Friday, December 19, 2014

Slate of Musicals Announced for Goodspeed Fest

The 10th annual Festival of New Musicals kicks off Friday, Jan. 16 at the Goodspeed Opera House with a staged reading of the Jesse James-inspired musical Outlaws.

Following will be the musical comedy The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes Saturday, Jan.17 and For Tonight on Sunday, Jan. 18.

will be presented. Several special events will round out this exciting weekend. Tickets are available at the Goodspeed Box Office or by calling 860.873.8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. Tickets are $20 each for one show, $15 each for students. This year’s Festival is sponsored in part by lead corporate sponsor RisCassi & Davis, P.C., with additional support by The Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc. and The Burry Fredrik Foundation.

On tap:

Friday, Jan. 16

OUTLAWS
Music and Lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen
Book by James Presson
7:30 pm Goodspeed Opera House

Frustrated with Washington and hard-up for cash, Jesse James and his brother Frank take matters into their own hands - robbing banks, courting the press, and killing anyone who gets in their way. Alternating between sprawling epic and intimate family drama, Outlawsexamines the blurred lines between hero and villain, bravery and recklessness, and man and god.

Festival Cabaret, showcasing new songs by festival writers, 10 pm Gelston House

Saturday, Jan. 17
Seminars
10 am to 12:45 pm Gelston House

Author Jennifer Ashley Tepper will share stories from her new book "The Untold Stories of Broadway: Volume Two." Meet the author and book signing will follow the session.

How Do They Do That? - Set Designer Paul Tate dePoo will debut his designs for Goodspeed’s upcoming production of Guys and Dolls and share his secrets for just how to make a night club, a mission, steamy Havana, and Times Square fit in the jewel-box theater.

Vocal Arranging 101 – Learn the process of vocal arranging from Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director Michael O’Flaherty with demonstrations performed by festival participants from The Hartt School.

ADDITIONAL SEMINARS TBA

Musical preview of a new musical set for Goodspeed in 2015
2:30 to 3:30 pm  Goodspeed Opera House

Symposium  (free and open to the public)
4 pm Goodspeed Opera House

The New Musical Challenge: Ever wonder what it takes to write a musical? WNPR’s Colin McEnroe will host a conversation with the writing teams represented in this year’s festival, a team currently writing-in-residence at Goodspeed and festival favorites Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich (upcoming production of Ever After at Papermill and Goodspeed’s The Great American Mousical). Learn first-hand about the challenges of writing a new musical and be the first to hear a brand new song written on-the-spot by one of the teams willing to take our New Musical Challenge.

Festival Dinner 5:30 pm Gelston House - OR - La Vita. Enjoy a three course meal with fellow festival goers.

THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES
Book and Lyrics by Christopher Dimond
Music by Michael Kooman 
7:30 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House  

Howard Barnes is a perfectly average man until he discovers that his life has become a musical. Equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is a musical for people who love musical theater and their spouses who hate it.

Festival Cabaret 10 pmGelston House


Sunday, Jan. 18
Tour of Goodspeed’s Costume Collection, 11 am The Cynthia Kellogg Barrington Costume Center

FOR TONIGHT
Music & Lyrics by Shenelle Williams and Spencer Williams
Book by Whitney Rhodes, Spencer Williams, and Shenelle Williams
1 pm Goodspeed Opera House

When their parents die of a mysterious illness in their small Welsh village, surviving siblings Thomas, Haydon, and Nettie are forced to fend for themselves. Inspired by the gypsies who once shared their home, Haydon heads off to Liverpool, guitar in hand, to find what he's been missing. There he meets Mirela who speaks to his wandering soul. Through a riveting indie-rock/folk score, For Tonight explores the indelible power of home.

Meet the Writers Reception 3:30 pm Gelston House. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

Festival pricing as well as lodging and dining information for Festival attendees may be found at goodspeed.org.

No comments:

Post a Comment