Goodspeed Musicals Announces Cast of 42ND STREET, Opens 4/17

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of 42nd Street. From the team that brought you Singin' in the Rain, Goodspeed's dazzling Broadway song and dance extravaganza will run from April 17 - June 28 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. This production will be sponsored by Webster Bank.

The biggest, brightest, boldest, most sparkling dance musical ever on the Goodspeed stage! It's the ultimate Broadway fairy tale as a stage-struck understudy becomes an overnight star. Packed with razzmatazz and plenty of pizzazz, it will set your heart pounding with its rhythmically tapping feet and hit parade of songs: "Lullaby of Broadway," "We're In The Money," "Shuffle Off To Buffalo," and of course "42nd Street." Tony Award winner for Best Musical, it's Tap Dance Heaven!

42nd Street features Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, and Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble.

James Lloyd Reynolds will make his Goodspeed Musicals debut as Julian Marsh. Fresh from Broadway's Mamma Mia!, Laurie Wells will play Dorothy Brock. Billy Lawlor will be played by Austin Miller who was featured on the television show "You're The One That I Want" where he was first runner up in the contest to cast Danny Zuko in the latest Broadway revival of Grease, and making her Goodspeed Musicals debut, Kristen Martin will live every chorus girl's dream as Peggy Sawyer.

Abner Dillon will be played by Erick Devine whose Broadway credits include Seussical, Ragtime, and Cats. Jonathan Stewart who returns to Goodspeed Musicals where he previously played Cyrus Budge III in By Jeeves in 1996 will play Pat Denning. Dale Hensley, whose Goodspeed Musicals credits include Albee in George M!, Archie in Brigadoon, and Francois in Fanny, will play Bert Barry. Mr. Hensley's Broadway credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, La Cage aux Folles, Sunset Boulevard, and Anything Goes.

Goodspeed audience favorite Dorothy Stanley returns to play Maggie Jones. At the Opera House Ms. Stanley performed in George M!, Singin' in the Rain, and High Button Shoes. Ms. Stanley's Broadway credits include Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, La Cage aux Folles, 42nd Street, Follies, High Society, Show Boat, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Annie Reilly will be played by Jenifer Foote whose Broadway credits include A Chorus Line, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Annie Get Your Gun.

Members of the ensemble are Alissa Alter, Kelly Day, Brandon Davidson, Erin Denman, Tim Falter (Goodspeed's Singin' in the Rain), Joe Grandy, Chad Harlow (Goodspeed's Singin' in the Rain), Elise Kinnon (Goodspeed's Happy Days and Half a Sixpence), Ashley Peacock, Kristyn Pope, Colin Pritchard, Ernie Pruneda, Tara Jeanne Vallee (Goodspeed's Singin' in the Rain), and Erin West. The swings will be Tyler Albright and Emily Thompson.

42nd Street will be directed by Ray Roderick who returns to Goodspeed where he directed the 2007 production of Singin' in the Rain and Double Trouble in 2001. Mr. Roderick co-conceived, Directed and Choreographed the current National Tour of Irving Berlin's I Love a Piano. Mr. Roderick's other credits include Associate Director of the 2001 Broadway revival of The Music Man and A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. 42nd Street will be choreographed by Rick Conant who returns to Goodspeed where he previously choreographed the sensational Singin' in the Rain and worked as Assistant Choreographer on Lucky in the Rain. Rick appeared on Broadway in 42nd Street and A Chorus Line, and in the first national tours as CosMo Brown in Singin' in the Rain and Bobby in A Chorus Line.

Scenic design will be by Howard C. Jones. His previous set designs for Goodspeed include High Button Shoes, The Pajama Game, Brigadoon, George M!, Babes in Arms and Call Me Madam. Costume Coordinator will be David H. Lawrence, whose designs were recently seen in Goodspeed's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Pajama Game . On Broadway Mr. Lawrence designed over twenty productions including A Catered Affair , Company, All Shook Up, 42nd Street, and Beauty and the Beast. Lighting design will be by Charlie Morrison who previously provided lighting for The Flight of the Lawnchair Man at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre.

The Music Director for 42nd Street is Michael O'Flaherty. He is in his 18th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. William J. Thomas is assistant music director. 42nd Street is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

42nd Street will run April 17 through June 28, 2009 [Official Press Opening May 13, 2009]. 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.).

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 productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The only regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of American Airlines, official airline of Goodspeed Musicals, Hoffman Audi; Blum Shapiro; and support from The National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

 

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