GOODSPEED MUSICALS 2025 SEASON
Experience luxury at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina. Enjoy award-winning dining at Fresh Salt, relaxing spa treatments, and indoor/outdoor heated pools. Unwind in luxurious accommodations with stunning Long Island Sound views. Perfect for events from weddings and corporate gatherings to baby showers and more. Saybrook Point offers an unforgettable stay.
by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik APRIL 3 – 27, 2025
by Matthew Lombardo MAY 15 – JUNE 8, 2025
Lyrics by Tim Rice; Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber JUNE 26 – JULY 27, 2025
Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner; Music by Frederick Loewe AUGUST 7 – SEPTEMBER 7, 2025
AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL
By Katie Forgette OCTOBER 2 – 26, 2025
Created by Katie Barton and Ben Hope NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 21, 2025
Next at The Goodspeed
NOV 14 — DEC 28
Make your season merry and bright with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas! Based on the classic holiday film, this heartwarming musical sparkles when two army buddies turned entertainers team up with a singing sister act to save a snowless Vermont inn—and discover love along the way. Featuring show-stopping dance numbers and treasured songs like “Count Your Blessings,” “Sisters” and the iconic “White Christmas,” it’s the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! Tickets
DONNA LYNN HILTON Artistic Director presents
VANESSA LOGAN Managing Director
Book by CAL SILBERSTEIN and PAUL HODGE
Music & Lyrics by PAUL HODGE
With A Non-Profit Arts Organization
MORGAN COWLING JEREMY DAVIS LaRAISHA DiEVELYN DIONNE TAYLOR MATTHEW ETHAN PETERSON CLAIRE SAUNDERS
Costume Design by HERIN KAPUTKIN
Dialect Coach JENNIFER SCAPETIS-TYCER
Lighting Design by COLLEEN DOHERTY
Casting by HARDT CASTING
Production Manager/ Technical Director DOMINICK J. PINTO
Sound Design by JAY HILTON
Production Stage Manager DEVIN DAY
Associate Artistic Director MICHAEL FLING
Music Direction by ANGIE BENSON
Directed & Choreographed by AMY ANDERS CORCORAN
Orchestrations by ISAAC HAYWARD
Director of Production ENDLA BURROWS
General Manager GRETCHEN WRIGHT
First Performance: October 3, 2025 at The Terris Theatre
Founding Director MICHAEL P. PRICE
In-Kind Season Sponsors Season Sponsors
The Norma Terris/ Albert D. Firestone Foundation
CAST OF CHARACTERS
The Bush Bard ................................................................................... LaRAISHA DiEVELYN DIONNE
Edith ....................................................................................................................CLAIRE SAUNDERS
Major Meredith .................................................................................................... TAYLOR MATTHEW
Ethan ....................................................................................................................
ETHAN PETERSON
Enoch ......................................................................................................................... JEREMY DAVIS
McMurray ........................................................................................................... MORGAN COWLING
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
MARIANA JENNINGS
MUSICIANS
Keyboard I/Conductor ANGIE BENSON; Guitar BILLY BOVINA; Drums ED FAST
MUSICIAN ALTERNATE
Guitar MAX CASERTA
MUSIC ASSISTANT GIDEON TEMPLE
MUSICAL NUMBERS
The Ballad Of The Great Emu War ............................................................................Bard, Ensemble Backwards ....................................................................................................................................Edith
The Final Straw.....................................................................................................McMurray, Farmers Wheat! Wheat! Wheat!/War! War! War! .......................................Maggie, Edith, Enoch, McMurray, Pearce, Lyons, Meredith
Love Doesn’t Start With A Bang ......................................................................................Ethan, Edith
Bush Ambush ..................................................................................................Meredith, Edith, Ethan Jam It, Damn It! ...................................................................................................Edith, Enoch, Ethan Gallipoli ..................................................................................................................................Meredith
Fly Solo.............................................................................................................................Enoch, Edith
Boom .................................................................................................................................Edith, Ethan
Faster .........................................................................................................................Meredith, Ethan
I Hate Birds ............................................................................................................................Meredith
Stand Still .....................................................................................................................................Edith
Fly Solo Reprise ................................................................................................................Ethan, Edith
The Final Battle .............................................................Meredith, McMurray, Edith, Ethan, Maggie Finale ...................................................................................................Bard, Lyons, Edith, Ensemble
Subject to change
The Great Emu War will be performed without an intermission.
WHO’S WHO
MORGAN COWLING* (McMurray)
National Tour: The Phantom of the Opera (Meg Giry). Off-Broadway/ NYC: Empire (Emily O’Dowd, New World Stages), Marry Harry (Sherri, The York Theatre), Once We Lived Here (Urban Stages). Regional: Grease (Rizzo, STAGES St. Louis); Oklahoma! (Laurey u/s, Goodspeed Musicals); Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre, Helen Hayes Award). Disney: Wishes (DCL, Original Cast). Australian Credits: Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible Tour (BGVs, Perth); A Chorus Line (Cassie); The Addams Family (Grandma Addams); Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Diva); Miss Westralia (WA Tour). Proud Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts alum. Thanks and love to family, friends, teachers and BRS/Gage. @morgan.marlene @allswell_sisters
JEREMY DAVIS* (Enoch) returns to Goodspeed after almost two decades away, previously appearing in George M! and Babes in Arms Since then, he’s appeared on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, South Pacific, 9 to 5, Billy Elliot, The People in the Picture, Ghost, Annie, The Last Ship, Cats, Frozen, and Floyd Collins. His national tours include Thoroughly Modern Millie, South Pacific, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and most recently Frozen for which he received a Helen Hayes nomination for playing Olaf. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sarah, and the love of his life, Kristen. Proud member of Actor’s Equity.
LaRAISHA DiEVELYN DIONNE* (The Bush Bard) [she/they] is feeling emu-tional thinking about the fact that she and Jennifer Lopez are both deep in their ‘bread and butter’ era. Immense thanks to Nicole Sarro and MMV Talent, Paul Hardt, Amy Corcoran, Paul Hodge & Cal Silberstein—and the four birds who keep her sane at home. We made it to the Goodspeed, babies! Regional: Leader of the Pack (Bucks County Playhouse), Waitress (John W. Engeman Theater), Eddie the Marvelous (AMTP at Northwestern).
TAYLOR MATTHEW* (Major Meredith) Off-Broadway credits include InunDATEd (The York), A Musical About Star Wars (co-creator), Forbidden Broadway: Comes Out Swinging!, NEWSical The Musical, and The Blueprint Specials (The Public Theater). Regional credits include: NEWSical The Musical (Las Vegas, Denver), Pride and Prejudice The Musical (Wickham), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Peter Pan (Captain Hook), The Music Man (Harold Hill), and Angels in America (Joe Pitt). TV/Film: The Outlaws of Mendocino, Pride and Prejudice The Musical (Prime Video), The Friday Zone (PBS), and America’s Got Talent
ETHAN PETERSON* (Ethan) is from Cleveland, Ohio, but is a recent grad from Penn State University. Post-grad, Ethan performed with the New Hampshire Symphony doing Annie Get Your Gun: In Concert Some of Ethan’s credits include: Rent (Mark), Newsies (Jack Kelly), and Grease (Sonny). Penn State: Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods (Baker), Great Comet (Andrey/Bolkonsky), Penn State v Michigan Football Halftime Show. Having a passion for new work, he recently debuted a staged concert of Trampoline at 54 Below. Ethan would love to thank his incredible Mom, Dad, and his agents for the constant support! @ethanrpeterson
CLAIRE SAUNDERS* (Edith) Last seen in Cyrano here at The Terris Theatre. Seattle native turned New Yorker. Broadway: Sweeney Todd. Select Off Bway & Regional: Waitress (Jenna), Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily), Steel Magnolias (Shelby), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Betty Haynes), School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play (Ericka). TV/Film: Daredevil: Born Again (Disney), Modern Love (Amazon), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), The Good Cop (Netflix), The Intern (Warner Bros). Carnegie Mellon Graduate. Aside from the acting thing, Claire dabbles in culture work, all things fitness, and anxiety. Thanks to BRS/Gage. Love to her people. thesaunderscollective.com
PAUL HODGE (Music, Lyrics & Book) is an award-winning writer-composer from Brisbane. Paul’s work has been produced Off-Broadway, in London, Edinburgh and Australia, including at the Sydney Opera House. Paul wrote the musical adaptation of the BBC children’s TV show Round The Twist, which aired in over 70 countries, including on the Disney Channel in Europe and Fox Kids in the US. With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the Academy Award-nominated and Tony Award-winning writers of Les Misérables, Paul has worked on Martin Guerre, to premiere in London. His musical comedy Clinton received a New York Times Critics’ Pick, nominations for Best Musical from the Off-Broadway Alliance and Edinburgh Festival Fringe and won Best Production in the Performing Arts WA Awards and Best Off-Broadway Cast Album in the Broadway World Awards. Residencies include Olney Theatre Center, Berkeley Rep and Theater Latté Da with Naomi Izuka to develop their new musical Okuni. Instagram: @pauljmhodge
CAL SILBERSTEIN (Book) is a West-Australian writer, performer, producer, and dramaturg with a specific interest in collective imagination and magical realism. Cal works with a wide palette of collaborators from around Australia and beyond, including the USA, The UK, and South Korea. He is most often found creating collaborative, musical
WHO’S WHO
works for the stage. Highlights as a writer include Viva La Restoration (Midnite Youth Theatre), President Joan (The American Opera Project), Fairybread (sandpaperplane), Strawman (University of Miami), and The Great Emu War (Goodspeed Musicals). Cal has an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is a recipient of a Tisch School of the Arts Departmental Fellowship.
AMY ANDERS CORCORAN (Director/Choreographer) currently has a new adaptation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid on the Disney Wish. Amy recently directed the world premiere of Senior Class at The Olney Theatre Center, What the Constitution Means to Me at KC Rep, Beautiful at Olney Theatre Center, and the world premiere of Christmas in Connecticut for Goodspeed Musicals. She was the associate director of Escape to Margaritaville for Christopher Ashley on Broadway and directed the national tour. Amy helmed the NYC off-Broadway and London premieres of Unexpected Joy and received the inaugural SDC Noël Coward Fellowship for Comedic Direction. Upcoming projects/works in development include: Polly (UK) and Teacher of the Year. A proud member of SDC, Amy has worked at Asolo Rep, ACT in San Francisco, The Guthrie, Cal Shakes, projects for Disney Theatrical Group, projects for NAMT, and often with Aria Entertainment in London. Amy holds a B.A. in Psychology with Honors from the University of Kansas and an M.F.A. in Directing from Penn State.
ANGIE BENSON (Music Director) National Tours: A Chorus Line, Copacabana. Select Regional: Signature Theatre: David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori’s update of Soft Power, In The Heights, and The Color Purple (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Musical); Kennedy Center: Through the Sunken Lands; Revival Theatre Company: Come From Away; Studio Theatre: Fun Home; Olney Theatre Center: Singin’ in the Rain, Elf; Kansas City Starlight: School of Rock, First Date; Northern Stage: A Christmas Carol: The Musical (Composer); Stoneham Theatre: The Who’s Tommy; New Theatre: Have You Met Miss Jones (starring Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy). Upcoming: Octet (Studio Theatre).
HERIN KAPUTKIN (Costume Designer) Barefoot in the Park (Geva Theater, upcoming), A Distinct Society (Weston Theater Company), The Comedy of Errors (Hudson Valley Shakespeare), Little Women (Geva Theater), Prelude to a Kiss (Co-Design with Linda Cho, Milwaukee Rep), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare on the Vine), Dido and Aeneas (Yale Baroque Opera Company), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (The Juilliard School), Babes in Arms (Quinnipiac University), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fordham University), Fun Home (TheaterWorks Hartford), Christmas in Connecticut (Goodspeed Musicals), American Son (TheaterWorks Hartford), El Huracan (Yale Repertory Theater). Herin holds an MFA in Costume Design from The Yale School of Drama. herinkaputkindesign.com
COLLEEN DOHERTY (Lighting Designer) is based in New York City. Recent design credits include The Twelfth Night Show (Weston Theatre Company), Machinal (New York Theatre Company), Qualia (Significant Productions), Orestes (The New School), and Ghost of John McCain (Soho Playhouse). Associate/assistant design credits include Billie Jean (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Heathers (New World Stages), Death Becomes Her (Broadway), The Great Gatsby (Broadway), Here Lies Love (Broadway). MFA from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. IG: @colleenashleyd Website: www.colleenadoherty.com
JAY HILTON (Sound Designer) is pleased to continue his long association with Goodspeed Musicals and to be part of The Great Emu War with this wonderfully talented group. Jay has designed countless productions at both The Goodspeed and The Terris Theatre. In addition to being Goodspeed’s Resident Sound Designer, Jay serves as their Audio Supervisor and spends some of his time recording, mixing, and mastering musical theatre content for streaming platforms. He and his wife, Goodspeed Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton, make their home (and garden) in Hadlyme, Connecticut with Cookie and Macy.
ISAAC HAYWARD (Orchestrator) is an Australian award-winning conductor, multi-instrumentalist and arranger. He is the conductor of the Phantom of the Opera North American Tour and the founding artistic director of Hell’s Kitchen Laboratory Orchestra. Isaac’s Broadway credits include King Kong, Phantom of the Opera, Bad Cinderella, Spamalot, Suffs, and MJ. His international credits include West Side Story (Opera Australia), The Mikado (New Zealand Opera), The Secret River (Royal National Theatre of Great Britain), and Muriel’s Wedding (Sydney Theatre Company, Leicester Curve). Isaac has produced over four hundred arrangements and orchestrations spanning a wide variety of genres. His work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, on tour with Andrea Bocelli, and by orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony.
