SPARKLING CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE MOST HAPPY FELLA NEW PRODUCTION WILL COMPLETE GOODSPEED S 50 TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

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1 NEWS RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Elisa Hale at (860) , ext. 323 Dan McMahon at (860) , ext. 324 SPARKLING CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE MOST HAPPY FELLA NEW PRODUCTION WILL COMPLETE GOODSPEED S 50 TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON This Robust Vintage Favorite of Goodspeed Audiences Returns to the Goodspeed Opera House Stage September 20 EAST HADDAM, CONN., AUGUST 7, 2013: Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser s The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power. [Official Press Opening will be October 9, 2013] Abbondanza! From the composer of Guys and Dolls comes a vibrant musical that blossoms in the vineyards of Napa Valley. Your heart will be warmed by this May-December romance when a city bride is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything until his true goodness shines through. With a gorgeous score and spirited dancing, it s a simple and touching love story that makes for an extraordinary night of theatre. Favorite songs include "Standing on the Corner" and "Somebody, Somewhere." Book, music and lyrics for The Most Happy Fella are written by Frank Loesser. Loesser also wrote the music and lyrics for Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying, and Where s Charley?. Leading the cast in the role of Tony will be Bill Nolte. Mr. Nolte s numerous Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles, The Producers, Amour, Jane Eyre, 1776, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden, Me and My Girl, and Cats. He previously appeared at Goodspeed in Man of La Mancha and Sweeney Todd. Mamie Parris will play opposite Nolte as Rosabella. Ms. Parris has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, 110 in the Shade, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Marie will be played by Ann Arvia whose Broadway credits include Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Misérables. Joey will be played by Doug Carpenter. Cleo will be played by Natalie Hill who appeared on Broadway in Wonderland, Bye Bye Birdie, and Grease and at Goodspeed in Camille Claudel (The Norma Terris Theatre) and Brigadoon. Herman will be played by Kevin Vortmann who appeared in Broadway s A Little Night Music. Ciccio will be played by Daniel Berryman. Pasquale will be played by Martín Solá whose Broadway credits include Coram Boy, La Bohème, and The King and I. Guiseppe will be played by Greg Roderick of Broadway s South Pacific and Goodspeed s Show Boat, King of Hearts, and A Little Night Music. -more-

2 PAGE 2 GOODSPEED MUSICALS ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE MOST HAPPY FELLA The ensemble includes Noah Aberlin (Goodspeed s Annie Get Your Gun), Elizabeth Ann Berg (Goodspeed s Show Boat), Victoria Castle, Christine Cornell, Seth Danner, Michael Deleget (Goodspeed s Camelot) as the Doctor, Eloise Kropp (Goodspeed s Carousel), Danny Lindgren, John Payonk, Rachel Rhodes-Devey, Sarah Tranchina, Eric Ulloa, and James Zannelli. The swings will be Matthew Amira and Sabrina Marlene. The Most Happy Fella will be directed by Rob Ruggiero who returns to Goodspeed after helming such successes as Carousel, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and Mr. Ruggiero s Broadway credits include Looped and High. Parker Esse will again join forces with Ruggiero as Choreographer. They previously teamed up for Goodspeed s Carousel last season. Mr. Esse also served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway s Finian s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities. Michael Schweikardt will be the Scenic Designer. His designs for Goodspeed Musicals include Carousel, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and Costumes will be designed by Thomas Charles LeGalley whose Broadway credits include Associate Costume Designer for Kinky Boots and Costume Designer for Lysistrata Jones. Mr. LeGalley also served as Assistant Costume Designer for Goodspeed s Annie Get Your Gun. Lighting Design will be by John Lasiter who served as Lighting Designer for Goodspeed s Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776, and Broadway s High. Sound Design will be by Jay Hilton who is in his 28 th season at Goodspeed. The Music Director for The Most Happy Fella will be Michael O Flaherty who is in his 22nd season as Goodspeed s Resident Music Director. William J. Thomas will be Assistant Music Director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who has created the orchestrations for numerous Goodspeed productions. The Most Happy Fella is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price. The Most Happy Fella will run September 20 through December 1, 2013 [Official Press Opening October 9, 2013]. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.). The Thanksgiving week schedule will be 11/25 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., 11/29 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., 11/30 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and 12/1 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available through the Box Office ( ), open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. -more-

3 PAGE 3 GOODSPEED MUSICALS ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional works at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The first regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed celebrates another milestone, its 50 th Anniversary, in In addition to the two theatres and production facilities, Goodspeed maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ovation Sponsor Connecticut Light and Power; Sennheiser, the Official Audio Sponsor; United, the Official Airline Sponsor; and Hoffman Audi, the Official Auto Sponsor of Goodspeed Musicals. Goodspeed is supported in part by the Department of Economic and Community Development with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts. ### For more information, to schedule an interview, or to receive stock art, please contact Elisa Hale (ext. 323) or Dan McMahon (ext. 324) at , Elisa.Hale@goodspeed.org/Dan.McMahon@goodspeed.org. -more-

