New Musical Added to the Goodspeed by the River Line-up

LITTLE GIRL BLUE: THE NINA SIMONE MUSICAL

Pays tribute to the singular Nina Simone

Goodspeed Musicals’ Popular Outdoor Summer Series will Welcome Broadway’s Laiona Michelle to the Tent August 4 -29!

EAST HADDAM, CT, June 17, 2021: Broadway and Goodspeed alumna Laiona Michelle (Amazing Grace, The Terris Theatre) brings her stirring bio-musical Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, about the life and music of the legendary Nina Simone to Goodspeed by the River this August. Written by and featuring actor Laiona Michelle along with a trio of musicians, this moving new musical begins August 4 and runs through August 29 under the tent alongside the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Goodspeed by the River is presented by Community Health Center, Inc.

Inspired by Simone’s story, and the music that has come to define her, Laiona Michelle breathes life into Simone and gives her a platform from which to speak her truth in Little Girl Blue. “I fell in love with Nina Simone a very long time ago, but only really understood her importance in the world of music, and as an activist, once I began researching this project.” Ms. Michelle along with her collaborative partners on this project, have drawn from Nina’s rich life to create a portrait that is honest and powerful. Little Girl Blue had its premiere at George Street Playhouse in 2019.

Ms. Michelle’s dynamic performance, filled with songs like “Feeling Good”,”Ooh Child”,”My Way” and more, will be supported by a company of three musicians, Saadi Zain on bass, Kenneth Salters on percussion and Music Supervisor/Arranger Mark Fifer on keys.

Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical is an exuberant new musical with a tour de force performance by award-winning actor Laiona Michelle. From classical music -prodigy – to “High Priestess of Soul,” this story taps into the legend that is Nina Simone with an honest and powerful portrait of her rich life and her ultimate decline. Feel the passion, joy and pain of a woman adored by millions – then and now.

Little Girl Blue was written and conceived by Laiona Michelle (NAACP Hollywood Award, the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards) and features music and various quotes by Nina Simone with additional materials by Devanand Janki (Winner of the Lortel, Callaway, & GLAAD Media Awards). Janki who isfounder and artistic director of Live & In Color, whose mission is developing new plays and musicals that celebrate diversity, will Direct. Music Supervisor/Arranger will be Mark Fifer.

This musical is produced by Goodspeed Musicalsby Special Arrangement with Rashad V. Chambers.

Goodspeed’s Donna Lynn Hilton shared “I am honored that Little Girl Blue will be the first new musical developed and presented by Goodspeed Musicals under my tenure as Artistic Director.” She stated, “I am particularly happy to welcome writer and actress Laiona Michele back to Goodspeed following her beautiful performance in Amazing Grace and to have the opportunity to introduce director Devanand Janki’s work to our audiences.” Ms. Hilton continued, “Dev is an important voice working in the creation of new musical theatre today. I am delighted that our community will have the opportunity to experience his work this summer at Goodspeed.”

Ms. Michelle stated “I hope audiences gain a new appreciation for the life of this immensely gifted musician who was a master pianist. Nina was a defiant force of nature who spoke out against injustice.” She continued, “and isn’t it auspicious that there is a resurgence of interest in Nina of late” referring to Ms. Simone’s recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year and to the Netflix documentary. It has introduced a new, young audience to the legacy of this powerful and influential musician – an extraordinary woman who battled depression and personal demons throughout her life with the same intensity as when she fought against injustice.

Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical performances will be Wednesday through Saturdays at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. This show will include an intermission.

Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical will be performed rain or shine under the big top as part of the Goodspeed by the River summer series. For a complete list of Goodspeed by the River summer events currently running please see the FACT SHEET below.

Goodspeed by the River is presented by Community Health Center, Inc. and is sponsored by RisCassi & Davis, P.C.; Suzio York Hill; Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Burry Frederick Foundation and The Shubert Foundation, Hoffman Audi and Sennheiser.

Tickets per event will be $45. Tickets are on sale now and only available through the Box Office at (860) 873-8668 open Tuesdays 10am-5pm, Wednesdays – Fridays 10am-7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-7:30pm, and closed Mondays.

SPECIAL OFFERS:

GOODSPEED BY THE RIVER PICK THREE OFFER: Buy tickets for 3 or more events and save $5 per ticket!

HERO WEDNESDAYS

In appreciation of all you’ve done to get us through the pandemic, we’re offering a $5 discount to healthcare workers, first responders, teachers and frontline workers for any Wednesday Goodspeed by the River performance. (Two discounted tickets per party per event. Subject to availability.)