JENNIFER SCAPETIS-TYCER (Dialect Coach) Coaching credits for Goodspeed include: Ragtime; Maggie; The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Private Jones; Cabaret; Christmas in Connecticut; Billy Elliot; Passing Through and Hi, My Name is Ben. Other coaching credits: Hartford Stage, Berkshire Theatre Group, TheatreWorks Hartford, Shakespeare and Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 59E59 NYC, Bay Street Theater, Playhouse on Park West Hartford, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, The Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Saratoga Shakespeare Company, 45 Downstairs (Melbourne, Australia), The Rose Theatre Bankside (London), and the Oval Theatre (London). www.jenniferscapetis.com
WHO’S WHO
HARDT CASTING (Casting) is happy to continue working with Goodspeed Musicals for over 21 years. Broadway/National Tours include West Side Story, Come Fly Away, August: Osage County, Hot Feet, On Golden Pond, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Sly Fox, Legends!, Whistle Down the Wind, A Bronx Tale, Dirty Dancing, Cats, The Bodyguard, Once Upon a One More Time, Annie and the current Global Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
DEVIN DAY* (Production Stage Manager) Previously at Goodspeed: A Complicated Woman. Broadway: Grey House, 1776, Hillary & Clinton, 1984, The Humans, The Audience, Skylight, Disgraced, and I’ll Eat You Last. New York: Blood of the Lamb (59E59), Like They Do In The Movies (PAC-NYC), Terce: A Practical Breviary (Prototype Festival), The Humans (Roundabout Theatre Company), Adoration of the Old Woman, Pinkolandia, Lucy Loves Me (INTAR), Breakfast with Mugabe (Theatre Row). Regional: A Little Night Music, Tootsie (Ogunquit Playhouse). Jordan (Northern Stage), The Cottage (John W. Engeman Theatre). London: The Humans (Hampstead Theatre).
MARIANA JENNINGS* (Assistant Stage Manager) is so excited to be back here at Goodspeed for another show! Select credits include Native Gardens at Westport Country Playhouse, Kafkaesque! at Theatre 154, A Complicated Woman and About Time at The Terris Theatre. Special thanks to her friends and family, who have supported her through every show she’s worked on!
ENDLA BURROWS (Director of Production) brings more than 25 years of creative management experience to her third season as Director of Production at Goodspeed. Previously, Endla was an integral part of the Industrial Light and Magic management team that created visual effects for dozens of films, including the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Men in Black, and Saving Private Ryan. As Director of the Jim Henson Creature Shop, she oversaw bidding, production and client management for a diverse slate of television, film, commercial and theater productions, including puppets for Sesame Street productions in 120 countries and, of course, Goodspeed’s production of Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. Ever on the lookout for new challenges, Endla has also worked as an assistant director, technical consultant and graphics producer.
DOMINICK J. PINTO (Production Manager/Technical Director) [he/him] is in his second season as Production Manager and fourth season as Technical Director. Previously: Technical Director for Choir Boy and Assistant Technical Director on Cadillac Crew at Yale Rep. At the Yale School of Drama, he was the Technical Director for Fun Home and Assistant Technical for Othello. Dominick worked as a Draftsperson at blackwalnut and Montclair State University. He has worked with companies including: McCarter Theatre Company, HERE! Arts Center, MSNBC and MLB. He holds a M.F.A. in Tech-
nical Design and Production from the Yale School of Drama and a B.F.A from Montclair State University.
MICHAEL FLING (Associate Artistic Director) has directed at theatres across the country, but is proud to call Goodspeed his home—where in addition to producing, he oversees Goodspeed’s extensive New Works initiatives. His directing credits include The Great Emu War, Shakin’ the Blues Away (Goodspeed); To Free A Mockingbird (Edinburgh Fringe/ Soho Playhouse); Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins (Craft Productions of Oklahoma); My Fair Lady, Legally Blonde the Musical, Spring Awakening, Assassins (Hartt); West Side Story (Abilene Opera); Honk! (Webster); Michael also hosts the popular musical theatre podcast Know the Show and holds a degree in Directing from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
GRETCHEN WRIGHT (General Manager) is in her second full season here at Goodspeed. Previously she held management and fundraising positions at Alliance Theater (Atlanta), Yale Repertory Theatre, and Westport Country Playhouse. She obtained an MFA in Theater Management and an MBA from Yale University, and a BA in English and Theater Studies from Duke University. When she’s not contracting artists and managing HR, she is spending time with her husband raising their two young boys at their nearby home in Higganum.
MICHAEL P. PRICE (Founding Director) Under the direction of Michael Price for 47 years commencing in 1968, Goodspeed Musicals became internationally recognized for its dedication to the advancement and preservation of the American Musical. For Goodspeed, Mr. Price produced over 250 classic and forgotten musicals, 100 new musicals, and transferred 19 shows to Broadway, earning 13 Tony Awards. Goodspeed itself was honored with two special Tony Awards. Mr. Price was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, which honors lifetime achievement in the American theater. Mr. Price is the founder of the League of Historic American Theatres and a founding member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. He serves on the Executive Committee of the American Theatre Wing and as a member the Tony Administration Committee. His board memberships include the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Johnny Mercer Foundation, the ASCAP Foundation, and numerous charitable and non-profit organizations. He received his BA from Michigan State University, MA from Minnesota, MFA from Yale, and holds honorary doctorates from Wesleyan University, Connecticut College, and The University of Hartford. He is married to Jo-Ann Nevas Price; they are the proud grandparents of Ezra and Ari.
VANESSA LOGAN (Managing Director) is an accomplished arts administration leader with over 25 years of experience advancing arts organizations through strategic leadership, community engagement, and educational initiatives. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Texas
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
WHO’S WHO
Ballet Theater (TBT), where she oversaw all administrative functions and played a pivotal role in the organization’s growth and expansion. During her 9-year tenure with TBT, Logan collaborated closely with Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe, guiding the organization through significant transitions, including O’Keefe’s appointment as Artistic Director in 2023, following Ben Stevenson’s O.B.E two-decade tenure as Artistic Director Laureate. Logan was instrumental in the development and launch of TBT’s first all-female choreographed production, International Woman, and led the organization through a successful post-pandemic recovery, highlighted by record-breaking attendance for The Nutcracker in 2023. Logan’s impact extended to TBT’s educational and infrastructural initiatives. She was integral in the establishment of TBT’s Richardson School, followed by the new Dallas School at Preston Center, the company’s first school facility in Dallas proper, both of which expanded access to classical ballet education and pre-professional training for young dancers. Additionally, she oversaw the launch of a 65,000 square-foot renovation of TBT’s Fort Worth headquarters to accommodate the expanding staff, professional company, and dance school, positioning the organization for sustained growth and artistic excellence. Prior to her role at TBT, Logan held senior leadership positions with renowned arts organizations, including serving as Executive Director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey, Chief of Staff at Boston Ballet, Director of Education and Community at The Palace Theater in Connecticut, and Administrative Director at Connecticut Dance Theatre. Earlier in her career, she was a resident teaching artist for the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, where she authored and implemented several dance and academic syllabi. A passionate advocate for arts education, Logan has presented arts administration workshops and guest lectures at institutions such as the University of Connecticut, Simmons College, Southern Methodist University, and The Juilliard School. She served as the Chair of the Manager’s Council ($3-14.9 Million) for Dance/USA. Logan attended The Juilliard School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Movement Therapy from Goucher College in Maryland.
