Three Days of New Works on Tap at Goodspeed Fest

A moment from last year's festival. Photo: Diane Sobolewski

The Eighth Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Artists, produced by Goodspeed Musicals’ Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, kicks off its three-day festival of brand new works Friday, Jan.18, at the Goodspeed Opera House with a staged reading of Nine Wives.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, the musical Come From Away debuts and on the final day of the festival, the unconventional tale Princesses: A New Rock Musical will be presented.

Several special events will round out this exciting weekend. Tickets and Festival Packages are available at the Goodspeed Box Office or by calling 860-873-8668. Tickets are $15 each for one show, $10 each for students and can be purchased online at www.goodspeed.org as well as through our Box Office. Special package deals are available.

THE SCHEDULE:
Jan. 18

Nine Wives 7:30 pm Goodspeed Opera House
Music & Lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen;  Book & Lyrics by Dan Elish;  Based on the novel, “Nine Wives” by Dan Elish

Nine Wives tells the story of Henry Mann, a 32-year-old bachelor who discovers that the love of his life has met someone new and is about to get married. What’s worse, he’s been invited to her wedding! What follows are Henry’s frantic attempts to find a woman he can take as his date – a potential future wife – to prove to his ex- fiancée (and the world) that he too is ready to move on.

Festival Cabaret
10 pm Gelston House Showcasing new songs by new artists.

Jan. 19

Festival Seminars 10 am to 12:45 pm Gelston House

New Musical Preview  2:30 to 3:30 pm Goodspeed Opera House; A preview of a new musical headed to Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in 2013

Noël Coward Symposium 4 pm Goodspeed Opera House. This event is free and open to the public.
Festival Dinner 5:30 pm Gelston House

Come From Away 7:30 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House
Book, Music and Lyrics by David Hein and Irene Sankoff 

Come From Away is a rocking musical about when 38 planes from around the world were diverted to a small, Canadian community on September 11th, 2001 - doubling its population in an instant. While the world witnessed the worst acts of humankind, the stranded passengers had their faith in humanity restored by the spirited people who comforted those who had come from away.

Festival Cabaret 10 pm Gelston House

Jan. 20

Princesses: A New Rock Musical
1pm Goodspeed Opera House
Book by Janece Shaffer, Emma Lively and Tyler Beattie
Music and Lyrics by Emma Lively and Tyler Beattie

Four outrageous princesses escape the confines of their castle walls and shock the fairy tale world with their unconventional ways. Princesses is inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and features a contemporary rock score. 

Meet the Writers Reception 3:30 pm Gelston House. Gain insight into the inspirations and processes of the writers. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

Lodging and dining information for Festival attendees as well as up-to-date information on the weekend’s events may be found at www.goodspeed.org.