An Enchanted Evening At Goodspeed With Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’

July 10, 2024July 27, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of Goodspeed’s Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’

Goodspeed Musicals Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton & Managing Director David B. Byrd present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC. Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Oscar Hammerstein II & Joshua Logan. Directed by Chay Yew. Choreographed by Parker Esse. Music Direction by Adam Souza. Scenic Design by Alexander Dodge. Costume Design by Juinghyun Georgia Lee. Lighting Design by Amith Chandrashaker. Sound Design by Jay Hilton. Wig & Hair Design by Tommy Kurzman. At The Goodspeed, East Haddam, CT through August 11, 2024.

by Linda Chin

When Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II’s South Pacific premiered on Broadway in 1949, it garnered massive critical and audience acclaim, sweeping the Tonys with ten awards, including Best Musical, Libretto, and Musical Score. It also was a box-office success, running for nearly two thousand performances until its final bow in 1954. Seventy years later, the show’s sensational score remains one of the most impressive in the American musical theater canon and enjoys mass appeal. Theatergoers attending Goodspeed Musicals’ production of South Pacific (through August 11, 2024) will be treated to an enchanting evening (or afternoon matinee) of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s magnificent music.

Goodspeed’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ a Very Novel Musical

April 24, 2024April 24, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of Goodspeed’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’. Photos by Diane Sobolewski

Goodspeed Musicals presents THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Book, music, lyrics, and orchestrations by Rupert Holmes. Directed by Rob Ruggiero. Choreographed by James Gray. Music Direction by Adam Souza. Scenic Design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume Design by Hunter Kaczorowski. Lighting Design by Rob Denton. Sound Design by Jay Hilton. Hair & Wig Design by Tommy Kurzman. At Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT, through June 2nd.

By Linda Chin

Having read Dickens’ final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, decades ago and having seen the musical at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in 1985 – but not the original Broadway show nor the 2012 revival (yes, I am still heartbroken that I missed Chita Rivera’s portrayal of Princess Puffer) – I was eager to see Drood again. Set in London in 1895, Drood is a musical about actors in an offbeat Victorian troupe called the Music Hall Royale who are putting on a musical. With Goodspeed Opera House’s soaring ceilings and ornate architectural details c. 1877 – and a little theater magic to the ornamentation on the balcony and the stage set by scenic designer Ann Beyersdorfer – there couldn’t be a more perfect setting for a whodunit murder mystery musical in Dickensian times.

Singing, Dancing, And Acting Are ‘Supreme’ in Goodspeed’s ‘Dreamgirls’

December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Shantel Cribbs, Montria Walker, Melanie Loren and Aalon Smith in Goodspeed’s Dreamgirls.
Photos by Diane Sobolewski

‘Dreamgirls’ – Book and lyrics by Tom Eyen. Music by Henry Krieger. Directed by Lili-Anne Brown. Choreography by Breon Arzell. Music Direction by Christie Chiles Twillie. Scenic design by Arnel Sancianco. Costume design by Samantha C. Jones. Co-Lighting design by Adam Honoré and Jason Lynch. Sound design by Jay Hilton. At The Goodspeed, 6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, through December 30, 2023.

by Linda Chin

The question of whether the plot of the 1981 Tony Award-winning Dreamgirls, which follows the story of an all-girl Motown trio called the Dreams, is based on the real-life stories of the legendary group The Supremes is still the stuff of controversy but there should be little debate about whether Goodspeed Musicals’ production is the stuff dreams are made of. With the dream trio Lili-Anne Brown (director), Breon Arzell (choreographer) and Christie Chiles Twillie (music director) working in collaboration with a tremendously talented cast, this show not only features the dazzling dancing and sensational singing typical of most musical theater works (and yes, every member of this company has impressive technical and performance skills) but supreme and authentic acting, critical for a story that depicts the disappointments and drama that ensue when pursuing big dreams.

Goodspeed’s ‘Summer Stock’ is a Feel-Good, ‘Get Happy’ Experience

August 3, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Corbin Bleu and the cast of Goodspeed’s ‘Summer Stock’. Photo by Diane Sobolewski

‘Summer Stock’ – Book & Additional Lyrics by Cheri Steinkellner. Direction and Choreography by Donna Feore. Music Supervision, Arrangements, Orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Music Direction by Adam Souza. Scenic Design by Wilson Chin. Costume Design by Tina McCartney. Lighting Design by Jeff Croiter. Sound Design by Jay Hilton. At Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam, CT, through August 27

by Linda Chin

Post-pandemic, performing arts venues across the country are reporting difficulties maintaining their subscriber base or filling seats, but at Connecticut’s Goodspeed Musicals, this does not seem to be the case. Based on the classic 1950 MGM film featuring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, Summer Stock was rewritten and updated by Cheri Steinkellner (Cheers, Sister Act) to tell a story that appeals to modern audiences, supports a diverse cast of characters, and includes many more songs than the nine in the film. With delightful direction and classy choreography by Donna Feore, jazz-inspired musical arrangements by Doug Besterman, and expert music direction by Adam Souza, eight musicians (including Souza on keyboards) and a cast of 20 triple-threats perform over 20 song and dance numbers. From start to finish, Goodspeed’s Summer Stock is a feel-good “Get Happy” experience.

Goodspeed’s Re-imagined Revival of 42nd Street is a Thoroughly Modern Musical

October 17, 2022October 20, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ’42nd Street’ at Goodspeed Musicals

by Linda Chin

The classic musical 42^nd Street is set in 1933 NYC, when The Great Depression has drained people’s bank accounts and dampened their spirits, and where the bright lights of The Great White Way have dimmed. Producers and co-writers Bert Barry and Maggie Jones and director Julian Marsh are desperate for their new show Pretty Lady to be a hit. They’ve infused the show with comedic bits, big musical numbers, and sexual innuendo that should pack houses, and assembled a sensational cast. Jones knows that tapping dancers are crowd pleasers, and that taking her gaggle of chorus girls out to lunch makes for happier hoofers. Marsh, a brusque and hard-driving taskmaster, rallies his actors “to work and sweat and work some more,” and “dance ‘til your feet fall off” and in five weeks, “it’ll be the best damn show this town’s ever seen.”