GELSTON DINNER PACKAGE – $69
Includes dinner at the Gelston House (right next to Goodspeed) and a ticket to a Wednesday or Thursday evening show. Please arrive at the Gelston House at 5:15pm.

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY. Goodspeed follows state and CDC guidelines for safety. Below are just a few of the ways we’re keeping you safe.

This event takes place in a tent in the Goodspeed parking lot. For safety reasons, we are limiting capacity and will allow space between parties.

Distancing will be maintained within the tent by leaving empty seats between each party. From June 10 to July 4, there will be two empty seats between parties. From July 7 to September 5, there will be one empty seat between parties. Empty seats will be clearly labeled.

No physical tickets will be used, instead guests will be emailed a confirmation and will check in upon arrival at the tent.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances and at portable restrooms.

The Goodspeed lawn will be accessible for picnics before or after the show.

A complete list of audience guidelines, seating plan, timed entry and event information can be found at goodspeed.org

[FACT SHEET including Safety Guidelines and Artist Bios included below.]

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals and the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of United Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals; the official audio sponsor Sennheiser; and official auto sponsor Hoffman Audi. The organization is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts.

FACT SHEET

Artist Bios, Goodspeed by the River Event Schedule and Safety Guidelines Below

[EDITORS: Here is a link to images and press materials: https://bit.ly/3fg7Z8R ]

ABOUT LITTLE GIRL BLUE

Little Girl Blue is a new musical in two acts. The story focuses on a ten-year period between 1968 and 1978, and is set during two concerts. Ms. Michelle showcases the evolution of the woman who began life as a child prodigy, was then denied an opportunity to follow her aspirations of becoming a classical concert pianist by a system that considered the color of her skin above her musical genius and re-directed to become a popular jazz/blues artist – something she had never intended for herself – ultimately becoming known as the “High Priestess of Soul.” The story taps into Nina’s fiery personality and vulnerabilities to paint as accurate a picture of a woman often misunderstood by the media and her fans, and yet adored by millions, then and now.

ARTIST BIOS

MARK FIFER (Music Supervisor/Arranger and Pianist, Little Girl Blue) is a NYC-based Musical Director, Pianist, Vocal Coach, and Arranger/Orchestrator for Theatre, Film & TV, session and concert events. Currently, Music Supervisor of Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical. NYC & Regional: Rent, The Who’s Tommy, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Rocky Horror Show, Hello Again, Our Town, Tits Fisher with Kitten’s Kiss, Fame The Musical (Macao). Raised on the classics but specializing in Rock/Pop, R&B, Jazz and the American Songbook, Mark also serves as vocal coach to scores of Broadway and international performers. Musical Theatre Faculty at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Vocal Director for Carnival Cruise Lines. www.markfifer.com

DEVANAND JANKI (Director, Little Girl Blue) s an award winning Director-Choreographer based in New York City, originally from Canada. He is the founder and artistic director of Live & In Color, whose mission is developing new plays and musicals that celebrate diversity. Theatreincolor.org. His prolific New York credits include the hit Off-Broadway show Zanna, Don’t!(Winner of the Lortel, Callaway, & GLAAD Media Awards), John Patrick Shanley’s Romantic Poetryfor the Manhattan Theatre Club, The Yellow Brick Road(Callaway nom.), Junie B. Jones(Lortel nom.), Cupid & Psyche, Henry & Mudge (Lortel nom.), Skippyjon Jones (Lortel nom.), Shine! The Horatio Alger Musical (NYMF), This One Girl’s Story (Abingdon Theatre, GLAAD Media Award nom.), and Buddy’s Tavern(York Theater – Lab). Dev has combined his philanthropic skills with his Broadway prowess on such concerts as: HAIR with an all-star cast, featuring Jennifer Hudson (Grammy nom.), Funny Girl featuring 16 Fanny Brices, including Whoopi Goldberg, Bebe Neuwirth, and Jane Krakowski; Dreamgirls and Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway 101, all for the Actors’ Fund, the entertainment industry’s largest charitable organization. He has also served nine years as an Artistic Associate for Broadway Bares, one of the largest fundraisers for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. His other notable credits include: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Babes in Toyland, Anything Goes in concert (assoc.) all for Lincoln Center. The Wings of Ikarus Jackson and Barrio Grrrl! (Helen Hayes nom., Kennedy Center); The hit show, Little Girl Blue – The Nina Simone Musical (George Street Playhouse); The Rocky Horror Show, Xanadu, the regional premiere of Rent (Hangar Theatre, SALT Award); How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, and Disney’s Aladdin (Chicago Shakespeare); Andrew Lippa’s Asphalt Beach (AMTP); Man of La Mancha(Maltz Jupiter Theatre); The Full Monty (Foothills Theatre); The Scarlet Pimpernel (Gateway Playhouse); the workshop of Lily (Huntington Theatre). TYA Tours: Martha Speaks, If You Give a Pig A Pancake, Fly Guy & Other Stories, Nate The Great, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical, and The Jack Sprat Low Fat World Tour. Dev has also worked internationally, creating One Man’s Dream II for Tokyo Disney, as well as the Korean Premiere of Zanna, Don’t!, and concerts for Japan’s #1 Boy Band: Shonentai. Live Industrial credits include projects for: Carnival Cruise Lines, Coca-Cola, MAC Cosmetics, Benjamin Moore Paints and Dove. As a performer, Dev has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Cats, The King & I, Side Show, and tours of A Chorus Line and West Side Story. He is the Director of the Musical Theatre Division at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting. He is a frequent guest teacher and lecturer across the country where he continues to be a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts. www.devanandjanki.com

