EAST HADDAM — It seems that in the past few years, every movie property from Ghost to Amelie and Mrs Doubtfire has been adapted to the stage in musical form. Most are unsuccessful, ultimately fading into obscurity, while others become cult favorites. A few are even lucky enough to become massive hits.

Goodspeed Opera House’s world premiere adaptation of the iconic Judy Garland movie Summer Stock has the potential to become the latter. Director Donna Feore skillfully brings back the big old fashioned Broadway musical in a way that audiences haven’t seen in quite a long time.

Summer Stock was Garland’s final film with MGM, the studio that made her famous. It paired her up with Gene Kelly and threw in some Phil Silvers for comic relief. The plot is relatively simple: a failing Connecticut family farm hosts a theater troupe, love triangles abound, and in the end the way to save the farm is putting up a show in their barn. It’s a trope we have seen repeated many, many times, but Summer Stock was the original.

Book writer Cheri Steinkeller, a Tony nominee for her movie-to-stage adaptation for Sister Act, has masterfully adapted Summer Stock, using not only many of the songs from the original, but also pulling others from The Great American Songbook to flesh out this musical world. In addition to the classic number “Get Happy,” audiences get “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Me and My Shadow,” “It Had to be You,” and many others.

Actress Danielle Wade is tasked with the difficult challenge of taking on the Judy Garland role of the no-nonsense farm girl Jane Falbury and she does not disappoint. She delivers her role with grace and humor (not to mention her stunning voice). Her 11 o’clock number “Get Happy” brings down the house and leaves the audience wanting more.

She is paired up with Broadway vet Corbin Bleu, taking on the Gene Kelly role of theater troupe leader Joe Ross. A natural successor to Gene Kelly, Bleu feels as if he stepped right out of a 1950s MGM movie musical.

Every moment he is on the stage his charm and charisma are undeniable. His dancing shows not only a dexterity and skill, but also natural elegance. His aptly named Act Two solo, “Joe’s Dance,” is a highlight.

Theatrical royalty Veanne Cox could read the phone book and have the audience in stitches. She brings her skillful comic timing to the role of Maggie (ahem…Margaret) Wingate, the neighbor of the Falburys who is attempting to purchase their farm for her own gain.

Cox is an absolute delight. The only complaint the audience has is that she doesn’t get more stage time. She is paired up with Will Roland as her awkward and obedient son, Orville. They make the perfect team.

Roland is a joy to watch on stage. In Act Two Roland gets another partner in crime, the show within a show’s music arranger, Phil (played with charm and heart by Gilbert L. Bailey II). Their number “Lucky Guy” is another highlight.

Other standouts include Stephen Lee Anderson as Lt Henry “Pop” Falbury, who gets the rousing number that opens Act Two, “June Night”; and Arrianna Rosario as Gloria Falbury, whose duet “Me and My Shadow” with Danielle Wade brings beauty and heart to the show. J. Anthony Crane swings in like a comic wrecking ball as the pompous star of the show within a show, Montgomery Crane.

The real star of the show is the choreography, also done by Director Feore. It is absolutely breathtaking, with each number better than the last.

This production has the hardest working ensemble in the business. The big old fashioned tap numbers make the audience feel like they’ve been transported back in time to the golden age of musicals. The dance numbers alone are worth the price of admission.

As Jane Falbury sings, “forget your troubles, c’mon get happy.” There’s no better place to do exactly that than at Goodspeed Opera House’s world premiere of Summer Stock.

This production runs through August 27 on the main stage. One can only hope it has a life beyond the Goodspeed and many more audiences have the chance to see it. Be one of those who gets to brag that you saw it first, before it becomes a big, big hit. Tickets are available at goodspeed.org.