Goodspeed Musicals' 2012 season on land......and at sea

By Don Church & Tony Schillaci, Critics On The Aisle™

The two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam Connecticut will be alive with more than just the sound of great music this year.

In addition to new productions of three classic American musicals, plans ticket holders can enjoy special events for romantic getaways, dining around, wine tasting, discounts for kids and students, backstage visits and chats with the cast. And there is an all-singing, all-dancing cruise to Bermuda in May on the magnificent Celebrity Summit, which was recently refurbished to luxury Solstice-class standards.

View slideshow: Goodspeed Musicals' 2012 Season

The curtain goes up with Jerry Herman’s brassy and lovable "Mame" on April 20 through July 1. Enjoy the eyebrow-raising antics of Auntie Mame as she uninhibitedly leads her innocent nephew from boyhood to manhood. Mame is surrounded by a cast of unpredictable characters as she celebrates the Roaring 20s and sails through life without missing a melodic beat or a handsome beau.

Jerry Herman’s hummable score is packed with emotions from A to Z: “Bosom Buddies,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” and eleven other melodic songs. Ray Roderick will direct as he did for Goodspeed’s “My One and Only,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “ 42nd Street." Broadway’s Vince Pesce will choreograph.

Rogers and Hammerstein’s beloved “Carousel” featuring “If I Loved You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “June is Busting Out All Over,” has been thrilling audiences for decades with its powerful love story of an innocent young millworker and swaggering carousel barker. He meets a tragic end but is given one chance for redemption by delivering hope to the daughter he never knew and final words to his wife. The multi-award winning director Rob Ruggiero returns to Goodspeed where he helmed the hugely successful “Show Boat,” “Camelot,” and “1776.” It will be choreographed by Parker Esse of Broadway’s “Finian’s Rainbow” and “A Tale of Two Cities.” “Carousel” is on from July 13 though September 23.

“Something’s Afoot” is set in a stately English mansion with all the ingredients you’d expect in a musical whodunit. A raging thunderstorm. Ten strangers.Murder, mystery, music and comedy are – you guessed it – afoot when the guests disappear one by one – knocked off by cleverly fiendish devices.But not to worry because the determined and irrepressible Miss Tweed, the veddy, veddy essence of an amateur English sleuth, sets out to solve the crimes. No, the butler didn’t do it! With songs like “I Owe It All To Agatha Christie” who could resist such a promising premise of a puzzling English mystery?

Book, music and lyrics by James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach. Additional music by Ed Linderman. Casey Hushion, associate director of Broadway’s smash hit “In the Heights” and the hilarious spoof “The Drowsy Chaperone,” will direct. It’s on October 5 through December 9.

Here’s a sneak preview of Goodspeed Opera’s off-stage events: Kid’s/Teen Nights offer each adult who buys a full-priced ticket to purchase a $15 ticket for someone age 5 to 18.

A Student Rush discount from 10:00 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday evening performances based on availability, regardless of age, with verifiable school identification for $15, one per student.

Goodspeed Wine Tasting Series Sunday April 22, July 15, and October 7. Tickets are available through the Box Office for an additional $12 with purchase of a ticket to that evening’s performance.

Goodspeed Dinners are specially priced for pre-show dinner any Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening at Brushmill by the Waterfall, Gelston House, Griswold Inn, The Ivory Restaurant & Pub, La Vita Gustosa, Pattaconk 1850 Bar & Grille, Restaurant L&E and Tavern at the Armory at the Inn at Middletown .

Meet the Cast are post-show audience discussions with the cast backstage following the performances of “Mame” May 17, 31 and June 14; “Carousel” on August 9, 23 and September 6; “Something’s Afoot” on November 1, 15, 29. Super Saver Subscription: all three musicals for $93 before the performances sell out on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings through March 31. Subject to availability. Prices are subject to change.

And welcome aboard Goodspeed-at-Sea. Sail to Bermuda on the magnificent Celebrity Summit, May 6 -13, 2012. Free parking at Goodspeed Opera House for transport to and from the port.

Finite details – and tickets - for everything “Goodspeed” at www.goodspeed.org or 860.873.8668.