LAIONA MICHELLE (Nina Simone) Springfield, MA native added writer to her resume with her double bill as writer and star of Little Girl Blue, The Nina Simone Musical, which launched its world premiere engagement at the George Street Playhouse on Feb 1, 2019. Most recently she has taken on the mantle of book writer, for Mandela, a new musical based on Nelson Mandela’s life; from his days as a leading activist against Apartheid, to his imprisonment and eventual release to become the nation’s President.

Laiona credits William Shakespeare as the reason that she fell in love with theatre. As a child, she was taken to see a Shakespearean production and knew immediately, “This is what I want to do.” Since that time, she has been developing her skills as a writer, actress and singer, constantly working on expanding the full range of her natural vocal abilities.

Laiona Michelle is the recipient of the The NAACP Hollywood award, Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2005, Constant Star). She was also nominated for the Helen Hayes Award (2005, Yellowman).

Before joining the cast of Amazing Grace, Laiona was part of the First National tour of The Book of Mormon. And prior to that, she had honed her skills, performing at some of the most renowned regional theatres in the United States including the Arena Stage, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Westport Country Playhouse and many more.

In addition to her stage work, Laiona has also made appearances on network and cable television in Showtime’s Lift, ABC’s All My Children, NBC’s Law & Order SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Blacklist, HBO’s Crashing, as well as on Amazon’s Sneaky Pete (Bryan Cranston and Giovanni Ribisi).

Laiona has also written several children’s plays/musicals for Dream Studios, a non-for- profit arts organization providing access to the performing arts, and located in her hometown of Springfield, MA.

As a writer, an actor, and a Black women, Laiona believes in the importance of “owning our stories”. She champions the idea of breaking down stereotypes that would box her in or type cast her, therefore limiting her ability to grow.

Laiona Michelle resides in New York City. She is a graduate of Brandeis University (MFA), and did her undergraduate work at Alabama State University in Theatre Arts. She is the proud mother of 7 year old son, Rohan.

KENNETH SALTER (Percussion) Born in New Haven, CT, and raised in Columbia, SC, Salters began his musical career on trombone for one year before switching to percussion and continuing on to pursuing his studies as a percussion major at the University of South Carolina. Since moving to New York in 2006, he has worked with luminaries in jazz and R&B including Leslie Odom Jr., Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joshua Henry, and the late Aretha Franklin.
Salters, after nearly 15 years in his adoptive home of New York, finds himself often exiting the city on tour, discovering new worlds – a career twist that was only afforded to him by moving to NYC.

SAADI ZAIN (Bass) Based in New York city, bassist Saadi Zain is versed in a multitude of musical genres including jazz, classical, R&B, Pop, Latin jazz and world music. This versatility has made him a good fit for modern musical theater and he has played in numerous Broadway pits and National Tours. He has performed in many countries throughout the world, including a US State Department tour of Africa. Saadi also performs in media and commercials and can be seen in a music video by pop star Dua Lipa released earlier this year. Saadi is happy to be back performing in CT, where he studied at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. For more information on where Saadi has played and with whom, visit his website at www.saadizain.com

GOODSPEED BY THE RIVER 2021 LINE-UP:

Goodspeed by the River performances will be Tuesday through Sundays at 7pm with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm.*

Ambassador of Love: a Celebration of Pearl Bailey (June 22 – July 18) Spend a joyful evening with Broadway and Goodspeed favorite, Rashidra Scott (Anything Goes), as she celebrates the one and only Pearl Bailey. Scott gives a powerhouse performance belting the songs that made Pearl Bailey famous and sharing the stories behind them. It’s a lively tribute packed with favorites like “St. Louis Blues,” “Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart,” “Legalize My Name” and many more for all to enjoy.

