Chris Peluso, Whitney Bashor to Lead Goodspeed's AMAZING GRACE, 5/17-6/10

Goodspeed Musicals takes to the high seas with the new musical Amazing Grace. This tale about a slave trader who sees the light and dedicates himself to ending slavery will run from May 17 through June 10, 2012 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., Goodspeed's home for developing new works. Amazing Grace is sponsored by Essex Savings Bank.

"Storms. Slavery. Romance. Redemption. Prepare to be swept away by this epic musical saga about John Newton, a rebellious slave trader, and the woman who never lost faith in him. While fighting the raging seas and his own despair, Newton's life is suddenly transformed - igniting a quest to end the scourge of slavery. Based on a true story of the man who penned the world's most recognizable song, it's a powerful musical you will never forget."

Amazing Grace features music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Arthur Giron and Christopher Smith.

Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is delighted to announce that the cast ofAmazing Grace will be led by Chris Peluso who will play John Newton. Peluso appeared in Broadway's Mamma Mia!, Lestat, andAssassins. Whitney Bashor will play Mary Catlett. Laiona Michelle will play Nanna/Ayotunde. Mike Evariste will play Thomas/Keita. Captain Newton will be played by Dennis Parlato of Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Sound of Music, Chess, and A Chorus Line as well as Mrs. McThing at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre. Major Gray will be played by Chris Hoch of Broadway's La Cage aux Folles; Shrek The Musical; Spamalot; Dracula, the Musical; and Beauty and the Beast. Hoch also appeared in Goodspeed'sCaraboo, Princess of Javasu at The Norma

Terris Theatre. Harriet D. Foy will play The Princess. Ms. Foy appeared in Broadway's The American Plan, Mamma Mia!, and Once on This Island as well as in Goodspeed's Good Sports at The Norma Terris Theatre.

The ensemble includes Jonathan Burke, Merideth Kaye Clark, Rheaume Crenshaw, Andrew Crowe, Tyrone Davis Jr.,Rachael Ferrera, Liam Forde, Logan Rose Nelms, Adbur Rahim Jackson, Olivia Bowman Jackson, Allen Kendall, Alex Krasser,Kate Marilley (Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence and L'il Abner), Danny Rothman (Goodspeed's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Gavriel Savit, Victoria Thornsbury, Paul Michael Valley (Broadway's 1776), Charles E. Wallace, Toni Elizabeth White, and Noah Zachary.

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