DONNA LYNN HILTON (Artistic Director) [she/her] with Goodspeed since 1988 and in her 5th season as Artistic Director, Donna Lynn is a highly-effective creative producer with a significant record of leading, developing and producing new musical theatre works as well as inspiring a re-envisioning of the canon. She led the creation of many of Goodspeed’s most acclaimed productions including Summer Stock, The 12, Anne of Green Gables and last season’s Maggie. An advocate for creators and the creative process, she is committed to prioritizing new work development at Goodspeed. At The Terris Theatre, she has led the early development of many new musicals, among them
Passing Through, Private Jones and last year’s A Complicated Woman. Donna Lynn led the creation of The Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove, the partnership with The Johnny Mercer Foundation which has welcomed over 400 musical theatre composers, lyricists and librettists to Goodspeed’s campus for one of the premiere development opportunities available to emerging musical theatre writers. She launched Goodspeed’s first formal commissioning program – GoodWorks – which brought to life Joriah Kwamé’s Little Miss Perfect and will welcome the world premiere of the new musical The Snow Goose to a Goodspeed stage soon. With the development of Hi, My Name Is Ben and No Love Songs, she led Goodspeed’s ongoing international collaboration with Scotland’s Dundee Rep Theatre and helped re-envision The Writers Grove for Scottish, UK and Indian writers on the campus at Cove Park, Scotland. Donna Lynn was invited to represent US musical theatre producers at the 2024 K-Musical Market in Seoul, South Korea. A past-president of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, she currently serves as a Trustee for Dundee Rep Theatre/Scottish Dance Ensemble and, closer to home, CT Landmarks. Donna Lynn is proud to have begun her career 40 years ago as a respected stage manager of Musical Theatre and Opera. She and her husband, Sound Designer Jay Hilton, make their home in Hadlyme with Cookie and Macy. “I am grateful to the entire Goodspeed team for their unending commitment to excellence.”
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers in the US. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theater as an essential component of our society.
Sets, costumes, and props are designed especially for The Goodspeed and are built in Goodspeed Musicals’ shops.
Goodspeed Musicals is a professional theatre operating under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Orchestra members are represented by The Connecticut Valley Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 400.
Goodspeed Musicals is a member of The League of Resident Theatres.
The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.
First of all, G’day! Secondly, we do not apologise for our use of Australian spellings (like “apologise”)! The Great Emu War was an unbelievable, but true event from Australian history where the Australian Federal Government sent the army with machine guns to go to war with emus, (pronounced “eem-yoo,” thanks mate). Yes,
Australia’s national bird from our coat of arms. Imagine America declaring war on bald eagles!
In 2017, Cal started a Facebook group for Australian musical theatre writers and Paul joined it. Both being based in NYC at the time, we grabbed a coffee. From then, it became inevitable that we would write a show together. Before our second meeting, Paul trawled his word document full of show ideas and realised that Cal was from Western Australia, the state where the Great Emu War took place. When we met, Paul asked, “Have you heard of the Great Emu War?” Cal replied, almost insulted, “Have I heard of the Great Emu War? Of course!” Paul asked, “What about that story… from the point of view of the emus?” Cal replied “Heck yes.” And here we all are.
for a cabaret event for new musicals in Australia in 2019. And then came the year of Our Lord 2020… which put a dampener on things. However, in 2021, we received
draft in January of 2022 at La Boite Theatre in Brisbane (where Paul is from and where Cal now lives). This gave us the greatest gift any writer can receive: a deadline! And the response was fantastic.
The following month Paul happened to be at Goodspeed for the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove, working on a different show. Each evening the writers would present what they had been working on that day. If a writer didn’t have something to present from the show they were writing, they could present something from another one of their shows. Paul had just received the recordings from the Brisbane reading, so one night he presented a song from The Great Emu War. It got a riotous response and led to Goodspeed asking for the full script (shout out to Donna Lynn Hilton and Michael Fling).
This led to the show being in Goodspeed’s 2023 Festival of New Musicals. We had a fantastic time (despite the time difference with Cal in Perth, not far from where the actual war took place, and Paul at Goodspeed), working to ensure the show was legible to an American audience. Luckily, it was, and it was a hit at the Festival.
Which has led us to this production! We are so grateful to Goodspeed for the opportunity to share the show with you and to learn from you. As Sondheim said, musicals aren’t written, they are rewritten. And ultimately, they are rewritten in response to the audience. This is such a special opportunity where we get the chance to make changes throughout the run in response to your reactions. Just as we are collaborators, you are our collaborators too. on this and are thrilled to go on this journey
with colour, humour and other words that are spelled differently in Australia. Welcome collective noun for emus)!
CAL SILBERSTEIN (Left: Book) and PAUL HODGE (Right: Book, Music, & Lyrics)
THE GOODSPEEED OPERA HOUSE FOUNDATION
2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Officers
Hila Rosen, President
Jef Wolter, Chairman (Past President)
Leonardo H. Suzio, First Vice President
Anthony Cacace, Vice President
Meg Sakellarides, Treasurer
Jennifer Brown, Secretary
Gov. Ned Lamont, Ex Officio Honorary Chairman
Emeritus Trustees
Kay Knight Clarke
Chandler Howard
Lynde Karin
Francis G. Adams, Jr.
Michael Arseneault
Kris Burbank
Carolyn Rossi Copeland
Christopher Dodd
Jim Duncan
Anne Evans
Sue Frost
Jean Selden Greene
Steven Hernandez
Jeffrey Hoffman
Mary Ellen Klinck
Julie Godbout LeBlanc
Lawrence McHugh
CORPORATE SUPPORT
The 1892 Club, Inc.
Broadway Licensing Global Brushmill by the Waterfall
Comcast
Concord Theatricals
Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc.
Connecticut Rental Center, Inc.
Essex Financial
The Fish Tale
Hoffman Auto Group
Masonicare at Chester Village
MassMutual Financial Group
Meyer Sound
Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
Ann Houston
Sue Link
Gavin Lodge
Mark Masselli
Kristen Roberts
Dr. Anne Rothstein
Blair Russell
Karen Sherry
Joseph Smith
John Voege
Michael P. Price
Dona D. Young
Pfizer, Inc.
