TV: Ruggiero & More Talk Goodspeed's SHOW BOAT; Meet the Company!

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Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, will breathe new life into the indelible American classic Show Boat. This heart-wrenching musical from the director who brought you Goodspeed's Camelot and 1776 will run from July 1 - September 11 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Opening night is set for July 27, 2011. BroadwayWorld was on hand to meet the company this week and hear about the production from director Rob Ruggiero and more!  

Come aboard for an epic American musical! A sweeping tale spanning four decades, Show Boat is a journey into the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of three generations of show folk on the mighty Mississippi River. Jerome Kern's masterpiece is a treasure trove of unforgettable music including "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and "You Are Love." Don't miss this timeless triumph of the Broadway stage!

Show Boat features Music by Jerome Kern and Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the novel "Show Boat" by Edna Ferber. Magnolia will be played by Sarah Uriarte Berry, of Broadway's The Light in the Piazza, Taboo, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Misérables. Ravenal will be played by Ben Davis whose Broadway credits include the recent revival of A Little Night Music, Les Misérables, La Bohème, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Queenie will be played by Andrea Frierson who appeared in Broadway's Marie Christine, The Lion King, Juan Darien, Once on This Island, For Colored Girls..., and The Me Nobody Knows. The role of Parthy will be played by Karen Murphy of Broadway's A Little Night Music, 9 to 5, All Shook Up, 42nd Street, King David, and Titanic, and Goodspeed's Annie 2. Star of stage and screen Lenny Wolpe will play Cap'n Andy. Wolpe's numerous Broadway credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked, and The Sound of Music. Goodspeed audiences will remember him from The Baker's Wife and A Long Way To Boston at The Norma Terris Theatre, and Little Johnny Jones and She Loves Me at the Opera House.
Frank will be played by Danny Gardner of Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence, High Button Shoes, and Singin' In The Rain. Ellie will be played by Jennifer Knox. Quentin Earl Darrington of Goodspeed's Abyssinia will play Joe. Julie will be played by Lesli Margherita. Kim will be played by Maddie Berry.

The ensemble will include Paule Aboite, Elizabeth Berg (Hello! My Baby from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists), Elise Kinnon (Goodspeed's 42nd Street, Half a Sixpence, and Happy Days), Denise Lute (Broadway's Monday After the Miracle), A'Lisa Miles (Goodspeed's Big River), and Mollie Vogt-Welch (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities and Goodspeed's Camelot). Also joining the ensemble is Kyle E. Baird, Robert Hannon Davis, Robert Lance Mooney (Room 16 from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists), Rob Richardson (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities), Greg Roderick (Broadway's South Pacific, and Goodspeed's 1776, Brigadoon, A Little Night Music, and King of Hearts), Jet Thompson, David Toombs, Richard Waits, and Nicholas Ward. The swings will be Adam Fenton Goddu (Room 16 from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists) and Christiana Rodi (Nobody Loves You from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists).

Show Boat will be directed by Goodspeed favorite Rob Ruggiero who returns to the Opera House where he previously directed Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Mr. Ruggiero's also directed Broadway's High and Looped. Choreographer for this production will be Noah Racey who choreographed Goodspeed's Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun and starred in Where's Charley?. Mr. Racey also performed in Broadway's Curtains, Never Gonna Dance, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Follies.

Michael Schweikardt will be the Scenic Designer. His designs have been seen in Goodspeed's Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Costumes will be designed by Amy Clark who was the Associate Costume Designer for Broadway's Sister Act, Come Fly Away, Fela!, and All My Sons. Lighting design will be by John Lasiter who served as Lighting Designer for Goodspeed's Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776 and Broadway's High. Sound design will be by Jay Hilton who is in his 26th season at Goodspeed.

The Music Director for Show Boat is Michael O'Flaherty who is in his 20th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. F. Wade Russo is assistant music director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who provided the orchestrations for Goodspeed's My One And Only, How To Succeed..., Carnival!, Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Half a Sixpence, High Button Shoes, Singin' in the Rain, and The Boy Friend. Show Boat is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Show Boat will run July 1 through September 11, 2011 [Official Press Opening July 27, 2011]. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 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. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at www.goodspeed.org.