Goodspeed Musicals Announces Major Expansion; New Actor Housing

Goodspeed Musicals, the nation's only two-time Tony Award winning theatre, announced today that it will build 17 new homes to be used for New Actor Housing on the Goodspeed Campus in East Haddam, Conn. The New Actor Housing initiative represents the largest capital project in Goodspeed history. Construction is set to begin this Fall with a target completion date of Fall 2010. A project of this magnitude is certain to have an immediate and positive economic impact in East Haddam as well as throughout the state of Connecticut.

"With this project, Goodspeed is building not only homes, but an artistic village that will come alive with actors and artisans," said Michael Price, Goodspeed's Executive Director. "No other theatre in the country can offer such a campus and all of us at Goodspeed are grateful to so many of our members and supporters who have made this a reality. During this uncertain economic climate, it is also encouraging to spur employment for dozens of construction workers, carpenters, electricians, painters and more."

Currently, Goodspeed owns nine old houses in the East Haddam Village where its actors, directors, designers and technical staff stay during rehearsals and performances. These houses become their home away from home since most live permanently in New York City. Unfortunately these old houses were not designed for this style of living. Seasoned professionals live in cramped, boarding house-style quarters where they are frequently asked to share a living space with as many as thirteen other people or a bathroom with three or four strangers.

Several years ago, Goodspeed determined that it was essential to build attractive housing that provides comfort, privacy, and proximity to the Goodspeed Opera House. New actor housing is critical for Goodspeed to continue to attract the most talented actors and theatre professionals from New York and around the country. By expanding housing availability, Goodspeed will also have the ability to produce more shows and run them for a longer period of time.

Patrick Pinnell, a local architect and noted urban planner from Haddam, Conn., worked with the Goodspeed team to create the concept for integrating the new homes into the existing Goodspeed campus and designing them to fit within the historic East Haddam Village. Throughout the planning process, the team's charge was to meet Goodspeed's challenging needs while combining modern sensibility with a keen appreciation for the historic aspect of Goodspeed's home in East Haddam.
The resulting plan is both transformational and respectful. It was conceived with the aim of merging with the existing historic district architecture and landscape of East Haddam Village. The new homes' size, colors, materials and design emulate those of surrounding buildings in the village. The plan includes building 17 new homes with a total of 65 new bedrooms, all within walking distance to the Goodspeed Opera House. The homes will contain three or six bedrooms with shared kitchens and living rooms. Each bedroom will have a private bathroom. One house will have two one-bedroom "star apartments" for the leading actors.

Several of its existing houses will be retained for continued use by Goodspeed, others will be sold for retail/residential use and one will be torn down.

Throughout the project, Goodspeed has made a concerted effort to add several important "green" elements. Goodspeed is literally breaking new ground by being one of the first in Connecticut to install pervious pavement for the village driveway. A new green technology, pervious pavement will actually make the roadway part of the water storage and drainage system. In addition, the houses will be heated and cooled through the use of geothermal systems. The systems use the earth's temperature to maintain indoor climates without having to burn non-renewable fossil fuels. Of course, all appliances will be energy efficient to reduce maintenance costs and the carbon footprint. Finally, the overall design and location of the new houses encourages the actors and artists to walk within the village and to leave their cars at home, adding to the friendliness but not the congestion of the scenic East Haddam Village.

The Goodspeed New Actor Housing project will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for future economic development in East Haddam. It was developed in cooperation with the Town of East Haddam, particularly the Board of Selectmen and the Economic Development Commission to add vitality to this quaint New England village. In addition, the town has future plans to relocate its town hall and redevelop this riverfront parcel with a lively mix of retail shops and restaurants. The houses that Goodspeed plans to sell once the project is complete are contiguous to the town site which allows for even greater opportunities for development. The result is a transformed village poised to become a featured destination for both tourists and local residents.

"This is great news for our town," said Mark Walter, First Selectman for the Town of East Haddam. "The Goodspeed project and future development of the Town Office site are major steps in re-establishing East Haddam as a premier tourist destination for all of New England. Both will provide jobs and economic benefits for our residents."

The Goodspeed project is expected to cost $5.5 million in total. More than half of the required funds have already been raised through private and public sources. Goodspeed Musicals is most grateful to Governor M. Jodi Rell, Senator Eileen Daily and Representative Linda Orange for their efforts in securing a grant of $2.5 million from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

"The Goodspeed New Actor Housing project is a smart investment and very good news for our state," Governor Rell said. "It creates new jobs for Connecticut workers right now, causes economic development in a rural community and promotes Connecticut culture and tourism for many years to come. This is a project where everybody wins, especially our residents."
The official ground breaking will occur in November and construction will follow immediately. Goodspeed actors are expected to begin occupying the new homes in late Spring 2010 with the entire project completed by Fall 2010.

Those interested in bidding on construction contracts may contact Signature Construction Services International, LLC at www.signaturecsllc.com or 860-963-8905. All construction bids must be received by 5:00pm, November 2, 2009.

Several other consultants have been instrumental in assisting the Goodspeed staff on this project: additional architectural work by David Arai, Maier Design Group, LLC; engineering services led by Robert Tedeschi, URS Corporation; legal services by local attorney Scott Jezek with pro bono legal services by Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C.

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.

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