Goodspeed Musicals Announces 2006 Season: ‘Abner,’ ‘Pippin’ And ‘Pirates’

EAST HADDAM — Goodspeed Musicals, under the leadership of Executive Director Michael P. Price, has announces the 2006 musical season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam.

The two-time Tony Award-winning theater’s 43rd season includes three musicals that have never before been seen on the Goodspeed stage:  the hilarious Li’l Abner, April 21 to July 2; the magical Pippin, July 14 to September 24; and the swashbuckling Pirates of Penzance, October 6 to December 10.

A fun-filled, foot-stompin’ extravaganza from Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul, (the composers of last season’s hit, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Li’l Abner features a book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, based on the comic strip created by Al Capp.

Trouble begins in the cornseed town of Dogpatch, USA, when the government decides to wipe it off the map. Hilarious protests and a riotous Sadie Hawkins Day chase ensue. Filled with gentle satire, rib-tickling humor, and a host of brash, catchy tunes including “If I Had My Druthers,” “Jubilation T. Cornpone,” “Love in a Home,” “Progress Is the Root of All Evil,” and “The Country’s in the Very Best of Hands,” Li’l Abner is packed with one showstopping dance after another. It’s pure entertainment for the whole family.

Mischievous, magical, humorous and captivating, Pippin is the lively coming of age story of Charlemagne’s oldest son. A surprise waits around every corner as Pippin wanders through the worlds of politics, love and war before finding his true calling – home and family.

Dazzling and imaginative with songs audiences remember — including “Magic to Do,” “Corner of the Sky” and the audience sing-along “No Time at All” — Pippin bursts with one showstopping number after another, from soaring ballads to infectious dance numbers.

The energetic pop-influenced score is by three-time Oscar®-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Children of Eden and the animated films Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Prince of Egypt).

Following its run at Goodspeed Opera House, Pippin will go on a national tour sponsored by Goodspeed. Cities and dates are yet to be announced.  

For Goodspeed’s 2006 season finale, here’s a chance to be carried away:  The Pirates of Penzance is a swashbuckling musical adventure sure to make audiences squeal with delight.

In this spectacular new production, Gilbert & Sullivan meet Pirates of the Caribbean in a high seas tale of mistaken identity. Fly high with a band of roguish pirates, their naval enemies and a young hero as swords clash over treasure chests and lovely ladies.

Patter songs are a Gilbert & Sullivan trademark and Pirates features the  most famous of them all, “I am the very model of a modern Major-General.”  This jaunty tune has been cleverly set to different words countless times and used in commercials to sell everything from Campbell’s soup to Handi-wipes, cars, newspapers and other items.

Other highlights of the show include “For I am a Pirate King,” the pirates’ “Here’s a first rate opportunity,” the policemen’s “When the foeman bears his steel,” and Mabel’s show stopping “Poor wand’ring one.”

Curtain times for all shows are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 pm, Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 4 and 8:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 and 6:30 pm.

Advance season subscriptions are now on sale through the Goodspeed box office (860-873-8668), open seven days a week, or online at www.Goodspeed.org.

Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, producing six musicals each season at the historic Goodspeed Opera House and The Norma Terris Theatre, which opened in Chester in 1984 for the development of new musicals.

Subscription prices range from $75 to 165 at Goodspeed Opera House and $111 at The Norma Terris Theatre for one person, all three shows, or may be combined for a six-show subscription.  Single tickets go on public sale beginning March 19.