Ambassador of Love: a Celebration of Pearl Bailey hasMusic Direction by Michael O. Mitchell, isDirected by T. Oliver Reid with Assistant Director Kelly Sheehan.

Bennett & Babs: The Songs of Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand (June 23 – July 4) Broadway favorites Jackie Burns (Wicked) and Joe Cassidy (Waitress) take the stage in tribute to two of the greatest performers of our time – Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. In an evening filled with classics like “The Way We Were”, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, you’ll also be enchanted by the stories behind the music. Song after song, hit after hit, Bennett & Babs is a love letter to the American Songbook.

Together Again: Max & Celeste Sing Their Broadway Favorites (July 7 – July 18) Stars of Goodspeed’s hit new musical Passing Through reunite for an exciting evening of song featuring musical theater favorites from the Golden Age to Sondheim to recent Tony-winning hits. Max Chernin and Celeste Rose tell their story of how two random roommates became lifelong friends whose lives continually bring them Together Again. This upbeat evening of Broadway tunes is an ode to the special and unique bond that only best friends share.

Johnny and The Devil’s Box: In Concert (July 22- August 1) Wielding his fiery fiddle, composer/performer Douglas Waterbury-Tieman is joined by Annabelle Fox and a sizzling bluegrass band for a concert version of the foot-stompin’ new musical Johnny and the Devil’s Box. Everything is on the line when Johnny – the best fiddler around – is challenged to a battle of the bows by the devil himself. With one foot in the Georgia Mountains and one foot in the Grand Ole Opry these songs will stir your soul.

Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical (August 4 – 29) Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical is an exuberant new musical with a tour de force performance by award-winning actor Laiona Michelle. From child prodigy of classical piano to the “High Priestess of Soul,” this musical is inspired by Nina Simone’s own words and the groundbreaking music she helped make famous. The story taps into the legend that is Nina Simone with an honest and powerful portrait of her rich life and her ultimate decline. Feel the passion, joy and pain of a woman adored by millions – then and now.

(*Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical performances will be Wednesday through Saturdays at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.)

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

JACKIE BURNS is a bi-coastal actress who holds the title of Broadway’s longest running Elphaba in Wicked as well as being the face of the brand. She replaced Tony Award-winning Idina Menzel in the national tour of If/Then a performance for which she received rave reviews for her performance and was also a part of the original Broadway company. Her other Broadway and Off- Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair and Rock of Ages.

JOE CASSIDY is a Drama Desk Award-winning actor who has been seen on Broadway, TV, Film, Commercials, Voiceovers, and as a featured soloist with symphonies all over the US and Canada. On Broadway, he most recently played Cal in Waitress. Other Broadway credits include: If/Then, Catch Me If You Can, Next to Normal, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 1776, Show Boat and Les Misèrables.

MAX CHERNIN made his Goodspeed debut in the 2019 production of Passing Through. Broadway: Steve Martin & Edie Brickell’s Bright Star and the 2017 revival of Sunday In The Park With George. Other New York credits include Brooklynite (Vineyard Theatre), The Golden Apple (City Center Encores!), Bernstein’s Mass (Lincoln Center), and Skittles Commercial: The Musical. Regional: Daddy Long Legs (Theatre Raleigh). He has performed his solo show, The Color Ginger at Feinstein’s/54 Below and GR42. On TV, Max can be seen on Dickinson, Mozart In The Jungle, The Family, and Adam Sandler’s The Week Of. BFA: University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Max is a finalist in the 2021 Lotte Lenya Competition. www.maxchernin.com @maxcherns

ANNABELLE FOX is thrilled to be back in her home state singing the music ofJohnny and the Devil’s Boxalongside her husband Douglas. She was last seen playing the role of Abigail King in an excerpt of JDB as part of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Ground Floor Series. She is currently working on the virtual production with A.D. Players to be streamed in June! Pre-pandemic, she starred as Jeanette in the Off-Broadway revival of No Strings, directed by Deidre Goodwin. Favorite Credits Include Savannah (Disney’s Freaky Friday), Kathy Selden (Singin’ In The Rain, CT Critics Circle nomination.), and Wendla (Spring Awakening). Her mission in life is to bring joy to people through performance. She is specifically drawn to material that elevates the human mind and radiates justice, sprinkling her spark and boldness into each character. She recently launched her own business Re-Find by Fox to help others refine and reimagine their space, style, or story. Keep an eye out for her in Better Days this fall on ESPN. BFA MT Belmont University. IG: @annabellefoxtieman & @thefiddlinproject.

