Max Showalter News

Charles Dickens' beloved orphan makes his Goodspeed debut in the hope-filled musical set in the dark shadows of Victorian London. Bounced from workhouse to forced labor, Oliver Twist escapes to the streets where he meets Fagin, the Artful Dodger and a band of child pickpockets. Will he find love, home and happiness before it's too late?

A Chicago housewife turns one small step into a giant, life-changing leap in Bartram & Hill's new musical You Are Here. Goodspeed Musicals continues its commitment to innovative, thought-provoking works with this intimate tour-de-force new musical featuring Tony Award nominee Patti Cohenour as Diana, Broadway performers Andrea Frierson as Voice 1 and Stacia Fernandez as Voice 2, and Spamilton: An American Parody starDan Rosales as Voice 3.

Goodspeed is assembling a stellar cast for Cyrano an inspired new take on the Edmond Rostand classic Cyrano de Bergerac. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Peter Dinklage will develop the title role and film actress Haley Bennett will play Roxanne in this bold new musical. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. This exciting musical is adapted by Erica Schmidt in collaboration with members of the Grammy Award-winning indie alternative band The National. Cyrano will run August 3 - September 2, 2018 at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A Chicago housewife turns one small step into a giant, life-changing leap in Bartram & Hill's new musical You Are Here. Goodspeed Musicals continues its commitment to innovative, thought-provoking works with this intimate tour-de-force new musical featuring Tony Award nominee Patti Cohenour as Diana, Broadway performers Andrea Frierson as Voice 1 and Stacia Fernandez as Voice 2, and Spamilton: An American Parody starDan Rosales as Voice 3.

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2018 season with the Broadway hit The Will Rogers Follies, A Life In Revue. The exuberant dance-filled musical will be running April 13 - June 21 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.

Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce the establishment of The Andrew A. Isen Prize at Goodspeed Musicals. The prize, to be given annually, will recognize a young person between the ages of 20-29 who has demonstrated excellence in their work during the previous Goodspeed Musicals season. Each March, Goodspeed will award $5,000 to an honoree - chosen by committee - to aid in their pursuit of a career in musical theatre. The inaugural prize will be awarded in 2019 for candidates from the 2018 season. Application information will be made available to eligible candidates during their time at Goodspeed.

The 13th Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, kicks off its much-anticipated three-day festival of brand-new works today, January 12, 2018 at The Goodspeed with a staged reading of the rousing new musical Five Points by Ethan D. Pakchar (Music) and Douglas Lyons (Music and Lyrics), and McKnight Fellowship winner Harrison David Rivers (Book).

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 36 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists will converge on the Goodspeed campus from mid-January through mid-February 2018 to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 18 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

Does your child dream of seeing their name in lights? Spend the summer with Goodspeed Musicals! Aspiring non-Equity child performers (ages 8-13) are invited to audition for summer camp with Goodspeed Kids Company 2018, a one-of-a-kind summer musical theatre camp experience that gives young male and female performers the chance to also join the ensemble for our production of Lionel Bart's Oliver!, based on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist.

Goodspeed Musicals will welcome Anika Chapin to its staff beginning in January, 2018.

The 13th Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, kicks off its much-anticipated three-day festival of brand-new works on Friday, January 12, 2018 at The Goodspeed with a staged reading of the rousing new musical Five Points by Ethan D. Pakchar (Music) and Douglas Lyons (Music and Lyrics), and McKnight Fellowship winner Harrison David Rivers (Book).

A family classic has been given a fresh twist in Connecticut's own A Connecticut Christmas Carol by LJ Fecho and Michael O'Flaherty. Goodspeed Musicals continues its commitment to fresh, innovative works with this new musical infused with Connecticut flavor. A Connecticut Christmas Carol runs now through December 30, 2017 at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn.

A family classic has been given a fresh twist in Connecticut's own A Connecticut Christmas Carol by LJ Fecho and Michael O'Flaherty. Goodspeed Musicals continues its commitment to fresh, innovative works with this new musical infused with Connecticut flavor. A Connecticut Christmas Carol runs tonight, November 17, through December 24, 2017 at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn.

A family classic has been given a fresh twist in Connecticut's own A Connecticut Christmas Carol by LJ Fecho and Michael O'Flaherty. Goodspeed Musicals continues its commitment to fresh, innovative works with this new musical infused with Connecticut flavor. A Connecticut Christmas Carol will run November 17 December 24, 2017 at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn.

Last night during an exclusive member event, Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed's Executive Director, announced three terrific titles on track for next season.

Join Rebecca and David Hershkowitz as they journey to a 'brand new world' in Goodspeed's reinvented Rags. Original creators Charles Strouse and Stephen Schwartz have teamed up with David Thompson, who has adapted Joseph Stein's book, to rework this timely and inspiring piece.

Here's your chance to join a professional acting company. Goodspeed Musicals is holding auditions for local Non-Equity child actors between ages 7-10 for its upcoming production of A Connecticut Christmas Carol.

For Goodspeed Musicals, being the home of the American musical means maintaining a tradition of excellence, innovation and world-class entertainment, while engaging artists and audiences at all stages of the musical theatre experience.  It is important that everyone in our community can experience and benefit from the power of the live theatre.

The world of a charming songwriter is on the rocks in Daniel Zaitchik's contemporary new musical Darling Grenadine.

'People will say we're in love' with this wild western cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved Oklahoma! Having directed last summer's hit Bye Bye Birdie Jenn Thompson returns to The Goodspeed to take on the show that changed American musicals forever. For the first time at Goodspeed, this country classic will welcome city slickers, cowboys and everyone in between! So kick up your boots and join us for this lively and legendary musical which runs July 14-September 23 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn [Official Press Opening will be August 2, 2017].