New Musicals fest begins Jan. 18

Contributed story

EAST HADDAM — The 14th annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, produced by Goodspeed Musicals’ Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, kicks off its much-anticipated three-day festival of brand-new works on Friday, Jan. 18 at The Goodspeed.

Events begin with a staged reading of “The Peculiar Tale Of The Prince Of Bohemia” And “The Society Of Desperate Victorians.” Based on a series of short stories by Robert Louis Stevenson, this darkly hilarious musical is written by Julian Blackmore, Becca Anderson and Dan Marshall.

Saturday, Jan. 19 is highlighted by a staged reading of the heartwarming new musical “The Proxy Marriage” by Adam Gwon and Michele Lowe.

The final day of the festival features the bittersweet musical journey, “Devotion,” written by Mark Sonnenblick. Members of all three writing teams have developed works during the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed.

Additional festival events including seminars, two symposiums and exclusive cabarets to round out this exciting weekend. Single tickets are $25 for each staged reading, $15 each for students. Single show tickets and festival packages are available by calling the Goodspeed Box Office at 860873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org.

This year’s festival is sponsored in part by lead corporate sponsor RisCassi & Davis, P.C. with support from the Burry Fredrik Foundation, the Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Nöel Coward Foundation and Webster Private Bank.

Goodspeed’s ever-popular Festival Gold Package will offer patrons a weekend full of special events. The $149 package includes admission to all three staged readings; three Festival seminar sessions; two Festival Symposiums; a Saturday evening preshow dinner at either the Gelston House or La Vita; and a Meet the Writers Q&A, which will complete the weekend’s festivities. Also included in the Festival GOLD Package is admittance to either the Friday Night or Saturday Night Cabarets – informal gatherings showcasing new songs by new and established artists. A special SILVER Package highlighting the three staged readings, both Festival Symposiums and the Meet the Writers Q&A is also available for only $80.

“This winter we are thrilled to celebrate the 14th Anniversary of our Festival of New Musicals – one of the cornerstones of Goodspeed’s new works development program and the source of countless hours of discovery and entertainment for our new works audience,” said Goodspeed’s Executive Director Michael Gennaro. “The village of East Haddam will be filled with vitality and exhilaration as hundreds of musical theatre fans from across the country come together to celebrate Goodspeed and the best and brightest writers and performers in musical theatre.”

A Festival Cabaret begins at 10 p.m. at the Gelston House, featuring Doughlas Waterbury-Tieman. He is an actor, musician and writer from Lexington, KY. He graduated from Belmont University in 2012 with a BM in musical theatre performance, and has appearned in numerous Off-Broadway productions. He is also a professional fiddle player in New York City, and recently returned from playing aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship. His writing for the stage was seen at Penn State as part of their Nu Musical Theatre Summer Festival, with a staged reading of his script for Deep Water Ballad. He has also been selected to return to Goodspeed Musicals for a writing residency as he develops his new musical Johnny and the Devil's Box. Douglas is a proud collaborative member of The Lobbyists, who asked him to join their troupe after hearing him busk at Penn Station. Learn more at www.douglaswaterburytieman.com

Saturday, Jan. 19: Seminars run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and begin with “Backstage Pass to Broaway, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Gelston House and La Vita. Veteran Broadway press agent Susan L. Schulman shares true tales from her new book that turns the spotlight on what goes on behind the show curtain. Book signing to follow.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Theatre Today: Provides a deeper understanding of the industry’s latest efforts to include and encourage all people to be a part of it.

Making Things Happen: The Next Generation of Broadway Producers: A panel of future A-listers discusses how they got there, where they’re going and what they’re working on.

Career Leap: From Actor to Director: Some of our favorite directors gather to share stories about what it takes to make the transition from successful performer to sought-after director.

Singing Like the Stars : Celebrated vocal coach Liz Caplan helps everyone from Broadway hopefuls to Hugh Jackman find their best voice and keep it healthy. She’ll discuss her career and give a live demonstration of a vocal coaching.

Additional Seminar titles and schedule to be announced.

Symposium I: 3 p.m. at The Goodspeed: The Art of Adaptation: Fact to Fiction. Goodspeed Artistic Associate and dramaturg Anika Chapin is joined by a lively panel of writers to discuss the process and the pitfalls of adapting sources from history, memoir, and short story into musical theatre fiction.

Symposium II: 4 p.m. at The Goodspeed: Interview with a special guest. More information to be announced.

These events are free and open to the public.

Sunday, Jan. 20: Festival Dinner: 5:30 p.m., Gelston House or La Vita. Enjoy a three course meal with fellow festival goers.

Meet the Writers Reception: 3:30 p.m. at The Goodspeed. Gain insight into the inspirations and processes of the writers during this lively festival wrap-up discussion.

Lodging and dining information for attendees as well as up-to-date information on the weekend’s events can be found at www.goodspeed.org