LAIONA MICHELLE Springfield, MA native added writer to her resume with her double bill as writer and star of Little Girl Blue, The Nina Simone Musical, which launched its world premiere engagement at the George Street Playhouse on Feb 1, 2019. Most recently she has taken on the mantle of book writer, for Mandela, a new musical based on Nelson Mandela’s life; from his days as a leading activist against Apartheid, to his imprisonment and eventual release to become the nation’s President.

Laiona Michelle began to gain national notoriety when she made her Broadway debut in 2015, in the musical, Amazing Grace, which opened at the Nederlander Theater. Cast in the principal role of Nanna, a woman stolen away from her family by slave traders, she delivers one of the stand out musical moments of the play. Ms. Michelle was part of the First National tour of The Book of Mormon. And prior to that, she had honed her skills, performing at some of the most renowned regional theatres in the United States including the Arena Stage, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Westport Country Playhouse and many more. She is the recipient of the The NAACP Hollywood award, Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2005, Constant Star). She was also nominated for the Helen Hayes Award (2005, Yellowman).

MICHAEL O. MITCHELL (Music Director, Ambassador of Love) is an award winning music director, composer, arranger, pianist, orchestrator and conductor. He is the Music Director for Amateur Night at the Apolloat the famous Apollo Theater. He is arranger, orchestrator, music director for a new musical,premiering fall 2021 in Miami. Michael is also the Associate Conductor for the upcoming Broadway show, MJ the Musical. Other Broadway credits include Motown the Musical, The Color Purple, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Memphis. Collaborations include work with Lisa Fischer, Leslie Odom, Jr., Ledisi, Billy Porter, Jazmin Sullivan, The O’Jays, Kristen Chenoweth. Michael is a Yamaha Endorsed Artist. http://www.michaelmitchellmusic.com

T. OLIVER REID (Director, Ambassador of Love) has spent the past 20 years working on Broadway shows, (Hadestown; Once On This Island; Sunset Boulevard; After Midnight; Sister Act; Mary Poppins; The Wedding Singer; Chicago; La Cage Aux Folles; Never Gonna Dance; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Follies; Kiss Me, Kate), which have amassed more than 20 Tony Awards from the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards. He is also an accomplished cabaret artist and multiple award winner for his solo show, Drop Me Off In Harlem which he directed, wrote and starred in. He has produced and directed concerts for Feinstein’s 54 Below and continues to work in film and television. He is on faculty at NYU-Tisch’s Grad Acting Program and Columbia University School of the Arts’ Grad Acting program as well as Ohio University and Rider University. He sits on the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He’s currently in the critically acclaimed, Hadestown on Broadway.

CELESTE ROSE is so elated to be back at Goodspeed Musicals where she has spent three winters performing in A Connecticut Christmas Carol and one summer playing Karie in the premiere of Passing Through. Off-Broadway and NYC credits: We Are The Tigers, Unexpected Joy(York Theatre) and The Bad Years. Other regional credits include Freaky Friday (Lyric Theatre Of Oklahoma),Sister Act (Ogunquit Playhouse and The Gateway Playhouse), Bernice Bobs Her Hair (Lyric Theatre Of Oklahoma), Titanic (Westchester Broadway Theatre). BFA Ithaca College. Love and thanks to the Rose fam and the wonderful team at Goodspeed. Follow along @_celeste_rose & www.CelesteRose.com.

RASHIDRA SCOTT is thrilled to be back at Goodspeed Musicals after having the pleasure of portraying Reno Sweeney in the 2016 production of Anything Goes at The Goodspeed and performing the title number of the 2020 Virtual Gala Shakin’ the Blues Away. Broadway: Company, Ain’t Too Proud…(OBC), Beautiful(OBC, Grammy Award), Sister Act (OBC, U/S Deloris; 1st National Tour, Deloris), Hair, Finian’s Rainbow, and Avenue Q (Gary Coleman). Select regional credits: Dreamgirls (Lorrell, Marriott Theatre) and Hair (Dionne, Arizona Theatre Company). TV: Rescue Me (Sony/FX). Lead singer for Windborne’s Music of Whitney Houston. BM in Music Business/Management (Berklee College of Music). Thank God, Goodspeed, Nicolosi, Rich, and family.

