‘Millie’ opens April 21

Dance-filled Broadway hit features seasoned performers, newcomers

EAST HADDAM » Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2017 season with the Broadway hit “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” You’ll get a kick out of this dance-filled musical comedy running April 21 to July 2 at The Goodspeed.

ABOUT ‘MILLIE’ In 1922 New York, the modern girls sport bobbed hair and shorter hemlines. Newcomer Millie is no exception, jumping into a makeover and a plan to marry rich — until she falls for a penniless charmer. Her adventures are a flurry of flappers, a runaway heiress, a nefarious landlady and more.

In 1922 New York, all the modern girls are sporting bobbed hair and heightened hemlines. Newcomer Millie is no exception, jumping headlong into a makeover and a dizzy plan to marry rich — until she falls for a penniless charmer. Her jazz-kissed adventures are crowded with a flurry of flappers, a runaway heiress, a nefarious landlady and more.

A mix of madcap mistaken identity, high-spirited show tunes and tap-happy dance has more kick than bootleg gin in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical. Thoroughly Modern Mille features a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, new music by Jeanine Tesori, and new lyrics by Dick Scanlan, based on the original story and screenplay by Richard Morris for the Universal Pictures film.

Millie will be played by Taylor Quick, who has performed at numerous regional theaters across the U.S. including Lyric Stage and Casa Mañana.

Tony nominee Loretta Ables Sayre will play Mrs. Meers. Sayre received a Theatre World Award for her performance as Bloody Mary in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”

Dan DeLuca returns to Goodspeed as Jimmy. He played Danny in “Snapshots” at The Terris Theatre in 2013, and recently performed as Jack in the 1st National Tour of Newsies.

The role of Miss Dorothy will be played by Samantha Sturm, whose Broadway credits include Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn,” “On the Town,” “Matilda,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and “The Addams Family.”

Edward Watts returns to Goodspeed as Trevor Graydon. Watts was last seen at The Goodspeed as Thomas Jefferson in “1776.” Prior to that, he thrilled audiences at the Norma Terris Theatre in “The Girl in the Frame.” On Broadway, Watts appeared in “Scandalous” and “Finnian’s Rainbow.”

Ramona Keller, whose Broadway credits include “Brooklyn The Musical,” “Caroline or Change” and “Smokey Joe’s Café” will play Muzzy. Bun Foo will be played by Christopher Shin, who appeared in last spring’s buoyant romp “Anything Goes” at The Goodspeed. Shin performed on Broadway in “Mary Poppins.”

Ching Ho will be played by James Seol, who last appeared at The Goodspeed in Mame. Seol performed on Broadway in “A Naked Girl” on the Appian Way, and OffBroadway in “Small Mouth Sounds” and “Around the World in 80 Days.”

The role of Miss Flannery will be played by Lucia Spina, whose Broadway credits include “Kinky Boots,” “South Pacific,” “Legally Blonde,” the revival of “Les Misérables” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The ensemble includes Darien Crago (Goodspeed and Broadway’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, National Tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas), Caley Crawford (Goodspeed and Broadway’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, national tour of A Chorus Line), Patrick Graver (first national tour of Bullets Over Broadway), Bryan Thomas Hunt (Goodspeed Musicals’ Chasing Rainbows and Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Broadway and national tours of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Billy Elliot), Emily Kelly (assistant choreographer on Goodspeed’s The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd), Daniel May (Broadway’s Flower Drum Song, national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie), PJ Palmer (national tour of Elf), Amelia Jo Parish, Sherisse Springer (national tour of Chicago, Cirque du Soleil’s Criss Angel Believe, West Side Story at Carnegie Hall, TVs The Wiz Live and Bunheads, and the motion picture Hairspray), Sarah Quinn Taylor (Goodspeed 2012 Festival of New Musicals’ Harmony, Kansas), Amy Van Norstrand (Goodspeed and Broadway’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn and national tour of Elf), and Darius Wright (1st National Tour of Matilda). The swings are Evan Mayer (national tours of My Fair Lady, A Christmas Story, and Annie) and Elise Mestichelli (Goodspeed’s Chasing Rainbows).

