Cast, crew for ‘Oliver!’ chosen

EAST HADDAM — Theater lovers everywhere are invited to experience Goodspeed’s lively production of Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” running June 29 to Sept. 8 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam.

Charles Dickens’ beloved orphan makes his Goodspeed debut in the hope-filled musical set in the dark shadows of Victorian London. Bounced from workhouse to forced labor, Oliver Twist escapes to the streets where he meets Fagin, the Artful Dodger and a band of child pickpockets.

“Oliver!,” featuring book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, will be directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by James Gray. The show is made possible in part by Liberty Bank, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, Masonicare at Chester Village and The Shops at Mohegan Sun.

Oliver Twist will be played by Elijah Rayman. Elijah has been in productions since he was five years old, most recently in the role of Mamillius in The Winter’s Tale at New York’s Theatre for a New Audience.

The role of Fagin will be played by Donald Corren who returns to Goodspeed having previously appeared in the musical Nöel. His Broadway credits include “Souvenir” and “Torch Song Trilogy.” Off-Broadway, Corren has performed in “The Fantastics” (Jerry Orbach Theatre), “Old Jews Telling Jokes” (Westside Theatre) and “The Soap Myth” (Roundabout Black Box). Regionally, Corren has performed in numerous productions, including “The Fabulous Lipitones” (George Street Playhouse), “My Fair Lady” (The Guthrie Theatre) as well as productions at Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Arena Stage, Old Globe and many more.

Bill Sikes will be played by Brandon Andrus, who previously performed in the Goodspeed productions of “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Camelot.” Andrus was in the 2014 Broadway revival of “Side Show” and the national tours of “Jersey Boys” and “Oklahoma!” Andrus’ Off-Broadway and regional credits include “Liberty: A Monumental Musical” (42West NYC), “Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical” (Olney Theatre), “Spamalot” (Geva Theatre), “Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, A Musical” (La Mirada), “For Goodness Sake” (Musicals Tonight) and many more.

Actress EJ Zimmerman will play Nancy. Zimmerman’s musical theater credits include Broadway’s “Les Misérables,” the first national Tour of Avenue Q, Off-Broadway’s “Disenchanted!” and “Miss Saigon” at Riverside Theatre, Arvada Center and Actors’ Playhouse.

The Artful Dodger will be played by Gavin Swartz. In addition to playing Nigel in Broadway’s Matilda the Musical he has performed regionally in “Les Misérables” and in “A Christmas Story: The Musical.”

The members of the ensemble include Miranda Gelch (Bet & Charlotte), whose regional credits include “Shrek The Musical,” “The Sound of Music” (North Shore Music Theatre) and Grey Gardens (The Cape Playhouse and The Lyric Stage Company of Boston); Jordana Grolnick, who returns to Goodspeed having performed in the 2016 production of Chasing Rainbows and who was in the National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella; Richard R. Henry’s (Mr. Bumble) credits include King Louis in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame (La Jolla/Papermill Playhouse), Fiorello (City Center Encores!), Antonio in Two Gentlemen of Verona The Musical (The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park). Henry performed in the

National Tours of “Urinetown,” “Sweet Charity” and “Man of La Mancha” and as King Herod in the European Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Oliver! will be directed by Rob Ruggiero, who has directed numerous Goodspeed productions including “Rags,” “Carousel,” “Camelot,” “Show Boat,” “1776” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” He has received nuspeed’s merous awards and nominations for his regional work, including multiple Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.

Choreography will be by James Gray, whose recent Broadway credits include associate choreographer for “A Christmas Story: The Musical” and “Prince of Broadway.”

Costume design will be by Drama Desk Award nominee Alejo Vietti.

The music director is Michael O’Flaherty who is in his 27thseason as GoodFirst resident music director. His Broadway credits include By Jeeves and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

“Oliver!” will run June 29 to Sept. 8. Showtimes are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday (with select performances at 2 p.m.), 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (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.