Goodspeed's CAMELOT Celebrates Opening Night 8/5

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is presenting the classic Camelot. This legendary musical from the director who brought you Goodspeed's 1776 and Big River runs through Sept. 19th at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. This production is sponsored by Robinson & Cole, LLC. and associate sponsors Comcast and Liberty Bank. The production officially opens tonight, August 5th.

Experience "one brief shining moment" that was Camelot. Relive the enduring legend of King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table in an enchanting fable of chivalry, honor and brotherhood. Dazzling and spellbinding with sweeping romance and historic grandeur, this classic musical speaks to our time and for all time. The celebrated score includes the classics "If Ever I Would Leave You," "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood," and "Camelot." Winner of 4 Tony Awards.

Camelot features Music by Frederick Loewe, and Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.

Bradley Dean makes his Goodspeed Musicals debut as Arthur. Mr. Dean is currently playing El Gallo in the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks. His recent Broadway credits include Company, Spamalot, and the 2002 revival of Man of La Mancha. Herman Petras plays Merlyn. Erin Davie from Broadway's Curtains and Grey Gardens is Guenevere. Lancelot is played by Maxime de Toledo. Returning to Goodspeed Musicals as Pellinore is audience favorite Ronn Carroll whose previous Goodspeed credits include Benjamin Franklin in 1776 and Oliver Wendell Ho in The Little Rascals. Mr. Carroll has more than 20 Broadway shows to his credit including the recent Trevor Nunn revival of Oklahoma!, A Man of No Importance, Gypsy, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Mordred is played by Adam Shonkwiler whose Goodspeed Musicals credits include Big River and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Charles Everett Crocco of Higganum, Conn. returns to Goodspeed Musicals where he previously understudied the role of young Stephen Longstreet in High Button Shoes in 2007 to play Tom of Warwick.

Members of The Ensemble are Brandon Andrus, Michael Deleget, Matt Faucher, Steve French (Goodspeed's Big River), Andrew Hubacher, Marissa McGowan as Lady Anne (Goodspeed's Big River), Rachel Alexa Norman, Rebecca Pitcher as Nimue (Broadway's The Phantom of The Opera), Rachel Rincione, Allan Snyder, Matthew C. Thompson, and Mollie Vogt-Welch (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities). The swings will be Shawn Pennington, Amanda Salvatore and Ben Swimmer.

Camelot is directed by Rob Ruggiero whose work has been seen in award-winning regional theatres around the country. Mr. Ruggiero returns to Goodspeed where he directed the 2008 production of Big River and 1776 in 2007. His off-Broadway and tour credits include All Under Heaven and the world premieres of Ella and Make Me A Song, all of which he both conceived and directed. His current production, Looped starring Valerie Harper, will run at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. through the end of June. Choreographer for this production will be Ralph Perkins, Director of Dance for the Theater Division of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and Artistic Director and co-founder of The New Works Project in Las Vegas, NV.

Returning to Goodspeed Musicals is the design team from last season's production of Big River and the inspiring 1776. Scenic designs will be by Michael Schweikardt whose designs have been seen off-Broadway in Golden Boy, Waiting for Lefty, and The Seagull, among others. Costumes will be designed by Alejo Vietti who also designed the 2006 production of Meet John Doe at the Norma Terris Theatre as well as Broadway's Mary Poppins and The Apple Tree (ENCORES). Lighting design will be by John Lasiter who designed the Broadway production of A Grand Night for Singing and the off-Broadway productions of The Seagull, Common Vision, and Make Me A Song.

The Music Director for Camelot is Michael O'Flaherty. He is in his 18th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. F. Wade Russo is assistant music director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who provided the orchestrations for Goodspeed Musicals' 42nd Street, Half a Sixpence, High Button Shoes, Singin' in the Rain, The Boy Friend, Red Hot and Blue, Call Me Madam, and Babes in Arms. Camelot is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Camelot will run through Sept. 19, 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; corporate supporters: Blum, Shapiro & Company P.C.; Comcast; Liberty Bank; and support from The National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

 

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