Scott Schwartz, one of the busiest directors on the East Coast in recent seasons, stages the revised version of the Noel Gay British hit about a Cockney lad, Bill Snibsen, who is black-sheep heir to an earl's title and fortune — and all the relations and money-grubbers that entails.
Press opening is May 28. Performances continue to July 5.
Schwartz staged Off-Broadway's Bat Boy, tick, tick...BOOM!, co-directed Broadway's Jane Eyre and will helm a national tour of Hair later in the year. Christopher Gattelli, winner of the 2001 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreography for Bat Boy: The Musical, choreographs.
Me and My Girl was a frivolous 1937 London musical comedy that was revised and revived in London in the early 1980s before coming to Broadway as the breath of fresh air that opened the new Marquis Theatre. Book revisions were by Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent. The original show has music by Noel Gay and book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Farber. The show's score includes "Leaning on a Lamppost," "The Lambeth Walk," "Me and My Girl," "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" and more. London and Broadway cast albums were recorded.
Song and dance man Robert Lindsay won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Actor (Musical) playing the quirky handsome Bill, and Maryann Plunkett won Best Actress (Musical). It was the Broadway debut of the old show, so its book and score were also Tony-nommed. Hunter Bell was seen last season in Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre. Becky Watson performed the role of Madeline on Broadway in Alan Ayckbourn and Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves. Recently, she originated the role of Cassie in the world premiere of I'll Be Seeing You at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
M'el Dowd, recently seen at Goodspeed in A Little Night Music, will play Maria, Duchess of Dene. The role of The Hon. Gerald Bolingbrooke is played by Ian Knauer (Broadway's By Jeeves and State Fair with John Davidson). Ron Wisniski, of Goodspeed's Bells are Ringing, Annie, Finian's Rainbow and Gotham!, plays Herbert Parchester.
Bob Dorian, a personality from AMC cable network, makes his Goodspeed debut in the role of Sir John Tremayne. Stephen Temperley, who appeared in the original company of Crazy for You, plays Charles Hethersett, The Butler. Man-eater Lady Jacqueline Carstone is played by Michele Ragusa (Broadway's Urinetown and Ragtime).
The cast of 20 also includes Ken Alan, Todd Anderson, Scott Barnhardt, Sara Braslow, George Cavey, Tammy Colucci, Peter Cormican, Christianne Davis, Margot De La Barre, Warren Freeman, Marci Reid and Marian Steiner.
The musical director for Me and My Girl is Michael O'Flaherty. Designers are Anna Louizos (set), David C. Woolard (costume) and Jeff Croiter (lighting).
Me and My Girl is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.
Tickets range $22-$51. For information about Goodspeed Musicals, which operates the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, and the developmental space, The Norma Terris Theatre, in Chester, CT, call (860) 873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.
