Spring brings The Will Rogers Follies A Life in Revue with Broadway and Goodspeed veteran David Lutken in the title role. Mr. Lutken appeared in the original Broadway production of The Will Rogers Follies. Connecticut audiences will remember David from his performances in Big River and Finian’s Rainbow at Goodspeed as well as his performance as Woody Guthrie in his award-winning musical Woody Sez at TheaterWorks Hartford.
Shake hands with the heartwarming humorist who spun a rope, poked fun at headlines and never met a man he didn’t like. The rags-to-riches story of America’s beloved stage, screen and radio star bursts to life as a Ziegfeld Follies-style extravaganza. Family, fame and fate are center stage in Will’s rise from obscurity to stardom. Along the way he’s arm-in-arm with vivacious showgirls and a slew of cowboys. Curtain up on the Tony Award-winning Best Musical that captures the American spirit at its up-tempo best. The Will Rogers Follies features Book by Peter Stone, Music Composed and Arranged by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green. Original New York production directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune. Inspired by the words of Will and Betty Rogers, it will be directed by Don Stephenson (Goodspeed’s Guys and Dolls) The Will Rogers Follies will run from April 13 – June 21, 2018.
Enjoy summer at The Goodspeed with the classic musical Lionel Bart’s Oliver!. Charles Dickens’ beloved orphan makes his Goodspeed debut in the hope-filled musical set in the dark shadows of Victorian London. Bounced from workhouse to forced labor, Oliver Twist escapes to the streets where he meets Fagin, the Artful Dodger and a band of child pickpockets. Will he find love, home and happiness before it’s too late? Consider yourself part of the family with the colorful international smash that gave the world “Where Is Love?,” “Food! Glorious Food!” and “As Long As He Needs Me.” Oliver! features Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart and will be directed by Rob Ruggiero (Goodspeed’s Rags, Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel and Show Boat among others). Oliver! will run from June 29 – September 9, 2018.
Swingin’ tunes herald in the zany comedy Bullets Over Broadway The Musical next fall. Let’s misbehave! A machine-gun burst of songs from the Roaring Twenties heats up Woody Allen’s hilarious musical comedy about mobsters mixed up in the theatre. When a gangster promises to produce a young playwright’s new script, the string attached is the crook’s no-talent girlfriend. Love, limb and livelihood are at risk in a fizzy backstage story loaded with zingers, slapstick and bigger-than-life show people. This song-and-dance spin on the hit film will leave you sitting on top of the world. Written by Woody Allen and based on the screenplay of the film Bullets Over Broadway by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath, the production will be directed by Gordon Greenberg (Goodspeed’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Pirates of Penzance and Happy Days among others). Bullets over Broadway will run from September 21– November 25, 2018.