‘Deathless’ comes to life at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre

CHESTER >> Goodspeed Musicals’ new musical “Deathless” features a “Twilight Zone” premise and a fictional family named Serling. Which means we’re inclined to like it already.

The new Zack Zadek-written production premieres Friday at The Terris Theatre, the developmental theater where storied Goodspeed lets promising new shows find their sea legs for journeys to Broadway and other destinations.

The plot? It’s the not-too-distant future where no one dies. The Serling family is off on their annual road trip to Niagara Falls, except this time they’re saying goodbye to mom and pondering life’s big questions — amid funny moments and music.

“Deathless” was the recipient of the Weston Playhouse’s 2017 New Musical Award, developed at Theatreworks Silicon Valley and the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. But now it’s full-production go time, with direction by Tina Landau and a cast and crew of young and older professionals.

Tony Award nominee Jennifer Damiano plays Hayley Serling, who faces questions of life and death on the journey. Sean Alan Krill as Kevin Serling (no, not Rod Serling), Kelli Barrett as Samantha Serling and Jessica Phillips as Michelle Serling all have Broadway shows on their résumés. Connecticut-born Johnny Shea plays Justin Lartney.

Scenic design will be by Broadway veteran Dane Laffrey and lighting design will be by Scott Zielinski, who has lit about 300 productions throughout the world, including the Broadway production of “Topdog/Underdog.” Orchestrations are by Justin

Goldner and Zadek. Goldner is a music producer, arranger, band leader and session musician; he’s also the house bassist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

So there’s plenty of talent here, as usual, including Music Director Julie McBride, who worked on the entertaining “These Paper Bullets,” which had its premiere run at the Yale Rep.

Curtain times are Wednesdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets ($54-$59) are available through the Goodspeed box office at 860-873-8668, open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIEN BROOM From left, Jessica Phillips, Kelli Barrett, Jennifer Damiano, Johnny Shea and Sean Allan Krill in Goodspeed’s “Deathless.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIEN BROOM Johnny Shea, Sean Allan Krill, Jessica Phillips, Jennifer Damiano and Kelli Barrett star in “Deathless.”