Goodspeed Honors ANNIE Authors at 'ANNIE-versary,' 6/4

Goodspeed Musicals will honor the tremendous creative team that introduced the world to Annie nearly 35 years ago when it debuted at the Goodspeed Opera House. The incomparable team of Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin will be celebrated at a Gala evening on Saturday, June 4, 2011 when they will each receive The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in recognition of their extraordinary careers. Previous award recipients include Julie Andrews, Ira Gershwin, Jerry Herman, William Ivey Long, Michael P. Price, Gerald Schoenfeld, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, Tommy Tune and Paul Williams. Proceeds from the Gala will support Goodspeed Musicals' Education Programs through The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre.

The Honorary Chair for this Gala event will be Sarah Jessica Parker who stepped into the role of Annie on Broadway in 1979 and has gone on to international stage and screen stardom. The Honorary Committee will include Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie at the Goodspeed Opera House and on Broadway; William Berloni (theatrical animal trainer) , who adopted and trained the original Sandy; Ken Billington, lighting designer for the 1997 Broadway revival; Sutton Foster, who appeared in the Broadway revival of Annie in 1997; Freddie Gershon of Music Theater International; Arielle Tepper Madover, Producer for 2012 Broadway revival; James L. Nederlander and James M. Nederlander, Broadway Producers; Wendy Orshan, General Manager for the upcoming 2012 Broadway revival; and Conrad John Schuck, who made his Broadway debut as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in 1979.
Emcee Conrad John Schuck, also known for his work in such TV classics as "McMillan & Wife" and "The Munsters," will lead the evening's festivities, to be held at the elegant Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam, Conn. The event will include a cocktail hour and an exquisite dinner followed by a live auction and entertainment by some of Broadway's finest performers celebrating Annie and its amazing journey from Goodspeed's stage to Broadway, the West End, and the silver screen.

Individual tickets start at $500, while tables of ten can be purchased for $5,000 and up. For gala ticket and commemorative journal ad information, please telephone Caitlin Quinn at 860.873.8664, extension 367.

This year, Goodspeed is delighted to honor three of the most tremendous talents in Broadway history, beginning with book writer Thomas Meehan, who won the 2003 Tony Award for co-writing the book for Hairspray after having won the 2001 Tony Award for co-writing the book of The Producers. He received his first Tony Award for writing the book for Annie, which was his first Broadway show. His most recent works are the Broadway musical Young Frankenstein, for which he co-wrote the book with Mel Brooks; Cry-Baby, co-written with Mark O'Donnell; and Elf, co-written with Bob Martin. Seven time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse is responsible for such Broadway gems as Bye Bye Birdie, "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman", Applause, Annie, Charlie and Algernon, Rags and Nick & Nora . The multi-talented Martin Charnin began his theatrical career originating the role of Big Deal in West Side Story. He has been involved in 53 theatrical productions as lyricist, librettist, composer, director or a combination of all four and received the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Annie, two Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards.

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.