The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Directed by Rob Ruggiero

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
South Pacific
Directed by Chay Yew

Maggie
Directed by Mary Francis Moore

A Christmas Story
The Musical

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals proudly announces its 2024 season at the Goodspeed Opera House. It will be an exciting and memorable season with stories that range from a hilarious whodunit to a holiday favorite and everything in between.

The season will open with the musical comedy whodunit, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a musical by Rupert Holmes, which will run from April 5 – June 2. Next will be the long-awaited Goodspeed premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, a Golden Age classic. With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, it is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener and will run June 14 – August 11. The fall production will be the American premiere of Maggie, the new musical, inspired by the true story of a Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her sons. This soul-stirring musical, featuring book by Johnny Reid and Matt Murray; music by Johnny Reid, Matt Murray and Bob Foster; and lyrics by Johnny Reid and Matt Murray, will run August 23 – October 20. Closing the season is a nostalgic holiday treat, A Christmas Story, The Musical, with book by Joseph Robinette and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and upon In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story, The Musical will run November 1 – December 29.

Beginning her fourth season as Goodspeed’s Artistic Director, Donna Lynn Hilton shared, "I am grateful to welcome this lineup of great musicals, and the artists who will create them expressly for our audience, to The Goodspeed. The Mystery of Edwin Drood will be right at home in our beautiful Victorian theatre and in Rob’s hands is sure to thrill; Chay Yew’s South Pacific will reveal Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic for a contemporary audience; the new musical Maggie, from a Canadian creative team, will continue our tradition of world premieres while providing the opportunity to engage in an exciting international collaboration; and A Christmas Story – well, who doesn’t love a delightful holiday romp with family and friends?!"       

Goodspeed, Connecticut’s leading producer of musicals, invites theatre fans from near and far to come and enjoy this exciting array of productions and experience all that this world-renowned theatre and its neighboring shops, restaurants and attractions have to offer. In 2024 we will offer something for everyone, so plan ahead and make it a Goodspeed day!

Season tickets for all four shows at The Goodspeed start at $116. Advance season ticket packages are on sale now through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open weekdays at 10 a.m. and weekends at 11 a.m. 2024 Goodspeed Memberships, which provide many benefits to donors, are also available now.  More information can be found at goodspeed.org.  Single tickets go on public sale beginning Feb. 11, 2024. 

A season of new musicals at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre will be announced in January 2024.

About Goodspeed Musicals

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 delight, inspire and challenge audiences on its two stages – The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and 85 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture creators and the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. The organization is supported in part by the Burry Fredrik Foundation; Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts; CT Humanities; The Hoffman Auto Group; Masonicare; The Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; The Shubert Foundation; and WSHU Public Radio. Additional support is provided by Sennheiser, the official audio sponsor; and United Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals. For more information, visit www.goodspeed.org.

More About Goodspeed Musicals 2024 Productions

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
April 5 – June 2
A Musical by Rupert Holmes
Directed by Rob Ruggiero

Who killed Edwin Drood? You decide! A troupe of Victorian performers invites you to play detective in this musical comedy whodunit packed with surprise. Your vote picks the guilty party from a lineup of suspicious Charles Dickens characters who leap off the page and into a gas-lit, gilded, giddy spectacle. No one is who they appear to be among the corrupt suspects in this cunning and clever show-within-a-show. You’ll be guessing motives, masks and murder ’til the final curtain.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC, www.concordtheatricals.com

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
South Pacific
June 14 – August 11
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener
Directed by Chay Yew

On a lush tropical island during World War II, battles of the heart are center stage in the Goodspeed premiere of the soaring Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. A lovestruck nurse and a young lieutenant are pulled into the tide of separate romances in an exotic world of risk and passion. But prejudice clouds their potential paradise. Get swept away by twin love stories and a rapturous score that includes “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” “Bali Ha’i” and more.

South Pacific is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com

Maggie
The New Musical
August 23 – October 20
Book by Johnny Reid & Matt Murray
Music by Johnny Reid, Matt Murray & Bob Foster
Lyrics by Johnny Reid & Matt Murray
Directed by Mary Francis Moore

A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bonds and changing times. After suffering the unthinkable loss of her husband, Maggie must rely on her strength, sense of humor and fiercely loyal friends to protect her family from a harsh world. Spanning over 20 years, a hardscrabble working class life blossoms with a soul-stirring pop-folk score. A generation of courageous mothers is celebrated in this rousing American premiere!

Produced by permission of the Creators and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers)

A Christmas Story, The Musical
November 1 – December 29
Book by Joseph Robinette
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and upon In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd.

Goodspeed unwraps a glittering musical version of the beloved movie classic just in time for the holidays. The only thing little Ralphie wants for Christmas is a BB gun. But to get it, he must navigate all the obstacles of the yuletide season. Will a neighborhood bully, a strict school teacher, a distracted dad and a department store Santa thwart his quest? There’s something for everyone in this hilarious love letter to Christmas past. A package of naughty and nice nostalgia to warm your winter.

Produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois