Goodspeed Opera House News

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has announced that they will produce an extraordinary new musical this fall at The Norma Terris Theatre, its home for developing new works in Chester, Conn. Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach will charm audiences October 21 through November 14. This production is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts honoring Artistic Excellence.

The Irish play that led to riots in the streets of Dublin when it debuted 103 years ago and became a comic masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 19th season. With previews June 16 and 17, the play opens June 18 in the Schubert Theatre and continues through July 3.

The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, will welcome Juliette Trafton, Bill Bateman, MacIntyre Dixon and Charles West to the cast, as Kimberly Whalen, Steve Routman and Scott Willis depart.

'We are delighted to present LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL,' states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. 'This exciting new show will bring back fond memories for so many of us who loved the books and the hit television series.

Music Theatre of Connecticut's MainStage presents 'Pete 'n' Keely,' a rollicking musical comedy with Book by James Hindman, Original Music by Patrick Brady, Original Lyrics by Mark Waldrop, Patrick S. Brady and others. Join America's swingin' sweethearts, Pete and Keely, as they reunite for a live television special re-living their illustrious musical career on TV, in Las Vegas showrooms, and at the top of the hit parade. The show features great hits of The Rat Pack era, including "Lover," "Besame Mucho," "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," "Secret Love," "Fever," "Black Coffee" and many more. Performances are June 4-13, 2010 at the Music Theatre of Connecticut Studio Theatre in Westport, CT.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will play June 8-13 at Bass Performance Hall. It is presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth and Casa Manana; single tickets are $30-$75 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 1.

On Tuesday, June 22, Signature Theatre will host the writers and original Broadway stars of its current musical [title of show] in a free 'Talk Back' discussion with the audience following the 7:30 pm performance. Writer/actors Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell will have the mind-bending opportunity to watch themselves played by Washington actors, Sam Ludwig and James Gardiner, at the performance then discuss the show afterwards in Signature's remarkably intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre. [title of show], winner of three Obie Awards and a Tony nomination, is a zany take on two friends' decision to write a musical, running through June 27.

Goodspeed Musicals will proudly honor Composer/Lyricist Paul Williams at a Gala evening on Saturday, June 12, 2010 when he will receive The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in recognition of his extraordinary career. Previous award recipients include Julie Andrews, Ira Gershwin, Jerry Herman, William Ivey Long, Michael P. Price, Stephen Schwartz, Tommy Tune, Susan Stroman and Gerald Schoenfel

Connecticut's Courant Blog reports the 2010 Connecticut Critics Circle winners, awarded Monday evening. Winning for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Musical of the Year is New Haven's Yale Rep, for ECLIPSED and POP!, respectively.

Outrageous situations lead to hilarious complications in the legendary musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opening on the Main Stage at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Friday, June 25. With previews June 23 and 24, Forum continues through July 11. Ticket prices range from $25 to $53.

Try to Remember: The Fantasticks, a documentary film recounting the success of the world's longest-running musical, will make its television debut tonight at 9pm on the Ovation network.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will play June 8-13 at Bass Performance Hall. It is presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth and Casa Manana; single tickets are $30-$75 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 1.

Tom Jones, the lyricist and book writer of The Fantasticks, will play his final performances as Henry (The Old Actor) in The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, this Sunday, June 6 at 3pm and 7:15pm. Jones first played the role in 1960 when The Fantasticks premiered at The Sullivan Street Playhouse.

Two River Theater Co. is proud to present Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a hilarious and madcap comedy by Steve Martin, and directed by Hal Brooks.

Tom Jones, the lyricist and book writer of The Fantasticks, will play his final performances as Henry (The Old Actor) in The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, this Sunday, June 6 at 3pm and 7:15pm. Jones first played the role in 1960 when The Fantasticks premiered at The Sullivan Street Playhouse.

Music Theatre of Connecticut's MainStage presents 'Pete 'n' Keely,' a rollicking musical comedy with Book by James Hindman, Original Music by Patrick Brady, Original Lyrics by Mark Waldrop, Patrick S. Brady and others. Join America's swingin' sweethearts, Pete and Keely, as they reunite for a live television special re-living their illustrious musical career on TV, in Las Vegas showrooms, and at the top of the hit parade. The show features great hits of The Rat Pack era, including "Lover," "Besame Mucho," "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," "Secret Love," "Fever," "Black Coffee" and many more. Performances are June 4-13, 2010 at the Music Theatre of Connecticut Studio Theatre in Westport, CT.

Music Theatre of Connecticut's MainStage presents 'Pete 'n' Keely,' a rollicking musical comedy with Book by James Hindman, Original Music by Patrick Brady, Original Lyrics by Mark Waldrop, Patrick S. Brady and others. Join America's swingin' sweethearts, Pete and Keely, as they reunite for a live television special re-living their illustrious musical career on TV, in Las Vegas showrooms, and at the top of the hit parade. The show features great hits of The Rat Pack era, including "Lover," "Besame Mucho," "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," "Secret Love," "Fever," "Black Coffee" and many more. Performances are June 4-13, 2010 at the Music Theatre of Connecticut Studio Theatre in Westport, CT.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, has announced Band Geeks!, a new musical, that has been confirmed for a spring production at The Norma Terris Theatre. The smash hit from Goodspeed's 2009 Festival of New Artists, this feel-good musical comedy will run from May 13 through June 6, 2010.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto has announced that due to unforeseen conflicts with Roger Rees' schedule, The Old Globe's upcoming production of What You Will has been replaced with Golda's Balcony starring four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh. Written by William Gibson and supervised by Scott Schwartz, Golda's Balcony earned Feldshuh a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress, and is the longest running one-woman show in Broadway history. Golda's Balcony will runin the Old Globe Theatre April 28 - May 30. Previews run April 28 - May 1. Opening night is Saturday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available to subscribers only. Single tickets go on sale March 28 at 12:00 noon and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

Camp Broadway®, Broadway's Original Summer Camp, is presenting three five-day musical theatre camps for children ages 6-9, 10-13 and 14-17 at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts during July and August 2010. New facility owner and producer, Bill Hanney invited Camp Broadway® to offer its acclaimed program at the theatre this summer as the first step in his long-range commitment to restore quality theatre arts programming for young audiences. Registration begins July 19 for more information and to register visit www.CampBroadway.com/NorthShore.