Thoroughly Modern Millie is directed and choreographed by Denis Jones, who choreographed Goodspeed’s world-premiere production of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn and The Terris Theatre production of Band Geeks!. Jones choreographed the Broadway productions of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn and Honeymoon in Vegas, and served as associate choreographer for Broadway’s Legally Blonde and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. As director, Jones’s credits include Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story at Signature Theatre; 42nd Street, Grease, Spamalot, and Chicago at The MUNY; Legally Blonde at North Carolina Theater and the upcoming NY lab of Fancy.

Scenic design is by 2017 Helen Hayes Award nominee Paul Tate dePoo III. Called Live Design Magazine’s ‘Designer To Watch,’ dePoo designed Guys and Dolls at The Goodspeed and last season’s A Sign of the Times at the Terris Theatre. Most recently, he designed the sets for the Broadwaybound productions of Josephine and War of the Roses.

Costumes will be designed by two-time Tony nominee Gregory Gale, who designed several shows for Broadway including Rock of Ages, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Wedding Singer, Urinetown, and the 1995 revival of Hello, Dolly!. For Goodspeed, Gale designed the productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, High Button Shoes, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Fabulous Lipitones. Lighting design will be by Rob Denton, who served as associate designer for the Broadway productions of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Blackbird and A Delicate Balance. Hair and Wig Design will be by Mark Adam Rampmeyer, whose work has been seen at The Goodspeed in last seasons’ Anything Goes, Bye Bye Birdie, Chasing Rainbows, as well as La Cage aux Folles, Good News!, 42nd Street, and Big River to name a few. On Broadway, he designed West Side Story, Lysistrata Jones and The Farnsworth Invention. Sound Design will be by Jay Hilton, who is in his 31st season at Goodspeed.

The music director for Thoroughly Modern Millie is Michael O’Flaherty, who is in his 26th season as Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director. William J. Thomas is assistant music director. Orchestrations are provided by Dan DeLange, who has created the orchestrations for over 40 Goodspeed productions. Casting for Thoroughly Modern Millie is by Paul Hardt of StewartWhitley Casting.

Thoroughly Modern Millie will runs from April 21July 2. Curtain times are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2 p.m.), Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860873-8668), open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter @goodspeedmusicl, Instagram and YouTube.

This effervescent musical is sponsored by Chester Village West, The Shops at Mohegan Sun, and Webster Bank. Special events: Sunday Sips: Sunday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.: Includes a ticket to the show and a specialty cocktail in a souvenir cup, $51 per person.

Kids’ Nights: April 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; April 28, 8 p.m. Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regularpriced ticket on the specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a youth age 5 to 18. Meet the cast after the April 28 performance for autographs.

40 Below Tickets: April 21 - May 7: Patrons age 2140 can enjoy $25 tickets for any evening performance during the first 3 weeks of the production. Available in advance by visiting or calling The Goodspeed Box Office. Must present ID at pick-up. Not available for Season Tickets. This program is funded by The Burry Fredrik Foundation.

Mother’s Day Mom-tini: Sunday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.. Includes a ticket to the show on Mother’s Day plus Mom’s favorite specialty martini, $51 per person.

Meet the cast: Take part in a lively discussion with the cast after the Thursday evening performances on May 18 and June 1 & 15. Meet the Cast events are free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.

Lady Katharine Lunch Cruise: Wednesday, June 21. Enjoy springtime on the beautiful Connecticut River. Add a leisurely cruise and sumptuous buffet aboard the Lady Katharine to your theatre ticket for just $43. Pair an 11am lunch cruise with the 2pm performance. The ship departs from and returns to the dock at The Goodspeed in East Haddam.

Student Rush: $15 tickets with valid student ID available beginning at 10 am on any Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for that evening’s performance.

Friday Dinner Theatre Package: Includes dinner at the Gelston House (located next door to The Goodspeed) and a ticket to the 8 p.m. performance, for $89.

Dinner Discounts: Reserve tickets for a Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday evening performance and enjoy special dinner offers at local restaurants.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOODSPEED MUSICALS Taylor Quick plays Mille in Goodspeed Musicals’ new show, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” opening April 21 at the theater in East Haddam.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOODSPEED MUSICALS Taylor Quick plays the role of Mille in Goodspeed Musicals’ new show, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” opening April 21 at the theater in East Haddam.