EDUCATION

Key elements in the mission of Goodspeed Musicals are to promote understanding of and appreciation for musical theatre and to nurture the talent of artists engaged in this indigenous American art form. To help assure the success of this mission, Goodspeed has established The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Located at the Goodspeed facilities in East Haddam, Conn., the Showalter Center provides a varied and enriching environment for individuals to engage in all aspects of musical theatre while receiving crucial instruction from professionals in the field.

Professional and Artistic Development

Goodspeed Festival of New Artists
This 3-day event on the Goodspeed campus offers emerging artists the rare opportunity to work on their projects with the help of Goodspeed’s renowned resources and artistic environment, while affording senior students from The Hartt School real-world experience in new musical development and performing new musicals. The Hartt School, founded in 1920 and one of three founding institutions of the University of Hartford (Conn.), is an internationally acclaimed conservatory with innovative programs in music, dance and theatre. During the first week of the program, three teams of writers and composers dedicate their time to further writing and composing their musicals in development. In the second week, senior students from The Hartt School join them for rehearsals and continued development of the material. There will also be short seminars, or “breakouts,” held dealing with pertinent issues in Musical Theater and the business of theater in general; a Symposium; and several New Artist Cabarets. The Festival of New Artists culminates with staged performances of the three new musicals over the final weekend of the festival. The Festival of New Artists is open to the general public. Learn more about the Fifth Annual Festival.

New Writers’ Residency
A week-long residency at Goodspeed facilities for students enrolled in New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program. Open to second year MFA candidates enrolled in the program. Working with professional directors, music directors and actors participants spend one week at Goodspeed facilities composing and writing original material for musical theatre pieces. Material is performed for an invited audience at the end of the residency.

Funded by:

The ASCAP Foundation – Irving Ceaser Trust
The Adolph & Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation
The Noel Coward Foundation

Music Direction Intensive
During Winter 2010, Goodspeed Musicals demonstrated its leadership and continued innovation in musical theatre education by offering the first Music Direction Intensive in the world. This highly selective program will continue to provide a limited number of individuals with practical training in all aspects of Music Direction on an annual basis. The six day intensive offers participants the opportunity to work with internationally renowned experts in music direction while networking with industry professionals. Participants use the latest technology to receive hands on training in the management and implementation of the audition, rehearsal and orchestration process. Participants also attend nightly lectures given by industry experts on pertinent subjects relating to real world success in the field of Music Direction. The 2011 Music Direction Intensive will be held January 17-22. For more information, please visit the program's web page.

Associates Program for Pre-Professionals
We offer mentored opportunities for individuals seeking advanced training in various areas of musical theatre. Areas of concentration include stage carpentry, scene painting, costuming, prop building, stage management, company management, and marketing/public relations. Click on the following links to learn more and apply:

Associates Program funded by Elaine and Andrew McKirdy

Patron & Student Education

Goodspeed Opera House Tours
The Education Department and Goodspeed Guild offer guided tours for schools, adult and senior citizen groups. Tours cover all aspects of the Goodspeed Opera House, from the stage to the scene, paint, costume and prop shops. More information

Teacher's Instructional Guide
The Teacher's Instructional Guide (TIG) is intended for use by teachers who will bring their school groups to attend performances at Goodspeed Musicals. The TIG provides background historical information, teaching ideas and prompts to facilitate students’ knowledge and appreciation of the show’s themes and characters. The TIG activities are influenced by state and national standards associated with the arts, language arts and social studies for high school levels. To view the TIG, please click here.

Program Notes
Program Notes are created for each production. They share various insights into the show with the goal of enriching patrons’ experience at the theatre. Program Notes can be found in the theatre’s printed program, in Curtain Magazine and by clicking here.

High School Arts Education Collaboration
For the past three years, this program has engaged young and underserved teens in the creative process of musical theatre, and by doing so, made the art form accessible to new generations of theatergoers. Each season, the program exposes over 500 high school students to a high-quality musical theatre production, and gives them a special “behind-the-scenes” look into the making of a show. Students from English/Language Arts, Fine and Performing Arts, and Visual Arts Departments spend a day at Goodspeed, participate in various workshops, and attend a matinee performance at no cost. Students meet with Goodspeed professionals to learn the many disciplines involved in theatrical production, such as auditioning, music direction, props construction, stage management, painting, costume design, set construction, and technical effects including lighting and sound. The program allows Goodspeed to create an environment for students in which they can interact with all aspects of musical theatre while receiving crucial instruction from professionals in the field. Facilitators for the program include dedicated and talented professionals from Goodspeed’s Artistic, Production/Technical, and Administrative Departments committed to maintaining the integrity of the program and ensuring that the young people receive the very best experience possible.

The Speaker’s Bureau
Select members of the Goodspeed Musicals staff are available to speak to area schools, churches, businesses and civic groups on a wide range of topics.

First Friday
Mingle at our Friday night happy hour at both theatres. Starting at 6:30 p.m. enjoy an introductory talk by a member of our creative staff, complimentary appetizers, and specially priced wine, beer and cocktails. More info

Meet the Cast
Backstage at Goodspeed, an informal post-show audience discussion with the cast, is offered select Thursday evenings at the Goodspeed Opera House. More info

Talkbacks
Participate in the process of creating a new musical at The Norma Terris Theatre at post-show discussions between the audience and creative staff. More info

Kids/Teen Nights
Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regular ticket for the evening performance on specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a child age 5 - 18. Meet the cast members after the Friday evening show for autographs. More info
Kids/Teen Nights sponsored by: