The Goodspeed Opera House announced their 2019 season, which, according to Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed’s Executive Director, will include “a beloved classic, a heartwarming new musical and a dance-filled tale of triumph.”
The three productions are Meredith Willson’s The Music Man which will run April 12 – June 16; followed by a heartwarming new musical Because of Winn Dixie featuring book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Duncan Sheik and based on the award-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo which will run from June 28 – September 1; closing the season will be The Goodspeed production of Billy Elliot – The Musical featuring book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Elton John and originally directed by Stephen Daldry — this 10-time Tony Award-winner will run from September 13– November 24, 2019.
The Norma Terris theater in Chester, CT will host My Name is Ben, the true story of an ordinary man and his extraordinary life featuring book and lyrics by Scott Gilmour and music by Claire McKenzie will run will run May 17 – June 9; then the inspiring hit musical of Goodspeed’s 2018 Festival of New Musicals, Passing Through featuring music and lyrics by Brett Ryback and book by Eric Ulloa which will run July 26 – August 18, 2019.
An exciting new dimension in Goodspeed’s mission of developing musicals is the collaboration with Dundee Rep of Dundee Scotland on My Name is Ben. While Goodspeed has collaborated with many international artists, this collaboration with Dundee Rep marks our first collaboration with a theatre outside of the United States and we believe is an important step in the growth of Goodspeed Musicals and its mission.
