Daniel Goldstein, Jenn Thompson, Gabriel Barre and More to Helm Shows at Goodspeed in 2016

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has assembled five exciting teams to transform their diverse season of musicals from page to stage.

The 2016 season at THE GOODSPEED in East Haddam, Conn. begins with a joyous cruise through some of Cole Porter's most famous songs in a "de-lovely" new revival of the tap-happy musical comedy Anything Goes, which will run from April 8 - June 16. The production is directed by Daniel Goldstein who directed the award-winning Broadway revival of Godspell. At The Goodspeed he directed Hello, Dolly! and Damn Yankees and The Terris Theatre productions of The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown and Snapshots. In 2015, Mr. Goldstein received the Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre, being named most promising musical theatre librettist. Anything Goes Choreographer Kelli Barclay's credits include the City Center Encores! production of Pipe Dream; New York City Center's 20 Years of Encores!, Camelot in Concert, and The Oscar Hammerstein Awards saluting Carol Channing. Kelli served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway's Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Assistant Choreographer for Broadway's 42nd Street. At The Goodspeed she choreographed My One And Only; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Hello. Dolly!; and Damn Yankees as well as The Terris Theatre production of Hello! My Baby.

Next up at The Goodspeed will be a fresh spin on the musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie, which will run from June 24 - September 4. Bye Bye Birdie will be directed by Jenn Thompson and choreographed by Patricia Wilcox, both of whom will be making their Goodspeed debuts. Ms. Thompson currently serves as Co-Artistic Director for New York's TACT/The Actors Company Theatre. Off- Broadway she directed the critically-acclaimed revival of Beth Henley's Abundance, winning the 2015 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival of a Play and directed the first NYC revival of Neil Simon's Lost In Yonkers at The Actors Company Theatre. As a performer Ms. Thompson's credits include the cast of the original Broadway production of Annie. Choreographer Patricia Wilcox's New York credits include Motown the Musical and A Night With Janis Joplin. Dance Arrangements for Bye Bye Birdie will be by David Krane. Mr. Krane has worked on over 30 Broadway productions including the recent hit revivals of She Loves Me, On the Twentieth Century and Cabaret. For Goodspeed he Orchestrated and Arranged High Button Shoes (1982), created the Dance Arrangements for Good News! and orchestrated The Great American Mousical.

This fall at The Goodspeed, witness the story of an awkward girl with a golden voice who the world came to know as Judy Garland in the inspiring new musical about the bumpy road to "The Wizard of Oz" in Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz, which will run from September 16 - November 27, 2016. This wonderful new musical will be directed by Tyne Rafaeli whose current work as Associate Director can be seen on Broadway in the hit revivals of Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I. Joining her as choreographer will be Chris Bailey who served as Rob Ashford's longtime Associate Choreographer. Mr. Bailey's credits include 1776 (City Center Encores), Cyrano de Bergerac (Roundabout Theatre Company), and Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory, London). He choreographed My Fair Lady directed by Marc Bruni and Tarzan directed by John Tartaglia, both for the MUNY, as well as the National Tours of Evita and Shrek The Musical. Chris's upcoming project The Entertainer starring Kenneth Branagh opens in London's West End this August.

Nearby at THE TERRIS THEATRE in Chester, Conn., a world turned upside down is made brighter with song and dance in an brand new version of the Broadway hit that gave the world "Who Can I Turn To?" and "The Joker" in The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, May 20 - June 26. The Roar of the Greasepaint... will be directed by Don Stephenson who helmed last season's hit production of Guys and Dolls at The Goodspeed. Mr. Stephenson has directed numerous productions regionally including Lend Me a Tenor and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Paper Mill Playhouse, and productions of Titanic at Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, MUNY Opera, Hangar Theatre and Westchester Broadway Theatre. As a performer he played Peter McCourt in Goodspeed's Silver Dollar and appeared on Broadway in Titanic, Parade, The Producers, By Jeeves, Rock of Ages and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. Choreography will be by Liza Gennaro who returns to The Goodspeed where she previously choreographed The Most Happy Fella (1991) and Kiss Me Kate. Ms. Gennaro's Broadway credits include Once Upon a Mattress and The Most Happy Fella, as well as Smile for which she served as Assistant Choreographer.

