Goodspeed Musicals' SHOWBOAT to Play at Opera House, 7/1 - 11/11

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Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, will breathe new life into the indelible American classic Show Boat. This heart-wrenching musical from the director who brought you Goodspeed's Camelot and 1776 will run from July 1 - September 11 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. This production will be sponsored by Webster Bank, Essex Meadows, and Comcast. [Official Press Opening will be July 27, 2011]

Come aboard for an epic American musical! A sweeping tale spanning four decades, Show Boat is a journey into the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of three generations of show folk on the mighty Mississippi River. Jerome Kern's masterpiece is a treasure trove of unforgettable music including "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and "You Are Love." Don't miss this timeless triumph of the Broadway stage!

Show Boat features Music by Jerome Kern and Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the novel "Show Boat" by Edna Ferber. Magnolia will be played by Sarah Uriarte Berry, of Broadway's The Light in the Piazza, Taboo, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Misérables. Ravenal will be played by Ben Davis whose Broadway credits include the recent revival of A Little Night Music, Les Misérables, La Bohème, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Queenie will be played by Andrea Frierson who appeared in Broadway's Marie Christine, The Lion King, Juan Darien, Once on This Island, For Colored Girls..., and The Me Nobody Knows. The role of Parthy will be played by Karen Murphy of Broadway's A Little Night Music, 9 to 5, All Shook Up, 42nd Street, King David, and Titanic, and Goodspeed's Annie 2. Star of stage and screen Lenny Wolpe will play Cap'n Andy. Wolpe's numerous Broadway credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked, and The Sound of Music. Goodspeed audiences will remember him from The Baker's Wife and A Long Way To Boston at The Norma Terris Theatre, and Little Johnny Jones and She Loves Me at the Opera House.
Frank will be played by Danny Gardner of Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence, High Button Shoes, and Singin' In The Rain. Ellie will be played by Jennifer Knox. Quentin Earl Darrington of Goodspeed's Abyssinia will play Joe. Julie will be played by Lesli Margherita. Kim will be played by Maddie Berry.

The ensemble will include Paule Aboite, Elizabeth Berg (Hello! My Baby from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists), Elise Kinnon (Goodspeed's 42nd Street, Half a Sixpence, and Happy Days), Denise Lute (Broadway's Monday After the Miracle), A'Lisa Miles (Goodspeed's Big River), and Mollie Vogt-Welch (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities and Goodspeed's Camelot). Also joining the ensemble is Kyle E. Baird, Robert Hannon Davis, Robert Lance Mooney (Room 16 from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists), Rob Richardson (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities), Greg Roderick (Broadway's South Pacific, and Goodspeed's 1776, Brigadoon, A Little Night Music, and King of Hearts), Jet Thompson, David Toombs, Richard Waits, and Nicholas Ward. The swings will be Adam Fenton Goddu (Room 16 from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists) and Christiana Rodi (Nobody Loves You from Goodspeed's 2011 Festival of New Artists).