Band Geeks!, the Musical, Marches Into Goodspeed's Norma Terris May 13-June 6

By Kenneth Jones
13 May 2010

Band Geeks! stars Jared Gertner and Katie Klaus
Band Geeks! stars Jared Gertner and Katie Klaus
Photo by Diane Sobolewski

In the tradition of "Glee" and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Goodspeed Musicals introduces Band Geeks!, the new musical about misfit high-schoolers in a marching band. Performances begin May 13 in Chester, CT.

Jared Gertner, who recently performed on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, plays band captain Elliott in the staging, the launch of a three-show season at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre, a space for new and emerging works (critics are not invited).

Directed by Gordon Greenberg (Happy Days, Pirates!), the musical comedy will run to June 6.

Band Geeks! features music by Mark Allen, Gaby Alter and Tommy Newman, and lyrics by Alter and Newman. The book is by Newman and Greenberg. The concept is by Newman.

Goodspeed calls it "a high-stepping tribute to high school marching bands and misfits everywhere. With just nine members and dwindling funds, the Cuyahoga High Marching Beavers are close to extinction. When a troubled athlete is relegated to their ranks, tuba-playing band captain Elliott and his best friend Laura must find a way to unite the band, embrace their inner geek and save the Marching Beavers."

The cast includes Katie Klaus (Broadway's A Catered Affair, Inherit the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin') as Laura; Michael Winther (Broadway's Mamma Mia! and the revivals of 1776 and Damn Yankees) as Mr. Hornsby; Jill Abramovitz (Broadway's 9 to 5 and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) as Ms. Dixon; Tommar Wilson (Broadway's Hair, Lestat, Never Gonna Dance, Hairspray, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the 2000 revival of The Music Man) as Jake; F. Michael Haynie as Spitz; Patti Murin (Broadway's Xanadu) as Nicole; Ruthie Ann Miles as Molly; Nkrumah Gatling as Kyle; Michael Millan as Alvin; Jacey Powers as Natalia; and Matt Braver as Stewart.

Denis Jones, associate choreographer for Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde, choreographs the production.

The creative team includes Tony-nominated set designer Anna Louizos; Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes; lighting designer Jeff Croiter; and music director David Loud.

Band Geeks! is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

For information, visit www.goodspeed.org.