Varela, Dixon, Alvin, Etc. Set for Goodspeed 'Pirates'

Casting has been announced for Goodspeed Musicals' swashbuckling next show.  Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates on Penzance will be performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT from October 6th through December 10th.  It will open on November 1st.

The production will star Andrew Varela (Little Women, Les Miserables) as The Pirate King, with Ed Dixon (The Iceman Cometh, The Scarlet Pimpernel, writer of Fanny Hill) as the Major General, Farah Alvin (I Love You Because, upcoming Les Miserables) as Mabel, Jason Michael Snow as Frederic, Joanna Glushak (Sweet Smell of Success, Urinetown) as Ruth, John O'Creagh as Samuel, Gerry MacIntyre as Sergeant and Julia Osborne as Edith.

Featured in the ensemble will be: Matt Baker, Ryan Bauer-Walsh, Matthew Scott Campbell, Kyle Fichtman, Michael Scott Harris, Robyn Kramer, Nick Mannix, Lindsay K. Northen, Tory Ross, Michael Rossmy, Roger Preston Smith, Leah Sprecher, Rebecca Strimaitis, Leonard E. Sullivan, Jacque Carnahan and Scott Ross.

"Come aboard for a swashbuckling musical adventure sure to make you squeal with delight. In this spectacular new production, Gilbert & Sullivan meet Pirates of the Caribbean in a high seas tale of mistaken identity. Fly high with a band of roguish pirates, their naval enemies and our young hero as swords clash over treasure chests and lovely ladies," state Goodspeed notes on the show, which does not feature direct similarities to the popular Disney franchise. 

Gordon Greenburg (Jacques Brel is Alive and Well...) will direct The Pirates of Penzance, which features book and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan.  Produced by Goodspeed with Michael P. Price, the show will be choreographed by Warren Carlyle, with sets by Robert Bissinger, costumes by David C. Woolard and lighting by Jeff Croiter.  Emmy Award-winner John McDaniel ("The Rosie O'Donnell Show") provides arrangements and music supervision.  Michael O'Flaherty is the musical director.

Visit www.goodspeed.org for more information.