Mission — Goodspeed Musicals was formed in 1959 to restore the 19th century Goodspeed Opera House and reactivate it as a professional theatre in 1963. Under the direction of Michael P. Price since 1968, Goodspeed has achieved international acclaim as the home of musical theatre. Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre and the development of new works to add to the repertoire, Goodspeed pioneered the practice of rethinking, restoring and revitalizing America’s musical theatre heritage.

New Musicals — Goodspeed is at the forefront of shaping the future of musical theatre. At The Norma Terris Theatre, located in Chester, Connecticut, Goodspeed develops new musicals and nurtures emerging artists. Now in its 23rd season, The Norma Terris Theatre has launched over 50 musicals into the theatre world, including 25 world premieres, giving writers the opportunity to develop their material through actual production.

On Stage — Each April through December season, Goodspeed produces three musicals at the Opera House in East Haddam, and additional new musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre. Seventeen Goodspeed productions have transferred to Broadway, receiving more than a dozen Tony Awards.

The Goodspeed Opera House was built in 1876 by William Goodspeed for his shipping and banking business and to provide a venue for his love of theatre. The opera house opened on October 24, 1877, with the comedy Charles II and the farces Box And Cox and Turn Him Out. After Goodspeed’s death, the opera house went from serving as a militia base during World War I to a general store to a storage depot for the State of Connecticut Highway Department. In 1959, Goodspeed Musicals restored the building, and the Goodspeed Opera House was rededicated on June 18, 1963, with the opening of the musical Oh, Lady! Lady!. Goodspeed has achieved international acclaim as the home of musical theatre. Mixing classics by the Gershwins, Cole Porter and Jerome Kern with the very best of this country’s newest musicals, Goodspeed pioneered the practice of rethinking, restoring and revitalizing America’s musical theatre heritage.

At The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut, Goodspeed develops new musicals and nurtures emerging artists. Dedicated in 1984, the theatre is named in honor of the actress Norma Terris, star of Jerome Kern’s Show Boat and a devoted patron and trustee of the Goodspeed Opera House during her later years. She presided over the dedication of The Norma Terris Theatre, and in 1987 she established The Norma Terris Fund to expand the talents of individuals and to foster the vitality, excellence and diversity of musical theatre at The Norma Terris Theatre. The Norma Terris Theatre formerly was a factory built in the early 1900s for Susan Bates, Inc., which became one of the largest manufacturers of knitting needle and needlework accessories. In 1982, after locating to a larger facility, Susan Bates, Inc. donated its abandoned factory in Chester, Connecticut to Goodspeed Musicals. An intimate 200-seat performing space, The Norma Terris Theatre was fully renovated, opening its doors on July 10, 1984 with the new musical, Harrigan ’N Hart.