Renato Sewing
Sennheiser Electronic Corporation
The Shops at Mohegan Sun
Smith Farm Gardens
United Airlines
Webster Bank
FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Anonymous
The Aeroflex Foundation
The Aldo DeDominicis Foundation
The Burry Fredrik Foundation
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation
Chelsea Groton Foundation Inc.
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Community Foundation of Middlesex County Alison and Stephen Brinkmann Family Fund
Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Division of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Dominion Energy – Millstone
Ensworth Charitable Foundation
The Frank Young Fund for New Musicals, a Program of National Alliance for Musical
The Granoff Fund
The Harry E. Goldfarb Family Foundation
Hebron Lions Charities, Inc.
The Howard and Katherine Aibel Foundation, Inc.
Jana Foundation Inc.
The Johnny Mercer Foundation
Katharine S. Winter Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
The Kitchings Family Foundation
The Lambs Foundation
Lucille Lortel Foundation
The Maury and Sonia Cohn Foundation
McClure Family Charitable Fund
The Michael Stewart Foundation
The Noël Coward Foundation
The Norma Terris/Albert D. Firestone Foundation
Patricia B. and Paul C. Carlson Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation
Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
The Shubert Foundation
The Sorenson-Pearson Family Foundation, Inc.
State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development
The TAG Fund of the Miramar Charitable Foundation
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE—LEAVING A LEGACY
Since its inception, Goodspeed Musicals has particularly benefited from the unique advantages of planned gifts and bequests. Because such gifts provide financial support over time, they have been essential to Goodspeed Musicals’ ability to consistently move from strength to strength, plan for the future with confidence, and ensure millions more will enjoy award-winning productions for generations to come.
WILLIAM H. GOODSPEED LEGACY SOCIETY
Goodspeed Musicals thanks the members of the William H. Goodspeed Society who have included a future bequest to Goodspeed Musicals in their wills or estate plans.
Anonymous (13)
Dolores L. Andrew
Fran Armstrong
Mrs. Alice C. Belden
Susan Brinkman
Maureen Brouillard
Anne Sullivan Calanquin
Frank and Amy Campbell
Bertie Chuong
Don Church
Dr. Amy L. Crockett
Rochelle Dauenheimer
Elizabeth M. Davidson-Wright
Ruth Ann C. Davis
Mary Jane Dunn
Charles and Ellen Ericson
Anne S. Evans
Muriel and Karl Fleischmann
Lea and Richard Goodman
BEQUESTS
Mrs. Harry J. Gray
A. Nicholas Groth, Ph.D.
Mr. Andrew Isen
Dr. David and Mrs. Marcia
Kalayjian
Lynde and Michael Karin
Ms. Susan Kelly
Nancy Kline and James Trail
Nancy Kobylarz
Dick and Hazel Koszyca
Karl Henry Kulisch
Sonya M. Mangan
Andrew and Bonnie McKirdy
Mary Miko
Lynne Nathan
Robert Nelson
Jane E. Ondovcsik
Barbara A. Petersen
Barbara Pomarico
Michael and Jo-Ann Price
James Pyne and Marlene Tompkins
Mary Jane Richilson
Dr. Anne L. Rothstein and Ms. Jane Hellman
Charlotte Sandler
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sevitch
The Seymour Family Fund
David Shimchick
Ms. Carol Sirot
Dr. and Mrs. David Snyderman
C. William Stamm
Frederick Strickhart
Carl Thompson
Mark and Roberta Velez
Victoria Wagner
Linda Wanosky
Goodspeed Musicals fondly remembers those who left a bequest or in whose honor a memorial fund was established. Their love of musical theatre and our institution is an example to us all.
Anonymous (6)
Carol H. Adams
The Adrienne I. Koch Revocable Trust
Cynthia Kellogg Barrington
Michele Trudel Baumann
David A. Belden
Leonard N. Blake
William C. Blatchley
Virginia Bodin
Julie Ann Buchanan
Leon Hugh Calanquin
Edward and Ruth Cape
Sally D. Carrier
Dr. Jack Chuong
Timothy J. Clutter
Gordon Cobleigh
Stephen B. Crowley, III
The Edith O. Haynes Trust
Patricia Emons
The Estate of Miriam Williams
Ragsdale
Fellner Family Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Brendan Fox
Dr. David F. Frankel and Mrs.
Linda Frankel
Norwick and Elizabeth Goodspeed
Judith Halevi
Henry Sage Goodwin Memorial Fund
Martha C. Hinkel
Christine N. Hunihan
Marjorie W. Jolidon
Robert D. Jones
Harvey and Ruth Katz
Richard and Elizabeth Kehoe
Helen Krieble
Dolores F. Lammers-Padwater
Angela Lepore
Dorothy A. Liepertz
Joanne M. MacDonald
Carmela Marzano
Constance Wolcott Mason
Alice Hammerstein Mathias
Evan S. McCord
Henry “Buzz” Merritt
The Milon Barnes Memorial Fund
Peter Johson Musto
Robert F. Neal
Carolyn G. Nelson
Miriam “Lyn” Perrin
Rochelle Richilson
Sali G. Riege
Barbara V. Ross
Edward A. Rousseau
Dr. Gerald Sandler
Marco S. Savona
Susan Scherer
Richard Schneller
Joan H. Scranton
Martha Shattuck
John F. Single, III
Natalie Tenney
Jessica Waldman Thompson
Sheila Tomlinson
Mark A. Wainger
Jerold Wanosky
Christopher Weed
William J. Kotchen Memorial Fund
Katherine S. Winter
Symond Yavener
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE—LEAVING A LEGACY
NAMED FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS
These funds and endowments listed below were established during lifetime, by bequest, or in memoriam with an outright gift to Goodspeed Musicals.*
The Dr. & Mrs. Harold D. Bornstein, Jr. Memorial Fund
The Dr. Harold D. Bornstein, Jr. Charitable Memorial Fund
The Frederick A. & Justine Millspaugh Catlin Family Fund
The Rochelle Dauenheimer Charitable Gift Annuity*
The Arthur & Elizabeth Godbout Fund for the Support of the Music Department
The George S. & Charmian A. Goodspeed Memorial Fund
The A. Nicholas Groth, Ph.D. Charitable Gift Annuity*
The Nancy Kline and James Trail Charitable Gift Annuities*
The Charles R. Lindberg Family Fund
The Lucille Lortel Fund
The Maryann & Jane E. Ondovcsik Fund for the Preservation of the Victorian Goodspeed Opera House
The Salvatore Marzano, Jr. Endowment in Support of the Music Department
The Elaine McKirdy Endowment for Career Development in Theatre
The Michael P. Price Endowment Fund at Goodspeed Musicals
The Charlotte & Gerald Sandler Educational Endowment
The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre Fund
The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre
The Jerome & Marian Silverstein Endowment Fund
The Carol L. Sirot Family Endowment Fund
The C. William Stamm Charitable Gift Annuity*
The Ashton M. Tenney, Jr. Memorial Fund
The Jessica Waldman Thompson Endowment in Support of The Festival of New Musicals
The Zachs Family Endowment
*The donors receive a tax advantaged income stream during their lives and a named fund or endowment will be created when the annuity reverts to Goodspeed Musicals.
