Fahy, Durand Led UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SAMANTHA BROWN Opens at Goodspeed

Fresh from their hit Broadway turns, Meghann Fahy (Next to Normal) and Andrew Durand (Spring Awakening) lead The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown. Talkin' Broadway calls the show's writing team of Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk "the most important young writers in musical theatre today." This original musical for Broadway's next generation will run from tonight, August 4 through 28, 2011 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., Goodspeed's home for developing new works.

It is dawn. Samantha Brown is supposed to leave for college today. She sits in her car with her bags packed, but she can't turn the key in the ignition. She is filled with doubts as the defining moments of her senior year flash through her mind. Somehow Samantha has to come to terms with her parents' expectations, her first love, and a lost friendship before she can turn the key and make the first decision of her adult life. With a compelling and contemporary score, Samantha Brown is a fresh new musical that you must see.

Samantha Brown features Music by Brian Lowdermilk and Book and Lyrics by Kait Kerrigan. The dynamic young writing team won the 2006 Jonathan Larson Award and a Richard Rodgers Award. Kerrigan and Lowdermilk have collaborated on Tales From The Bad Years, which appeared in Goodspeed's 2008 Festival of New Artists, The Freshman Experiment, Henry and Mudge, and The Woman Upstairs. 

Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, enthusiastically reveals the complete Samantha Brown cast led by Meghann Fahy, who will play Samantha. Ms. Fahy starred in Broadway's Next To Normal. Kelly will be played by Melissa Benoist. Ms. Benoist will appear in Showtime's upcoming drama, "Homeland." Dad will be played by Stephen Bogardus whose numerous Broadway credits include Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Man of La Mancha, High Society, Falsettos, Les Misérables, and West Side Story. Adam will be played by Andrew Durand of Broadway's Spring Awakening. Mom will be played by Catherine Porter who played Betty Schaefer opposite Hugh Jackman in the West End's Sunset Boulevard.

Samantha Brown will be directed by Daniel Goldstein, who is scheduled to direct Broadway's upcoming revival of Godspell. The set will be designed by Walt Spangler who returns to The Norma Terris Theatre after designing Goodspeed's Lucky Guy, Happy Days, Flight of the Lawnchair Man, and Camille Claudel. Mr. Spangler's Broadway credits include Desire Under the Elms and Hollywood Arms. Costumes will be designed by Tony nominated David C. Woolard whose Broadway credits include West Side Story, Dividing the Estate, All Shook Up, The Rocky Horror Show, Damn Yankees, and The Who's Tommy. Mr. Woolard has been Costume Designer for many Goodspeed favorites including Half a Sixpence, Happy Days, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Norma Terris Theatre's The 60's Project and All Shook Up. Lighting Design will be by Jason Lyons of Goodspeed's most recent Norma Terris production, Cutman. Mr. Lyons' numerous Broadway credits include Rock of Ages, The Threepenny Opera, Barefoot in the Park, and Good Vibrations. Sound design will be by the Tony Award winning Tony Meola who was sound designer for Broadway's Pal Joey, Les Misérables, Wicked, Man of LaMancha, and The Lion King, among many others. Mr. Meola has also worked on The Norma Terris Theatre's Road to Hollywood, Double Trouble, and Romeo & Juliet. The Music Director will be Gregory M. Brown who was Dance Arranger for Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence and Jim Henson's Emmet Otter.

The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown will be produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Exclusively for this production, a special student ticket deal of just $20 with valid student ID will be offered for all performances.

Perfect for a Mother-Daughter Night Out, a new Pub Dinner/Theatre package has been created. Gather your teens for pre-show dinner at The Ivory Restaurant & Pub in Deep River then join us for the show. Offered every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening, just $49 per person.

Samantha Brown will run August 4 through 28, 2011. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m.*, Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (*Thurs. 8 pm only on August 4th).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at www.goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events, and more visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

This production is made possible in part by our Marquee Sponsors Rich Cersosimo and Valerie Koif.
Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The first regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains the Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of our official audio sponsor Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. Goodspeed Musicals is supported in part by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.