Goodspeed Opera House

In 1959 an organization, the Goodspeed Musicals, was formed to restore the old Goodspeed Opera House, located in East Haddam, Connecticut, to its original Victorian appearance and elegance. The opera house was originally built by a local merchant and banker, William Goodspeed, in 1876. The opera house was finished in 1877 and its first play Charles II opened on October 24, 1877. During the first World War, the opera house was used to house the Connecticut state militia. It had also been used a general store and a Department of Transportation storage facility before the Goodspeed Musicals group purchased it in 1959. The restoration project took nearly four years and the Goodspeed Opera House was rededicated on June 18, 1963. The first performance in the new opera house was Oh, Lady! Lady!.

Related Topics:
Goodspeed Musicals - Goodspeed Opera House - East Haddam, Connecticut - Victorian - William Goodspeed - 1876 - 1877 - Charles II - October 24 - World War - Connecticut - General store - 1959 - June 18 - 1963 - Oh, Lady! Lady!

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The Goodspeed Musicals group, as well as the Goodspeed Opera House, state that they are "Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre and the development of new works to add to the repertoire" and to "rethinking, restoring and revitalizing America?s musical theatre heritage." To help them in their on-going projects, Goodspeed utilizes the Norma Terris Theatre, in nearby Chester, Connecticut, to develop new musical projects and work with new artists. Several original plays debuted here or at the opera house before going on to Broadway and winning Tony Awards.

Related Topics:
Norma Terris Theatre - Chester, Connecticut - Broadway - Tony Award

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The opera house complex is home to the Max Showalter Center for Musical Theatre Education, which offers internships and new writers' residency programs, as well as the Scherer Library of Musical Theatre, which houses the largest musical theatre research facility in the United States.

Related Topics:
Max Showalter Center for Musical Theatre Education - Scherer Library of Musical Theatre

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Tours for any of the Goodspeed facilities can be scheduled in advance for a small fee. Tickets to the opera house or theatre productions can only be ordered in advance.

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