GOODSPEED MEMBERS
Thank you, Goodspeed Members! Goodspeed is over 5,000 members strong—for a complete listing, please visit goodspeed.org or scan the QR code with your phone.
+With special thanks to our members who have been with us 45+ years
*Members whose gifts have been matched by their employer
Donors listed here have given direct membership gifts as well as additional donations as of August 29, 2025.
MARQUEE MEMBERS
($25,000+)
Frank and Amy Campbell+
Sue Frost and Dan Renn
The Granoff Fund
Dr. Anne L. Rothstein and Ms. Jane Hellman
($10,000 - $24,999)
Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis
Pat Bailey
Susan and Bruce Baiter
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Cacace
Richard T. Cersosimo and Valerie J. Koif+
Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Coviello
Lance and Rebecca Darcy
Laura and Jim Duncan
View full Member List
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
Mable and Richard Seymour
John Voege and Geoffrey Paul
Susan F. Gonsalves
Ms. Jean Selden Greene
Hoffman Auto Group
Ann and John Houston
Lucille Lortel Foundation
Ms. Dorothy Millen
Thomas M. Neff and Dr. Lyndon Haviland
Pete Pringle
Jeff Riley and Mary M. Wilson
Hila and Saul Rosen
Megan Shake
Ms. Sally Speer
Russell Tait and Lee Anderson
RADM. Louise C. Wilmot USN (Ret.) and James E. Wilmot
Jef and Kate Wolter
GOODSPEED MEMBERS
($7,500 - $9,999)
Anonymous
Mr. Michael Arseneault
Ruth Ann C. Davis+
Mary Jane Dunn
Fiona A. Egan
Chuck and Elena Foster
Jo Trotta Poliner+
Meg Sakellarides and Scott Mokoski
Millie and Marty Shapiro+
James and Penelope Sherrard
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE MEMBERS ($2,500 - $7,499)
Anonymous (11)
Francis G. Adams, Jr.
Judith W. Adams
Dolores L. Andrew+
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Arborio
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bartner
Philip Benoit
Denise Bernardo and Edwin Muentes
Dr. and Mrs. Ellison Berns
Jordan and Rebecca Boss
Kenneth and Judith Boudreau
Maureen Brouillard+
Jennifer Brown and Ian Ayres
Brushmill by the Waterfall
Ruth and Stearns Bryant
Kris and John Burbank
Bud and Katy Canaday
Anne and Jim Carroll
Mrs. T. W. Chabot*
Bertie Chuong
Kay Knight Clarke
Maury and Sonia Cohn Foundation+ Community Foundation of Middlesex County
Barbara and George Delmhorst
Betsy and Rich Didan
Judith Duran
Eileen and Helen Ede
Bill and Denice Feeley
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Feldman
David and Patricia Fisher+
Muriel and Karl Fleischmann
Lynne and Richard Fletcher
Julia Ann Francis
David and Liz Frankel
Ms. Mary Gaskell Cobleigh+
Gloria and Bob Gery
Walter Gillette and Saundra Cope
Maureen and Bernie Gillis
Bill Gilman
William J. Ginnetti, Sr.
Karen and Ron Goodspeed
William Gratz and James Bruno
Pamela and John Griffin
Ron and Nina Harris
The Harry E. Goldfarb Family Foundation
Sylvia and Dennis Heffley
Jeffrey and Nancy Hoffman
Patricia A. Holmes
Thirza D. Hyatt
Penfield and Teresa Jarvis
Sue Joffray
Peter and Linda Jokl and Elisabeth D’Albero
Elizabeth Gianesello Judd
Lynde and Michael Karin
Mersini Keller
Sallie Kemp
Robbie and Albert Kestnbaum
Michael J. Klingensmith and Ruth A. Shields
Catherine Ladnier and Mickey Robinson
Nicole Lafountaine
Julie and Peter LeBlanc
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Link
Peter Luchini
Irene Makiaris
Sonya Morton Mangan
Jennifer Alexander and Mark Masselli
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Mathews
Judith and Lawrence McClure
Tony, Chelsea and Amanda Michaud
Ami Montstream
Marjorie E. Morrissey
Ann B. Mulcahy
Regina M. Neal
Jane E. Ondovcsik
Eric Ort and Duff Ashmead
Jane Porterfield and Gerry Pastor
Rolf C. Peterson
Diane and Guido Petra
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Pilarczyk
Michael and Jo-Ann Price+
James Pyne and Marlene Tompkins
Nancy J. Ramseyer
Robert A. Ridlehoover
Mitchell P and Lorraine Rochefort
Michael Rubinoff
Linda R. Savitsky and Alvin G. Wolfgram+
Jennifer Serra and Wayne Schulz
Fred and Barbara Sette+
Alicia and Thomas Settle
Mrs. Frances Seymour+
David Shimchick
Roz and Peter Shoemaker
Ms. Carol Sirot
Donna and Bill Stamm
Brenda J. Sullivan+
Maureen Sullivan and Jack Siggins
Leonardo H. Suzio
Judy B. Taylor
Donald and Sharyn Timmerman
Richard and Meryl Waldman
Carol A. Wiggins+
John N. Wilmot
Mr. Richard Winkler
Jean M. Wiseman
Suzanne E. Zajac and Cliff A. Birdsey
Arthur Zieky and Bill Witkowsky
PHASE 1 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS
The following individuals, foundations, and institutional donors have contributed to the Phase 1 Campaign in support of the ADA Ramp, Porch, Plaza, and Front Entrance, as well as the reconstruction of the Goodspeed Parking Area.
As of August 29, 2025
($500,000+)
Herb Chambers
State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development
($100,000+)
Jennifer Brown and Ian Ayres
Jeffrey and Nancy Hoffman
Hila and Saul Rosen
PHASE 1 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS
($50,000–$99,999)
Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis
Frank and Amy Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Coviello
Laura and Jim Duncan
Ms. Jean Selden Greene
($10,000–$49,999)
Anonymous (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Cacace
John Voege, Trustee, Case Graber Foundation
Kay Knight Clarke
Mary Jane Dunn
Muriel and Karl Fleischmann
Sue Frost and Dan Renn
($2,500–$9,999)
Dr. and Mrs. Ellison Berns
Mr. and Mrs. Burbank
Mr. Alvin Deutsch, Esq. and Mrs. Davida Deutsch
($1,000–$2,499)
Anonymous (4)
Francis G. Adams, Jr.
