Goodspeed Musicals will present three new shows--Caraboo, Princess of Javasu, The '60s Project and Meet John Doe--at the Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut. The first will be presented as a staged reading as part of Goodspeed's Brand New Musical! program, while the other two will be seen in full workshop productions.
A staged reading of Caraboo will be seen from May 19th through 21st and May 26th through 28th.
"
Caraboo, Princess of Javasu is the true story of a 19th
century girl who wanted more — and got it all! With no money, no job and nothing to lose, Mary Baker
transforms herself from British maid to exotic princess. With a little
luck and the help of a handsome Irish con artist, 'Princess Caraboo'
captivates everyone around her. Dazzling and daring, she manages to
find love and friendship even after her true identity is discovered," state press notes for the musical, which features a score by
Jenny Giering and Beth Blatt, and a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner
Marsha Norman. Garry Griffin will direct.
The '60s Project will be performed from August 10th through September 3rd. Directed by
Richard Maltby Jr. and choreographed by Lisa Shriver (both of whom are represented by
Ring of Fire on Broadway), the show is co-written by Ken Levine and Janet Brenner. The latter conceived the musical, which "tells the story of a generation...From the sweet simplicity of 'Chapel of Love' to the
radical 'The Times They Are A-Changin',' relive America's most dramatic
decade with a group of young friends fighting to make a difference and
find their place in an ever-changing world. The sights and sounds of a
generation are brought to life in this powerful new musical."
Next up will be
Meet John Doe, based on the classic Frank Capra film. The staged reading will be presented from November 9th through December 3rd. "This gripping new musical tells the tale of a Depression-era
reporter who pumps new life into a dying newspaper with a hoax that
ignites a national frenzy to save 'John Doe' from jumping off the
Brooklyn Bridge. Scrambling to keep the stunt going, she recruits a
washed up ballplayer to play the part. But how far will she go to keep
up the scam of the century?" Directed by Eric Schaeffer, the show features music by
Andrew Gerle, lyrics by
Eddie Sugarman, a book by Gerle and Sugarman and additional story by Matt August.
All three musicals have been seen in previous incarnations--both
Caraboo, Princess of Javasu and
Meet John Doe at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 17th Annual Festival of New Musicals, and
The 60s Project at Cap 21's The Shop.
For more information, visit
www.goodspeed.org.
