2023 Festival of New Musicals

March 17-19, 2023

STAGED READINGS | FESTIVAL PACKAGES & TICKETS | SCHEDULE | COVID SAFETY | FESTIVAL ARCHIVES

Don't miss your chance to see the next big hit at Goodspeed’s 17^th Festival of New Musicals! The Festival has launched more than 50 new musicals into the universe, sending them across the country, to Broadway, and around the world! Join us for a weekend filled with insider events, seminars, cabarets, and three staged readings of brand-new works as the brightest writers and performers collaborate to create the future of America's greatest art form.

FESTIVAL PACKAGES & TICKETS

Our Festival Package looks a little different this year. We're giving you more flexibility to choose exactly what your weekend will look like. Just order a base package (which includes exclusive Package events) and then select which add-ons you want. It's that easy!

FESTIVAL PACKAGE \| $100		PACKAGE ADD-ONS
• 1 Ticket for all 3 Staged Readings		• Festival Dinner at Gelston House - $40
• 3 Seminar Sessions*		• Friday Cabaret - $15
• Symposium*		• Saturday Cabaret - $15
• 2023 Terris Theatre Season Announcement*
• Meet the Writers Q&A*

*Exclusive Package Event

Call the Box Office to order packages: 860.873.8668

STAGED READINGS

Single Tickets: $25
Students: $15

Friday, March 17, 7pm

Book, Music, & Lyrics by Madeline Myers
Music Direction by Patrick Sulken
Directed by Scott Schwartz

In the mid-20th century, the race to find the structure of DNA grips the scientific community. One brilliant young researcher, Rosalind Franklin, will stop at nothing to uncover one of life’s great mysteries. But will she sacrifice what makes her human to discover what makes us human?

Double Helix will have its world premiere production at Bay Street Theater this summer.

THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE: We've just learned that the East Haddam Swing Bridge will NOT close on Friday night. You do NOT need to plan an alternate route home after your Friday events. However, curtain time for DOUBLE HELIX remains 7:00pm.

Saturday, March 18, 7:30pm

Book by Cal Silberstein
Music & Lyrics by Paul Hodge
Music Direction by James Dobinson
Directed by Michael Fling

Remember that one time that the Australian government sent their army with machine guns to wage war on emus in Western Australia? Neither do most people…but when Edith, the headstrong warbler, and her flock begin to feed on the wheat of local farmers—the humans take up arms against Australia’s favorite feathered friends. Think of it as Cats, but with emus…and less dancing…and a plot.

Sunday, March 19, 1pm

Book, Music, & Lyrics by Joriah Kwamé
Dramaturgy by Teresa Attridge
Music Direction by Patrick B. Phillips
Directed by Zhailon Levingston

Inspired by the viral single of the same name, Little Miss Perfect tells the story of Noelle, a bi-racial teen navigating her senior year of high school after her mom and stepdad invite a study abroad student to be her roommate. But when a classmate becomes the victim of systemic racism at her school, Noelle must decide whether she will be true to herself and an ally to her peers, or if she will settle for simply being ‘Little Miss Perfect’.

Little Miss Perfect is a commission of Goodspeed Musicals’ GoodWorks program.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Exclusive Festival Package Event

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

TICKET DISTRIBUTION | 4:30pm - 6:45pm | Porch Bar, The Goodspeed •
All package holders will be able to pick up their tickets before Friday's staged reading. Seminar tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis so arrive early to get your top choices!

DOUBLE HELIX | 7:00pm | The Goodspeed

FESTIVAL CABARET: BRETT RYBACK & ERIC ULLOA | 9:30pm | Gelston House
The writers of the hit musical Passing Through (Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre, 2019 and Festival of New Musicals, 2018) are back together again for a Festival Cabaret! After spending two weeks in residency at Goodspeed, these multi-award-winning artists will share some material from their new projects that are currently in development. And we’re betting they’re going to premiere some never-before-heard songs!

Saturday, March 18

TICKET DISTRIBUTION | 9am - 12pm | Gelston House Lobby •

SEMINAR SESSION I | 10am | Location Gelston House & St. Stephen's Church•
Choose one of the following:

The Show Must Go On: Swing Nation Ever wonder what it takes to be the entire ensemble’s understudy? What is the process for learning that much information? Some of Goodspeed’s favorite swings walk through this under-celebrated but crucial job that keeps curtains up and audiences entertained.
Words, Words, Words: The Dramatists Guild of America From subsidiary rights to intellectual property, DGA has been defending the rights of writers for over 100 years. With the rise in digital productions and schools cancelling productions of beloved titles that they deem controversial, we’ll ask what the next 100 years look like.
I’ve Got the Plan Right Here! As theatres across the country continue to recover from the shutdown, strategic plans have even more importance than just guiding an organization – they are essential to discovering the “new normal.” Join Josh Borenstein, former Managing Director of Long Wharf and the founder of Odyssey Associates to hear about how these plans are researched, developed, and executed.

SEMINAR SESSION II | 11:15am | Location Gelston House & St. Stephen's Church•
Choose one of the following:

The Music and The Mirror: The Art of Dance Arranging Join Resident Music Director Adam Souza in a conversation with David Krane, the world-renowned dance arranger behind the revivals of Cabaret and Oklahoma!, Ragtime, Victor/Victoria, and the films of Chicago and Mary Poppins Returns. See how some of your favorite music is brought to life, step by step, note by note.
The Show Must Go On: Swing Nation Ever wonder what it takes to be the entire ensemble’s understudy? What is the process for learning that much information? Some of Goodspeed’s favorite swings walk through this under-celebrated but crucial job that keeps curtains up and audiences entertained.
Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me…Consensually In a post #MeToo world, Intimacy Consultation is the fastest growing profession in the theatre industry. Part-choreographer, part-acting coach, part-therapist - Michael Rossmy and Kelsey Rainwarter are on the front lines of creating the most dramatic onstage moments in this groundbreaking career path.

