beginning at 6:30pm at Webster Hall.

Abingdon Theatre Company's Marathon '33 is a star-studded celebration and special presentation of a new stage show inspired by June Havoc's 1963 play of the same title for one night only on Monday, October 19, beginning at 6:30pm at Webster Hall.

THE HAPPY EMBALMER -- a World-Premiere new musical with book, music and lyrics by Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy, directed and choreographed by Kelly Devine -- is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, starting October 6, 2009 at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, btw 9th and 10th Avenues) in New York City.

THE HAPPY EMBALMER -- a World-Premiere new musical with book, music and lyrics by Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy, directed and choreographed by Kelly Devine -- is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, starting October 6, 2009 at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, btw 9th and 10th Avenues) in New York City.