Photo Flash: Louise Pitre, Judy Blazer et al. in Goodpseed Musicals' MAME, Opening Tonight, 5/9

Goodspeed Musicals' bold and brassy musical comedy MAME runs now through July 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., with an official press opening of tonight, May 9, 2012. See photos from the production, featuring Louise Pitre, in dress rehearsal below!

Come along for the madcap adventures of Auntie Mame and her adoring nephew. Surrounded by an eccentric cast of characters, she celebrates the Roaring 20s, overcomes tragedy and sails through life without missing a fad or a dance step. Jerry Herman's delightful score is packed with favorites "Bosom Buddies," "We Need a Little Christmas" and more. Brimming with optimism and zest, Mame will keep you laughing while warming your heart.

Mame features Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman, a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and is based on the novel by PatRick Dennis and the play, Auntie Mame by Lawrence and Lee.

Louise Pitre, the Tony-nominated star of Broadway's Mamma Mia!, leads the cast as Mame. Known as Canada's "first lady of musical theatre," Ms. Pitre also headlined the Toronto and US touring company casts of Mamma Mia! and is known for her signature performances as Fantine in Les Misérables (Toronto, Montreal, and Paris) and the title character in Edith Piaf.

Vera will be played by Judy Blazer of Broadway’s Lovemusik, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Titanic, A Change in the Heir, and Me and My Girl and Goodspeed’s Bloomer Girl. Young Patrick will be played by Eli Baker. Charles Hagerty will play Older Patrick. Agnes Gooch will be played by Kirsten Wyatt whose Broadway credits include Elf; Grease; High Fidelity; Urinetown; and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Ms. Wyatt’s also appeared in Goodspeed’s My One And Only and The Boy Friend.

The role of Ito will be played by James Seol of Broadway’s A Naked Girl on the Appian Way. Babcock will be played by Paul Carlin whose Goodspeed credits include 1776, The Boy Friend, Where’s Charley, Brigadoon, Red, Hot & Blue, and On The Twentieth Century. Woolsey will be played by James Beaman of Goodspeed’s How to Succeed in Business… and Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. Beau will be played by James Lloyd Reynolds of Goodspeed’s 42nd Street. Lucas Schultz will play Peter.

The ensemble includes Erin Denman as Sally Cato (Goodspeed's 42nd Street), Alan Gillespie, Beau Landry as Junior, Peter Leskowicz (Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence), Denise Lute as Mother Burnside/Madame Branislowski (Broadway's Monday After the Miracle and Goodspeed's Show Boat), Eric Jon Malhum as Mr. Upson, Mary Jo McConnell as Mrs. Upson (Goodspeed's Big River and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Kim Sava as Peegan, Melissa Ann Steadman (Goodspeed's Carnival!), Kit Treece, Kellyn Uhl as Gloria (Goodspeed's How to Succeed...), and John T. Wolfe. The swings will be Brittany Bohn and Nick Nerio.

Mame is directed by Ray Roderick, who helmed many of Goodspeed's recent hits, My One And Only, 42nd Street, and Singin' in the Rain as well as Hello! My Baby and Double Trouble at The Norma Terris Theatre. Mr. Roderick served as the Associate Director of the 2000 Broadway revival of The Music Man as well as Co-conceived, Directed, and Choreographed the National Tour of Irving Berlin's I Love A Piano. Choreography will be by Vince Pesce, who was Associate Choreographer of Broadway's Anything Goes, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town, and Little Shop of Horrors.

Scenic designs are by James Youmans whose designs have been seen on Broadway in Come Fly Away, West Side Story, Gypsy, and Swinging on a Star. Mr. Youmans has also acted as Scenic Designer for such Goodspeed favorites as My One And Only, Summer of '42, Paper Moon, Finian's Rainbow, and King of Hearts, and Captain's Courageous at The Norma Terris Theatre. Costumes will be designed by Gregg Barnes. Mr. Barnes' numerous Broadway credits include Costume Designer for Follies, Elf, Bye Bye Birdie, Legally Blonde and Souvenir and Associate Costume Designer for A Little Night Music, Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid, Fiddler on the Roof, and Beauty and the Beast. He has also designed the costumes for the Goodspeed Opera House production of Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas as well as Band Geeks! and Radio Girl at the Norma Terris Theatre. Lighting design will be by Charlie Morrison who served as Lighting Designer for Goodspeed's 42nd Street and Flight of the Lawnchair Man at The Norma Terris Theatre. Sound design will be by Jay Hilton who is in his 27th season at Goodspeed.

The Music Director for Mame is Michael O'Flaherty who is in his 21st season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. William J. Thomas will be assistant music director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who created the orchestrations for Goodspeed's Show Boat, My One And Only, How To Succeed..., Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, High Button Shoes, Singin' in the Rain, The Boy Friend and many more.

Mame is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price. Mame runs now through July 1, 2012. 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 goodspeed.org. 

See photos from MAME below!

Photo credit: Diane Sobolewski