Then flash back to 1965 -- the pulse of a changing era lures Cindy from Middle America to the swirl of Manhattan in a new musical featuring the songs of Petula Clark and other hit-makers of the day in A Sign Of The Times, July 29 - September 4, 2016. A Sign of the Times will be directed by Tony nominee Gabriel Barre whose Goodspeed credits include Camille Claudel, King of Hearts, Pippin, Dorian, john & jen, Sweeney Todd, Finian's Rainbow, Stand By Your Man, Summer of '42 and Amazing Grace among others. Barre directed the recent Broadway production of Amazing Grace. As a performer he appeared on Broadway in Ain't Broadway Grand, Anna Karenina, Starmites, and Rags. The production will be choreographed by JoAnn Hunter who Choreographed the current Broadway productions of Disaster!, and School of Rock, as well as the 2011 production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. In addition to performing in more than ten Broadway musicals Ms. Hunter served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway's Curtains, The Wedding Singer and All Shook Up. For Goodspeed, Ms. Hunter served as an Assistant on The Terris Theatre production of Princesses.

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MORE ABOUT GOODSPEED'S 2016 PRODUCTIONS:

Anything Goes April 8 - June 16 at THE GOODSPEED

Bon voyage! Set sail on a "de-lovely" cruise through some of Cole Porter's most famous songs. A brassy nightclub singer, a starry-eyed stowaway and Public Enemy No. 13 are booked on a transatlantic luxury liner bound for romance and laughter. Hum along with an easy-to-love score packed with hits including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," "It's De-Lovely," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" and more! A tap-happy classic docks at Goodspeed for the first time. Anything Goes features music and lyrics by Cole Porter; original book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse; and new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. This effervescent musical will be sponsored by Chester Village West, Liberty Bank, Sennheiser and The Shops at Mohegan Sun.

The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd May 20 - June 26 at THE TERRIS THEATRE

In a world turned upside down, a rag-tag group relies on humor, song and dance to try to build a new life. But can show tunes and music hall merriment revive the human spirit? On the highway of life, hope is just around the bend in this arresting reinvention of the vivacious Broadway hit. Their world may have ended, but songs like "Who Can I Turn To?," "The Joker," "Feeling Good" and "A Wonderful Day Like Today" echo on, welcoming new love and another dawn. The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd features book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

Bye Bye Birdie June 24 - September 4 at THE GOODSPEED

Put on a happy face! Army-bound rock star Conrad Birdie's farewell appearance in Sweet Apple, Ohio is the talk of the town. But it's a teen-age crisis for new "steadies" Hugo and Kim: she just won the chance to give Birdie one last kiss before boot camp. Kids, parents and show folk collide in the Goodspeed debut of the hip-swiveling musical comedy set at the dawn of the sensational '60s. Bring the entire family to discover we've got a lot of livin' to do! Bye Bye Birdie has book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. This fresh and fun musical will be sponsored by Amica and Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C..

A Sign of the Times July 29 - September 4 at THE TERRIS THEATRE

1965. The pulse of a changing era lures Cindy from Middle America to the swirl of Manhattan. Unexpected friends, lovers, careers and conflicts are all a subway ride away in a pop-fueled new musical featuring songs made famous by Petula Clark and other hit-makers of the day. "I Know a Place," "The Shoop Shoop Song" and "If I Can Dream" are among the fabulous favorites on an eye-opening ride from innocence to experience. Forget all your troubles, forget all your cares - go "Downtown" and find out who you are! A Sign Of The Times has an original story by Richard Robin and an original book by Bruce Vilanch.

Chasing Rainbows: Judy Garland's Road to Oz September 16 - November 27 at THE GOODSPEED

An awkward girl with a golden voice blossoms into Judy Garland in the inspirational new musical about the bumpy road to "Oz." The future superstar's complicated childhood comes alive with heartbreak, hope and the music that made her famous. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "You Made Me Love You" and "Over the Rainbow" sweeten the story of Judy striving to hold onto her family. A love letter to gifted underdogs who reach high - and how the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Chasing Rainbows features book by Marc Acito, conceived by Tina Marie Casamento, and music adapted by David Libby. Dreams really do come true in this new musical sponsored by ConnectiCare.

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Under the leadership of Executive Director Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation, development and advancement of musical theatre and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Goodspeed produces three musicals each season at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of United Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals, and official auto sponsor Hoffman Audi. Goodspeed is supported in part by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

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