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Health & Fitness

Cast of Goodspeed Musical's 'Carousel' Announced

Updated to indicate a cast change beginning August 8

THE RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN CLASSIC HITS GOODSPEED’S STAGE JULY 13

East Haddam - Get ready for a “real nice clambake” as Goodspeed Musicals welcomes Carousel to the main stage this summer. Musical theatre fans have waited 30 years for another Rodgers & Hammerstein show to grace the Goodspeed Opera House stage, and now the wait is over! The classic Golden Age musical will run from July 13 – September 23 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Carousel will be sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Amica, Robinson & Cole, and Comcast.

Carousel has captivated audiences around the world with the powerful love story of an innocent young millworker and swaggering carousel barker. He meets a tragic end but is given one chance for redemption by delivering hope to the daughter he never knew and whispering words left unspoken to his wife. Featuring “If I Loved You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “June is Busting Out All Over.” Experience one of the most celebrated musicals of all time!

Carousel features Music by Richard Rodgers and Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Ferenc Molnár’s play Liliom as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer. Original Dances are by Agnes de Mille.

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The cast will be led by Teal Wicks as Julie Jordan and James Snyder as Billy Bigelow. Ms. Wicks appeared in Broadway’s Wicked and Goodspeed’s 1776 and Pippin. Mr. Snyder appeared in Broadway’s Cry-Baby. Starkeeper will be played by Ronn Carroll whose numerous Broadway credits include Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, How To Succeed…, Crazy For You, and Gypsy. Carroll’s Goodspeed credits include How To Succeed…, Camelot, 1776, and The Little Rascals. Carrie Pipperidge will be played by Jenn Gambatese who appeared in Broadway’s Is He Dead?, Tarzan, All Shook Up, A Year With Frog and Toad, Hairspray, and Footloose. Ms. Gambatese also charmed audiences as Annie Oakley in Goodspeed’s Annie Get Your Gun and All Shook Up at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre. Enoch Snow will be played by Jeff Kready of Broadway’s Billy Elliot: The Musical, Sunday in the Park with George, and Les Misérables. Ms. Mullin will be played by Deanne Lorette of Broadway’s La Bête. Nettie Fowler will be played by Anne Kanengeiser who appeared in Broadway’s Little Women and Ragtime. Jigger will be played by Tally Sessions of Broadway’s The House of Blue Leaves and Goodspeed’s Lizzie Borden at The Norma Terris Theatre.

The ensemble includes Jessica Bishop (Broadway’s West Side Story and The Phantom of the Opera), Beth Crandall (Broadway’s West Side Story), Belle Doraz  of Madison, CT as a Snow Child (Goodspeed’s Show Boat), Jennifer Evans (Broadway’s Ragtime and A Tale of Two Cities and Goodspeed’s Where’s Charley and Very Good Eddie), Eloise Kropp as Louise, Edward Lawrence, Leisa Mather, Ethan Pancoast as a Snow Child, Jonathan Rayson as Mr. Bascombe (Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors and A Year With Frog and Toad), Sam Rogers, Michael Scirrotto, Jet Thomason (Goodspeed’s Show Boat), Fred Thornley IV as a Snow Child, Travis Waldschmidt, and Aaron Young (Goodspeed’s Annie Get Your Gun). The Swings are Maria Briggs and Andrew Scott Holmes.

Carousel will be directed by Rob Ruggiero who helmed audience favorite Show Boat last season at Goodspeed as well as Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Mr. Ruggiero also directed Broadway’s High and Looped.  Choreographer for this production will be Parker Esse who served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway’s Finian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities.

Carousel will run July 13 through September 23, 2012. 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.).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Girls’ Night Out: Friday, July 13, 7:00 pm. Celebrate Opening Night in style! Gather the girls for glitz and glamour Broadway-style with our Ticket ‘n’ ‘Tini special. Package includes one ticket to the 8 pm performance and a specialty martini. A hot deal at $46 per person.

Wine Tasting: Sunday, July 15, 5:00 pm. Enjoy a sampling of fine wines hosted by Shore Discount Liquors of Deep River with complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by the Gelston House of East Haddam and a pre-show chat with a member of the creative team. Only $12 with your ticket to the 6:30 pm performance. Reserve in advance through the Box Office.

Teen Nights: July 18 & 19, 7:30 pm; July 20, 8 pm. Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regular-priced ticket on the specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a youth age 12 to 18. Meet the cast after the July 20 performance for autographs.

Meet the Cast:  Take part in a lively discussion with the cast after the Thursday evening performances on August 9 & 23 and Sept 6. Meet the Cast events are free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.

Friday Dinner Theatre Package:  Includes dinner at the Gelston House (located next door to the Opera House) and a ticket to the 8:00 pm performance. Only $71!

UPDATE:

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Broadway’s Erin Davie to join cast of Goodspeed Musicals’ CAROUSEL

Erin Davie will replace Teal Wicks as Julie Jordan beginning August 8th

Erin Davie who played Guenevere in Goodspeed Musicals 2009 hit Camelot will step into the role of Julie Jordan starting August 8. Ms. Davie has appeared on Broadway in A Little Night Music, Curtains, and Grey Gardens.

Ms. Wicks will be joining the new National Tour of Jekyll  & Hyde scheduled to kick-off  this fall in San Diego.

Carousel will run through September 23 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Please visit www.goodspeed.org for details and availability.

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