4 PAGE 4 GOODSPEED MUSICALS ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE MOST HAPPY FELLA GOODSPEED MUSICALS THE MOST HAPPY FELLA FACT SHEET Production: Book, Music & Lyrics by: Theatre: Director : Choreographer: Set Designer: Costume Designer: Lighting Designer: Sound Designer: Music Director: Assistant Music Director: Orchestrations: Principals: Ensemble: The Most Happy Fella Frank Loesser Goodspeed Opera House 6 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut Rob Ruggiero Parker Esse Michael Schweikardt Thomas Charles LeGalley John Lasiter Jay Hilton Michael O Flaherty William J. Thomas Dan DeLange Ann Arvia (Marie) Daniel Berryman (Ciccio) Doug Carpenter (Joey) Natalie Hill (Cleo) Bill Nolte (Tony) Mamie Parris (Rosabella) Greg Roderick (Guiseppe) Martín Solá (Pasquale) Kevin Vortmann (Herman) Noah Aberlin Elizabeth Ann Berg Victoria Castle Christine Cornell Seth Danner Michael Deleget (Doctor) Eloise Kropp Danny Lindgren John Payonk Rachel Rhodes-Devey Sarah Tranchina Eric Ulloa James Zannelli Swings: Matthew Amira Sabrina Marlene more-

5 PAGE 5 GOODSPEED MUSICALS ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Background: The Most Happy Fella first opened on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on May 3, 1956 and closed after 676 performances on December 14, The original production earned six Tony nominations. The first revival opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on October 11, 1979 and ran for only 53 performances. In 1991 Goodspeed Musicals mounted a production of The Most Happy Fella that was adapted for two pianos in place of a full orchestra. This production moved to Los Angeles Ahmanson Theatre and then to Broadway on February Directed by Gerald Gutierrez, the revival starred Spiro Malas as Tony, Sophie Hayden as Rosabella, and Liz Larsen as Cleo. It was nominated for four Tony Awards and Scott Waara won for Best Featured Actor. The production closed after 229 performances on August 30, Synopsis: Abbondanza! From the composer of Guys and Dolls comes a vibrant musical that blossoms in the vineyards of Napa Valley. Your heart will be warmed by this May-December romance when a city bride is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything until his true goodness shines through. With a gorgeous score and spirited dancing, it s a simple and touching love story that makes for an extraordinary night of theatre. Favorite songs include "Standing on the Corner" and "Somebody, Somewhere." Dates: September 20 December 1, 2013 Performances: Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.). The Thanksgiving week schedule will be: 11/ 25 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., 11/29 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., 11/30 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and 11/31 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $ All prices subject to change based on availability. Goodspeed Box Office ( ) or online at goodspeed.org Special Events: Girls Night Out: Friday, September 20, 7:00 pm. Celebrate Opening Night in style! Gather the girls for glitz and glamour Broadway-style with our Ticket n Tini special. Package includes one ticket to the 8 pm performance and a specialty martini. A hot deal at $46 per person. Wine Tasting: Sunday, September 22, 5:00 pm. Treat yourself to a sampling of fine wines, compliments of Shore Discount Liquors of Deep River, and hors d oeuvres provided by the Gelston House of East Haddam. Only $12 with your ticket to the 6:30 pm performance. Reserve in advance through the Box Office. Teen Nights: September 25 & 26, 7:30 pm; September 27, 8 pm. Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regular-priced ticket on the specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a youth age 12 to 18. Meet the cast after the September 27th performance for autographs. Lady Katharine Lunch Cruise: Enjoy Fall foliage on the Connecticut River. Add a leisurely cruise and sumptuous buffet aboard the Lady Katharine to your theatre ticket. Available on Wednesdays, October 2 & 23. Cruises depart at 11:30 a.m. $40 with your ticket to the 2 p.m. performance. Trick-or- Tini Package: Thursday, October 31, 7:00 pm. This frightfully good Halloween special includes a ticket to the evening show and a specialty martini for only $46 per person! Food Drive / Buy-One-Get-One Free Tickets: Monday, November 25. Two-for-one tickets for select seats to the 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. performances with a generous non-perishable food donation to benefit the East Haddam Food Bank. Meet the Cast: Take part in a lively discussion with the cast after the Thursday evening performances on October 17 & 31 and November 14. Meet the Cast events are free with a ticket to that evening s performance. Friday Dinner Theatre Package: Includes dinner at the Gelston House (located next door to the Opera House) and a ticket to the 8:00 pm performance. Only $76! ALL OFFERS ARE FOR SELECT SEATS AND ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

6 For more information, to schedule an interview, or to receive stock art, please contact Elisa Hale (ext. 323) or Dan McMahon (ext. 324) at ,