Bill Nolte to Lead Goodspeed Musicals' THE MOST HAPPY FELLA; Full Cast Announced

Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power.

Abbondanza! From the composer of Guys and Dolls comes a vibrant musical that blossoms in the vineyards of Napa Valley. Your heart will be warmed by this May-December romance when a city bride is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything until his true goodness shines through. With a gorgeous score and spirited dancing, it's a simple and touching love story that makes for an extraordinary night of theatre. Favorite songs include "Standing on the Corner" and "Somebody, Somewhere."

Book, music and lyrics for The Most Happy Fella are written by Frank Loesser. Loesser also wrote the music and lyrics for Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying, and Where's Charley?.

Leading the cast in the role of Tony will be Bill Nolte. Mr. Nolte's numerous Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles, The Producers,Amour, Jane Eyre, 1776, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden, Me and My Girl, and Cats. He previously appeared at Goodspeed in Man of La Mancha and Sweeney Todd. Mamie Parris will play opposite Nolte as Rosabella. Ms. Parris has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, 110 in the Shade, and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Marie will be played by Ann Arvia whose Broadway credits include Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and LES MISERABLES. Joey will be played by Doug Carpenter. Cleo will be played by Natalie Hill who appeared on Broadway in Wonderland, Bye Bye Birdie, and Grease and at Goodspeed in Camille Claudel (The Norma Terris Theatre) and Brigadoon. Herman will be played by Kevin Vortmann who appeared in Broadway's A Little Night Music. Ciccio will be played by Daniel Berryman. Pasquale will be played by Martín Solá whose Broadway credits include Coram Boy, La Bohème, and The King and I. Guiseppe will be played by Greg Roderick of Broadway's South Pacific and Goodspeed's Show Boat, King of Hearts,and A Little Night Music.

The ensemble includes Noah Aberlin (Goodspeed's Annie Get Your Gun), Elizabeth Ann Berg (Goodspeed's Show Boat), Victoria Castle,Christine Cornell, Seth Danner, Michael Deleget (Goodspeed's Camelot) as the Doctor, Eloise Kropp (Goodspeed's Carousel), Danny Lindgren,John Payonk, Rachel Rhodes-Devey, Sarah Tranchina, Eric Ulloa, and James Zannelli. The swings will be Matthew Amira and Sabrina Marlene.

The Most Happy Fella will be directed by Rob Ruggiero who returns to Goodspeed after helming such successes as Carousel, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Mr. Ruggiero's Broadway credits include Looped and High. Parker Esse will again join forces with Ruggiero as Choreographer. They previously teamed up for Goodspeed's Carousel last season. Mr. Esse also served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway's Finian's Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities.

Michael Schweikardt will be the Scenic Designer. His designs for Goodspeed Musicals include Carousel, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot,Big River, and 1776. Costumes will be designed by Thomas Charles LeGalley whose Broadway credits include Associate Costume Designer for Kinky Boots and Costume Designer for Lysistrata Jones. Mr. LeGalley also served as Assistant Costume Designer for Goodspeed's Annie Get Your Gun. Lighting Design will be by John Lasiter who served as Lighting Designer for Goodspeed'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 28th season at Goodspeed.

The Music Director for The Most Happy Fella will be Michael O'Flaherty who is in his 22nd season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director.William J. Thomas will be Assistant Music Director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who has created the orchestrations for numerous Goodspeed productions.

The Most Happy Fella is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

The Most Happy Fella will run September 20 through December 1, 2013 [Official Press Opening October 9, 2013]. 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.). The Thanksgiving week schedule will be 11/25 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., 11/29 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., 11/30 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and 12/1 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

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

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 works 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 celebrates another milestone, its 50thAnniversary, in 2013. In addition to the two theatres and production facilities, Goodspeed maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ovation Sponsor Connecticut Light and Power; Sennheiser, the Official Audio Sponsor; United, the Official Airline Sponsor; and Hoffman Audi, the Official Auto Sponsor of Goodspeed Musicals.Goodspeed is supported in part by the Department of Economic and Community Development with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Photo credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy

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