ADAM SOUZA (Resident Music Director) Broadway credits include: Wicked, Kinky Boots. National Tours: of Wicked (2^nd National, Original MD/Conductor), Kinky Boots (Original MD/Conductor), Spamalot(1^stNational as MD/Conductor), The Midtown Men, and Les Misérables. Adam also served as Associate Music Supervisor for the international mountings of Wicked,São Paolo, Brazil (in Portuguese) and Mexico City (in Spanish). His regional credits include: Next to Normal Hartford TheaterWorks, North Shore Music Theatre, and over 15 productions with Goodspeed Musicals including Because of Winn Dixie, The Great American Mousicalwith Julie Andrews, Snapshots by Stephen Schwartz, Roar of the Greasepaint…, George M!, Brigadoon, Very Good Eddie, Rags, Great Expectations, and The Road to Hollywood. Adam has served on faculty for the Boston Conservatory at Berklee as an Associate Professor of Theatre, of which he is also an alumnus.

SCOTT WASSERMAN (Music Supervisor, Johnny and the Devil’s Box) BROADWAY: Ableton Programmer for Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812; Escape To Margaritaville, Annie and Leap of Faith. OFF-BROADWAY: Invisible Thread(Second Stage). REGIONAL: Austen’s Pride (ACT of Connecticut – Orchestrator), Diana (La Jolla Playhouse – Electronic Music Programmer). OTHER: Radio City Music Hall (Orchestrator), 21 Chump Street (This American Life – Ableton Programmer). TELEVISION: The 71st Tony Awards, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Orchestrator). ALBUM: Joel B. New’s Cabot Cove (Broadway Records – Orchestrator & Arranger). PODCAST: Song Salad with co-host Shannon Deep (@songsaladcast) TWITTER: @scottwasserman1 INSTAGRAM: @swasserm

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN Originally from Lexington, KY now living in Nashville, TN with his wife and muse Annabelle Fox. BM in Musical Theatre: Belmont University. Off-Broadway: The Robber Bridegroom and Soot and Spit. Regional: Once, Sunset Boulevard. TV: Succession. Waterbury-Tieman was Fiddler for Clint Black’s Looking for Christmas and performed aboard The Disney Magic. Proud member of The Lobbyists and The Playbillies. Creator of Johnny & the Devil’s Box, a new musical that has been in development with Goodspeed at the Johnny Mercer Writer’s Grove and the Festival of New Musicals cabaret in 2019 thanks to a NAMT Frank Young Fund grant. Douglas is thrilled to be returning to Goodspeed to bring some music and celebration back to his favorite theatre after such a difficult season. Keep singing!

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Seating: This event takes place in a tent in the Goodspeed parking lot. For safety reasons, we are limiting capacity and will allow space between parties.

Tickets will be sold in groups of 2 with empty seats between each pair. For parties larger than 2, you may purchase multiple pairs of tickets that will be separated by empty seats. For those wishing to buy only one ticket, the second seat in that pair will not be sold to anyone else.

Tickets: No physical tickets will be used. Your seat row and number will appear in an email confirmation when you purchase your tickets. When you arrive at the event, an usher will check you in based on your last name and direct you to the appropriate entrance to the tent. All members of your party must enter together.

Rain Policy: All performances will take place under a large tent and thus, will go on rain or shine. If a performance is cancelled due to extreme weather, we will contact you by email approximately 3 hours prior to curtain time as well as post it on the Goodspeed website and on our Facebook page.

Safety Policies: Please note that Goodspeed follows state and CDC guidelines for safety. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances and bathrooms.

Bathrooms: Portable bathrooms will be provided at the event. They will be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Hand sanitizer will be provided for your use before and after using the bathroom. One of the portable bathrooms will be accessible.

Picnics on the Goodspeed Lawn: You are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the Goodspeed lawn before or after the show. Please plan to remove all trash and take it with you when you leave.

Changing Guidelines: All guidelines are subject to change by federal, state, or local authorities. Please review all posted signage for the most updated requirements. Failure to adhere to posted guidelines will result in all party members being asked to leave the event grounds. No refunds will be given.

A complete list of audience guidelines, seating chart and event information can be found at goodspeed.org