The Bozrah Girls
Fran Armstrong
Kathryn Aron
Mr. Michael Arseneault
Susan and Bruce Baiter
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Barter
Denise Bernardo and Edwin Muentes
Gustaf Bodin
The Bottaro Family
Mr. Douglas Matthew Boughton
Rob and P. J. Brewer
Maureen Brouillard
Ruth and Stearns Bryant
David B. Byrd and Jeff Stanley
James S. and Heidi L. Bzdyra
Centerbrook Architects & Planners, LLP
Mrs. Marilyn Colvin
John Conway
Steven and Debra Daren
Ruth Ann C. Davis
Catherine and Jeff Denmeade
Senator Chris Dodd and Jackie Clegg Dodd
Ms. Marialina Dominguez and Ms. Janice Poloso
Wilma C. Donaldson
Gavin Lodge
Victoria Engelhardt
Anne S. Evans
The John G. Martin Foundation
Marjorie E. Morrissey
Dr. Anne L. Rothstein and Ms. Jane Hellman
Michael and Donna Lee Gennaro
Ann and John Houston
Catherine Ladnier and Mickey
Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Link
Sonya Morton Mangan
Betsy Russell
Marlene and Paulo Ferreira
Ms. Mary Gaskell Cobleigh
William J. Ginnetti, Sr.
Lynde and Michael Karin
David and Patricia Fisher
Julia Ann Francis
Ms. Lynn Gerr
Gloria and Bob Gery
Bill Gilman
Karen and Ron Goodspeed
The Goodspeed Guild
Ron and Nina Harris
Rosemary Harry
Karen and Chuck Hastings
Donna Lynn and Jay Hilton
Ms. Diane Ifkovic
Michael and Linda Jainchill
Shea and Scott Jezek
Sue Joffray
Jim Johnson
Burton and Sharon Johnson
Marie Joyner
Elizabeth and William Keister
Nancy Kline and James Trail
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Korn
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Kuziak
Rita A. Landino, Ph.D. and Norman Glover
Robin and Robert Laudette
Sid and Donna Levine
Stacy Lewis
Dr. Robert A. Linden
Terry and Bette Lomme
Lynn Lynch
Dana McFadden Larson
Mary Miko and Joseph Migliaro
Mrs. Frances Seymour
Mable and Richard Seymour
Mrs. Ashton M. Tenney, Jr.
Luke and Stephanie Williams
Meg Sakellarides and Scott Mokoski
Donna and Bill Stamm
Leonardo H. Suzio
Jef and Kate Wolter
Ms. Dorothy Millen
Ms. Linda Morasutti and Mr. Robert M. Lee
Michael and Jo-Ann Price
Blair Russell and Nicolo Nisbett
Mr. Jonathan Mitchell and Ms. Jenny D. Doak
Ms. Karen Murphy
Regina M. Neal
Joanne Nesti
Mrs. Carole Otto
Jayn Paardenkooper
Mr. Michael Parkinson
Rolf C. Peterson
Diane and Guido Petra
Joseph Petrone
Philip and Geri Piccola
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Pilarczyk
Amy Pinette
Jo Trotta Poliner
Michael G. Polo
Laura Raccagni
Anthony J. Raucci
Edward C. Raymond
Ms. Gail Reiner
Jeff Riley and Mary M. Wilson
Joseph Riley
Richard Roberts
Wayne Rollins and Kent Berwick
Ms. Charlise Roper
Carolyn Rossi-Copeland
Ellen S. Ryczek
Anne D. Ryder
Charlotte Sandler
Linda R. Savitsky and Alvin G. Wolfgram
Henry and Marsha Fried Scherer
Edward and Sandra Sharr
Karen Sherry and Jack Dolan
David Shimchick
Marsha Silva
Caroline F. Sloat
Bri Alayne Soekoe
Larry Starr
Robin Stegner and Scott Larson
Robert C. Stewart
Paul Stuehrenberg
Steven Sudigala
Frederick Tedford and Leslee Weiss
Timothy and Katherine Throckmorton
Peter Tolisano
Mrs. Karen Trojanowski
Abbie Van Nostrand
John Voege and Geoffrey Paul
Thomas Wadas
Sybil Williams
Richard Winkler
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Yerxa
Dona Young, Trustee Emeritus, and Roland F. Young III
Dr. Robert and Heather Zavod
Bob and Cindy Zettergren
PHASE 1 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS
(Up to $999)
Anonymous
Jonathan Brielle
Anne Sullivan Calanquin
Lori and Michael Cartwright
Effie Chang
Mr. John Costa
Mr. Charles Davidson
Elizabeth M. DavidsonWright
Disney Matching Gifts
In-Kind Support
Lola Elliott-Hugh
Richard Fountain
John and Joanna Hamby
Prudence Hoffman
Danielle Howard
Joe and Betsy Kaminski
Steven Kelley
Tracy Knofla and Karen Anderson
Mark and Tina Loomis
Ms. Judith S. Loukides
Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Connecticut Lighting
LaRosa Construction Company, Inc.
Mercer Monument Works
Cindy Maher
Frances and Gina Mastrocco
Dan McMahon and Joe Rhodes
Janet Parkosewich
Maribeth Pennoni
Dominick Pinto
Ms. Kristen Roberts
Adam Schumacher
Rachel Schumacher
Paul’s & Sandy’s Too
Tina Sheing
Matthew Sonnenfeld
Frank Stilwagner and Kurt Dery
Christopher Stone
Patricia Sullivan
Henry and Beryl Thorpe
Carey Van Hollen
Petra Construction Corporation
Suzio-York Hill
VOLUNTEER AT GOODSPEED
The Goodspeed Guild is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting Goodspeed Musicals’ operations and productions. Since 1975 it has provided services to artists, patrons, and staff on a year-round basis, while offering its members the opportunity to become part of the behind-the scenes activities at Goodspeed. To find out about volunteer opportunities that fit your interests and schedule, visit our website at goodspeed.org or contact goodspeedguild@goodspeed.org.
DEDICATE A PERFORMANCE
Goodspeed Musicals is pleased to offer members and friends an extraordinary opporunity to support the finest musical theatre while providing a once-in-a-lifetime tribute to a friend or loved one.
If you are interested in dedicating a performance to honor someone, please contact Sophia Voglino at 860-615-0389 or svoglino@goodspeed.org.
GOODSPEED’S MISSION STATEMENT
Goodspeed Musicals’ mission is to share the joy of musical theatre; to delight, inspire, and challenge audiences; to nurture creators; and to build and support a broad, diverse, and inclusive community.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The land on which Goodspeed Musicals is located in East Haddam and Chester, CT is the ancestral land of at least three tribes of Native Americans—the Wangunk, the Mohegan and the Nehantic tribes. We understand that the land which is now Haddam and East Haddam was purchased from the native people in 1662 for thirty coats—worth about $100. We acknowledge those Native Americans and the loss of their homeland—land on which we thrive today.