SEMINAR SESSION III | 12:30pm | Location Gelston House & St. Stephen's Church•
Choose one of the following:

The Music and The Mirror: The Art of Dance Arranging Join Resident Music Director Adam Souza in a conversation with David Krane, the world-renowned dance arranger behind the revivals of Cabaret and Oklahoma!, Ragtime, Victor/Victoria, and the films of Chicago and Mary Poppins Returns. See how some of your favorite music is brought to life, step by step, note by note.
Needle in a Haystack: Executive Searches What happens when a leader of an organization announces they are retiring? Tom O’Connor of the Tom O’Connor shares the process of identifying, vetting, interviewing, and selecting candidates for some of the nations leading arts institutions.
From Broadway to Main Street: Arts Education in Theatre Erin Coffey, Manager of Audience Engagement at The Broadway League (and Goodspeed’s former Education Director) has dedicated her career to educating the next generation of theatregoers. This a bird’s eye view of theatre education features personal experiences and the data about how crucial these programs are to the future of theatre.

2023 TERRIS THEATRE SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT | 3:30pm | The Goodspeed •
The Terris Theatre has been dark for the past three years, but we're opening the doors of our beloved little Chester stage once again this year! Festival-goers will be the first to find out which shows will be in our 2023 Season, hear from members of the creative teams, and be treated to a live performance!

SYMPOSIUM: SO YOU WANNA GO TO COLLEGE FOR MUSICAL THEATRE? | 4:30pm | The Goodspeed •
Unlike a lot of undergraduate programs, students have to undergo a rigorous audition process in order to study musical theatre performance. Stephen Agosto will interview faculty and students from the Hartt School about the herculean effort it takes to pursue a career as an actor.

FESTIVAL DINNER | 5:30pm | Gelston House •
Enjoy a three-course meal with fellow Festival-goers at the Gelston House, located next to The Goodspeed (view menu).
Please note that Gelston House is the only dinner option within walking distance of Goodspeed. La Vita has closed.

THE GREAT EMU WAR | 7:30pm | The Goodspeed

FESTIVAL CABARET: LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT | 9:30pm | Gelston House
Since George Washington took office in 1783, writing letters to the President has provided citizens of all ages, political parties, and backgrounds an outlet to express their most personal concerns, hopes, and dreams for our country. Letters To The President reimagines this canon of letters as a multi-composer, new American musical event, featuring prominent "guest letter readers" and a rich score of songs inspired by different letters from the archive. Spanning topics from women's suffrage, marriage equality, World Wars I and II, space exploration, and the Civil Rights Movement, Letters To The President offers a powerful look at American democracy by setting the White House’s most memorable mail to song.

Conceived by Jessica Kahkoska and Michael Bello | Music Direction by Patrick Sulken | Featuring Songs by Ari Afsar & Candace Quarrels, Preston Max Allen, Simone Allen, Dawn Avery, Nick Blaemire, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Elliah Heifetz, Anna K. Jacobs, Madeline Myers, Naomi Matlow & Teresa Lotz, Ronvé O’Daniel & Jevares Myrick, Rona Siddiqui, Mark Sonnenblick, Will Van Dyke & Jeff Talbott, Ben Wexler, and Zack Zadek

Sunday, March 19

LITTLE MISS PERFECT | 1pm | The Goodspeed

MEET THE WRITERS Q&A | 3:30pm | The Goodspeed •
The Festival weekend culminates in a question-and-answer session with some of the writers and creative teams behind Double Helix, The Great Emu War and Little Miss Perfect.

COVID SAFETY POLICY

MASKS Everyone stronly encouraged to wear a mask.

VIEW FULL DETAILS

Become a Friend of the Festival!

Would you like to be a Friend of the Festival? Friends of the Festival are listed in all Festival programs, enjoy VIP seating for all Festival events, attend an exclusive brunch on Sunday morning, and have the opportunity to join the writers for champagne during performance intermissions. But most importantly Friends of the Festival provide crucial support that helps to make the Festival a premier showcase for new musicals in the country. With a gift of $500 you can be a part of this exclusive group.

Contact Gloria Gorton at ggorton@goodspeed.org or 860-873-8664 x366 for more information.

Thank you to our 2023 Friends of the Festival!

Shawn Amdur & Dale Woods
Denise Bernardo & Eddie Muentes
Anne Sullivan Calanquin
Frank & Amy Campbell
Don & Terri Coustan
Ruth Ann Davis
Sandy Eichelberg & Ron Benedict
Susan F. Gonsalves
William F. Gratz & James A. Bruno
Regina Hausmann
Bill & Nancy Horowitz
Peter Hoyle
Nancy Kline & James Trail
Nicole LaFountaine
Jon Lukomnik & Lynn Davidson
Dave & Judith Macri
Sonya Morton Mangan
Roy O'Neil
Mark Planner
Mary Lee Porterfield
Will Rhys
Jeff Riley & Mary Wilson
Hila & Saul Rosen
Dr. Anne Rothstein & Ms. Jane Hellman
Wyn & Karen Seymour
David Shimchick
Bert Silverberg
Russell Tait & Lee Anderson
Carl Thompson
Alan & Vicki Wasserman
Tracy Weed
E. Marie Wilson & Colette Trohan

The Jessica Waldman Thompson Endowment in Support of The Festival of New Musicals