Works from Ryan Scott Oliver & More Set for Goodspeed's Festival of New Musicals

The 11th Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, kicks off its much-anticipated three-day festival of brand-new works on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Goodspeed Opera House with a staged reading of a new Southern Gothic musical, We Foxes by Ryan Scott Oliver. On Saturday, January 16, the musical comedy Milo at the Movies by Tom Diggs and Mark Gaylord debuts. The final day of the festival, it's Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey in Only Anne by John Dietrich and Will Buck. Several events featuring special guests including Alfred Uhry, Michael Riedel, Rick Miramontez, Michael Weiner, Alan Zachary and Colin McEnroe will round out this exciting weekend. Tickets are available at the Goodspeed Box Office or by calling 860.873.8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. Tickets are $25 each for one show, $15 each for students. This year's Festival is sponsored in part by lead corporate sponsor RisCassi & Davis, P.C.

This year, Goodspeed's ever-popular Festival GOLD Package offers a weekend full of special events. The $119 package includes admission to all three staged readings; the New Musical Preview, a short preview of a new musical planned for 2016; the Symposium, a panel discussion with musical theatre professionals hosted by special guest, WNPR's Colin McEnroe; three Festival seminar sessions; a Saturday evening pre-show dinner at either the Gelston House or La Vita; and a Meet the Writers Reception, which will complete the weekend's festivities. Also included in the Festival GOLD Package is an exclusive behind-the-scenes campus tour and admittance to either the Friday Night or Saturday Night Cabarets - informal gatherings showcasing new songs by new and established artists. A special SILVER Package highlighting the three staged readings, symposium and new musical preview is also available for only $80. Goodspeed Opera House tours will be offered on Saturday morning for both Festival Package and single ticket holders.

"This winter we are thrilled to celebrate the 11th Anniversary of our Festival of New Musicals - one of the cornerstones of Goodspeed's new works development program and the source of countless hours of discovery and entertainment for our new works audience," said Goodspeed's Executive Director Michael Gennaro. "It is a delight to see the village of East Haddam brimming with energy and excitement on a cold winter night as hundreds of musical theatre fans from across the country converge to celebrate Goodspeed and the best and brightest young writers and performers in musical theatre," he added.

Productions from the three writing teams included in the Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals and the schedule of Special Events for Festival Package ticket holders include:

Friday, January 15

WE FOXES

7:30 p.m., The Goodspeed

Book, Music and Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver

Set in 1945 Missouri, this Southern Gothic musical tells the story of Willa-a tough, unmannered orphan adopted by the sheriff's wife-and the bloody domestic war that ensues between them when Willa uncovers the secrets lurking beneath the floorboards. It is the story of intense human struggle, deliverance, and salvation that can only be found from within.

Festival Cabaret

10:00 p.m., Gelston House

Showcasing new songs by our festival writers.

Saturday, January 16

Seminars

10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Gelston House

Spotlight On: Alfred Uhry - An up-close interview with the only American playwright to have won a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.

Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway - Michael Riedel, Broadway's most respected (and feared) commentator, shares stories from his new book revealing the shocking drama, intrigue, and power plays that happen off stage.

How Do They Do That? -The writing team who created Broadway's First Date, Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, share "How Musical Theatre writers make a living on their way to Broadway."

SELING THE SHOW 101

Rick Miramontez, one of the top Broadway press agents, shares his perspective on the press agent's role in a new musical's life.

Orchestrating 101 - Longtime Goodspeed orchestrator Dan DeLange shares his process behind the magic of making eight instruments sound like twenty-eight.

And 5, 6, 7, 8! - Theater historian John Pike talks about the History of Dance in Musical Theatre

New Musical Preview

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House

A preview of a new musical planned for Goodspeed in 2016.

Symposium *

4:00 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House

Elevator Pitch Challenge: The Writer's Audition

Musical Theatre writing teams only have a few minutes to pitch a panel of guest producers on a new musical project. How will each team make their pitch attention-grabbing, compelling and concise? What does it take to persuade a producer to invest? After the teams make their pitch, a panel lead by WNPR's Colin McEnroe will ask questions and give feedback.

*This event is free and open to the public.

Festival Dinner

5:30 p.m., Gelston House - OR - La Vita

Enjoy a three course meal with fellow festival goers.

MILO AT THE MOVIES

7:30 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House

Book by Tom Diggs
Music and Lyrics by Mark Gaylord

Milo and Dexter thought they'd make a killing in vaudeville, but thanks to silent movies, they'd have better luck getting arrested than getting on stage. So when Milo's gumption lands the duo an unexpected gig, the brothers figure they've struck gold: a regular gig, good dough, and a pretty dame to boot! As long as they can avoid the censor, the cops, the fiancé, and each other, everything'll be just fine.

Festival Cabaret

10:00 p.m., Gelston House

Sunday, January 18

ONLY ANNE

1:00 p.m., Goodspeed Opera House

Book and Lyrics by John Dietrich
Music by Will Buck

It's Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey in this musical update of her popular novel Persuasion, set in 1920s Britain at the dawn of the Jazz Age. Anne Elliot is forced to confront the sacrifices she made for her family when she finds herself face-to-face with the highly-regarded Admiral Frederick Wentworth, the once-penniless true love she was persuaded to abandon. Only Anne maneuvers through a landscape of miscommunications, misperceptions, and, ultimately, the search for love in a rapidly changing world.

Meet the Writers Reception

3:30 p.m., Gelston House

Gain insight into the inspirations and processes of the writers during this lively festival wrap-up discussion.

Lodging and dining information for Festival attendees as well as up-to-date information on the weekend's events may be found at www.goodspeed.org .

The Festival of New Musicals is produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter for Education in Musical Theatre. Created in 2002, Goodspeed's Showalter Center inspires and nurtures musical theatre artists and students by providing a unique and comprehensive range of training and educational programs to serve both the national and local academic communities. The Goodspeed Festival program offers new and emerging artists the rare opportunity to thoroughly work on their projects with the help of Goodspeed's renowned resources and artistic environment. At the same time, the Festival affords senior students from prominent conservatory programs real-world experience in new musical development and performing new musicals.

Preparations for the Festival begin the first week of January. The three teams of writers and composers dedicate their time to further writing and composing their musicals in development. They are joined by senior

musical theater students from The Hartt School and Boston Conservatory, who take part in rehearsals and continued development of the material. The intensive retreat culminates with Goodspeed's Festival of New Musicals, which showcases staged readings of the new musicals developed during the two-week long program, one of the Showalter Center's major endeavors.

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 from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

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