GOODSPEED MUSICALS STAFF
LEADERSHIP
Donna Lynn Hilton Artistic Director
Vanessa Logan Managing Director
ARTISTIC
Michael Fling ........................................ Associate Artistic Director
Adam Souza.............................................Resident Music Director
Chris Zaccardi..................... Resident Production Stage Manager
Jakob Harding Producing Assistant
ADMINISTRATION
Gretchen Wright ................................................ General Manager
Kristan McLaughlin ......................................Artistic Administrator
Angel Welter.....................................................Executive Assistant
BUILDING SERVICES
Tim Garland ................................................... Director of Facilities
Cheryl Aresco ......................................................... Office Assistant
Robert Cubeta, Jeffrey Gosselin, Niall McGovern ................................................... Building Services
East Coast Cleaning ......................................... Custodial Services
COMPANY MANAGEMENT
Tyler Garstka Company Manager
Sara Gorelkin Assistant Company Manager
Rachel Benz Company Management Associate
DEVELOPMENT
Frank Stilwagner .................................... Director of Development
Mary Miko ................................................ Individual Giving Officer
Will Kenny ................... Individual Giving & Civic Relations Officer
Sophia Voglino Event & Corporate Relations Manager
Rebekah Moses Membership & Annual Fund Manager
Lori A. Cartwright ..................................... Database Administrator
Mattie E. Hinckley Development Associate
Diana Silver Grant Strategies, LLC Grants Management
EDUCATION
Nick Palazzo Education & Engagement Manager
FINANCE
Tracey Krasniewski Director of Finance
Stacy Booth Accounts Payable Manager
Sandy Hall Payroll & Benefits Coordinator
Jessica Diaz Senior Accountant
Withum, Karen Kowgios Accountants
HOUSE MANAGEMENT
Kathy Raczka Supervising House Manager
Kathryn Lees, Beryl W. Thorpe House Managers
Rachel Crockett, Allison Harris, Kathryn Lees, Tammie Sinibaldo Assistant House Managers
Bob Bennett, Joe Kaminski, Paula Moriarty, Erik Palen, Sydney Smirnow Bartenders
Linda Camden, Judy O’Mara Gift Shop
MARKETING
Dan McMahon ............................................. Director of Marketing
Katherine Desjardins ..................... Associate Marketing Director
Ian Galligan.................................................... Marketing Associate
Carol Giroux Public Relations Manager
Sarah Kayser .................................Marketing/Graphics Assistant
Diane Sobolewski Official Photographer
TECHNOLOGY
JKS Systems Systems Administrator
TICKETING
Lauren Blankenship Box Office Manager
Catherine Ematrudo ................................... Group Sales Manager
Morgan Dumark-McNamee .................... Box Office Performance Supervisor
Hannah Stein Box Office Supervisor
Photini Constantinou, Wayne Rollins Box Office Supervisors on Duty
Liam Welsh ....................................... Member Services Associate
Naomi Corso, Nicki Cuneo, Lori Inferrera, Sean Kennedy-Wonneberger, Destiny Mea, Oscar Sanchez, Sydney Sioch Box Office Reps
Smart, Strategic Marketing for the Arts Direct Sales
PRODUCTION
Endla Burrows ............................................ Director of Production
Dominick J. Pinto ...........................................Production Manager
Myjoycia Cezar ..............................Assistant Production Manager
Shamus Bonner ....................Production Management Assistant
COSTUME RENTALS
Stephanie Turner Costume Rentals Coordinator
Cassandra Greeley, Raechel Johnsky Costume Rentals Assistants
COSTUMES
Tiffany Delligatti Costume Shop Manager
Jessica Griffin Assistant Costume Shop Manager
Aimee Schmale, Erin Stumm, Alex Zeek Drapers
Olivya DeLuca, Lauren Greenfield First Hands
Danielle Robinson Stitcher
Tabs Thompson Stitcher/Swing
Holly McMullen Terris Theatre Wardrobe Supervisor
John Riccucci The Goodspeed Wardrobe Supervisor
Aneesa Aviles, Sofia Dietze The Goodspeed Wardrobe Crew
Mia Thomas The Goodspeed Lead Wig & Hair Stylist
Danny Dominguez The Goodspeed Wigs/Wardrobe Swing
LIGHTING
Marissa Michaels ........................................... Lighting Supervisor
Luciel Sanchez ............................ Terris Theatre Head Electrician
Dylan Sepulveda ...................................Terris Theatre Electrician
Karan Gosai .............................. The Goodspeed Head Electrician
Hannah Brown, Margaret Leupold .............................The Goodspeed Electricians
PROPS
Ryann D. Lee Props Manager
Troy A. Junker Lead Props Artisan
Katie Owen Props Artisan
Emma Graydon .....................................................Props Carpenter
Ashlin Penn ...................... The Goodspeed Props Run Crew Head
Madilyn Keller .............. The Goodspeed Props Artisan/Run Crew
SCENERY
Dominick J. Pinto ...............................................Technical Director
Matteo Lanzarotta ...........................Associate Technical Director
Camden Keech .................................Assistant Technical Director
Emily Guercia............................................................. Draftsperson
Dennis J. Riley ........................................................ Shop Foreman
Kyle Carson, Joshua Murphy .............................. Staff Carpenters
Casey Burke-Ruhl, Nathaniel Kerr .............................Carpenters/Stagehand Swings
Shawna Martine Terris Theatre Stage Supervisor
Ann Aldrich............................... The Goodspeed Stage Supervisor
Jacob Bubeck, Jakob Sanchez The Goodspeed Stagehands
SCENIC ARTISTS
Carla Tiezzi Charge Scenic Artist
Miranda Harkins Lead Scenic Artist
April Chateauneuf ................................. Senior Staff Scenic Artist
Rachel Carlson, Ashley Donnert ..................... Staff Scenic Artists
SOUND
Jay Hilton Audio Supervisor
Nick Moran .................................... Terris Theatre Audio Engineer
Jennifer Barrios-Gomez Terris Theatre Asst. Audio Engineer
Nicholas Peretti ....... The Goodspeed Production Audio Engineer
Tesla Lowrey The Goodspeed Assistant Audio Engineer
Theo Ashmore The Goodspeed Audio Assistant
FOR
THIS PRODUCTION
Sarah Hinrichsen Assistant Director
Riley Allsop Assistant Lighting Designer
Fiona McIntyre Sucher Casting Associate
James Carter Pianos .......................................... Piano Technician
Katie Desjardins ...............................................Show Logo Design
Sarah Kayser Program Editor/Designer
Essex Printing ......................................................Program Printing
Myjoycia Cezar ................... 2025 Honoree of the Elaine McKirdy Endowment for Career Development in Theatre
SPECIAL THANKS
Brittany and Mike Forino
38 Old Post Road Madison, CT 06443
203-318-3070 fax 203-318-3074
1254 Boston Post Road Old Saybrook, CT 06475 860-391-8282 fax 860-391-8279
Please
