By Kenneth Jones
21 Oct 2004

Wendy Wasserstein
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Goodspeed Musicals will stage three musicals — Pamela's First Musical, The Flight of the Lawnchair Man, and a rethinking of Michel Legrand's Amour — in its 2005 developmental season at the Norma Terris Theatre.

Launched in 1984 for the development of new musicals, Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, is not open to critics, who might spoil the delicate process of fine tuning a work in progress.

The Flight of the Lawnchair Man plays May 19 June 12, 2005; the French fairy tale, Amour plays Aug. 4-28, 2005; and Pamela's First Musical runs Nov. 3-27, 2005. All three musicals have plans developing for productions beyond the Norma Terris, Playbill On-Line learned.

The Flight of the Lawnchair Man was originally part of the new musical 3hree, which premiered at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia. Lawnchair Man was directed by Harold Prince. 3hree was subsequently produced at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, also with Harold Prince as the director of Lawnchair Man. The one-act has been expanded to a full-length piece.

Recently, The Flight of the Lawnchair Man was seen in an excerpted form in a presentation at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 16th Annual Festival of New Musicals in October 2004.

The musical, based on a true story, is about Jerry Gorman, "a regular guy from New Jersey who just wants to fly," according to Goodspeed. "The neighbors think he's nuts. His mother disapproves. But Gracie believes in him. Laugh and cheer when Jerry soars to 16,000 feet with nothing but a lawnchair and helium balloons. A new musical to remind the world that the sky is free and dreams can come true if only you believe in yourself."

The comic new musical has a book by Peter Ullian, with music, lyrics and conception by Robert Lindsey Nassif (Opal, Honky-Tonk Highway). Lynne Taylor Corbett will direct and choreograph.

Goodspeed will present a "reconceived" production of the Broadway musical Amour, with libretto by novelist Didier van Cauwelaert, English lyrics by Jeremy Sams and music by Michel Legrand. The "through-sung" show was a Tony-nominated oddity that had many fans but not a long run on Broadway in fall 2002. The staging spawned a cast album.

A director and choreographer for this production will be announced at a later date. "Set in 1950s Paris, an unassuming civil servant finds he has the uncanny ability to walk through walls. With this magical discovery, he finally summons the courage to confess his feelings to his beautiful love-from-afar. Meanwhile, her husband has different plans for him. But how do you lock up a man who can simply slip away? A whimsical tale to buoy your spirits."

Sams wrote the book to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, coming to Broadway in 2005. Legrand has composed many memorable motion picture scores including "The Thomas Crown Affair," "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," "The Young Girls of Rochefort," "The G-Between," "Ice Station Zebra," "Forty Carats," "The Three Musketeers," "Summer of '42" and others.

Borrowing from her illustrated children's book of the same name, Wendy Wasserstein penned the new musical, Pamela's First Musical, which has music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by David Zippel (who wrote the songs for City of Angels).

"Pamela's birthday wish comes true when glamorous Aunt Louise whisks her away to see the biggest hit Broadway musical ever. First stop: dress-up. Next stop: The Russian Tea Room. And then — on to the show! Whether being enraptured by the song-and-dance numbers or meeting everyone backstage, Pamela will remember this special night long after the curtain falls. Anyone who has ever been to a musical is sure to share the excitement when the lights go down and the orchestra starts to play."

Graciela Daniele will direct and choreograph Pamela's First Musical.

Subscriptions to The Norma Terris Theatre will be available for sale in early January 2005. Single tickets will go on sale in March 2005.

"Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, producing six musicals each season at the historic Goodspeed Opera House and The Norma Terris Theatre, opened in Chester, CT, in 1984 for the development of new musicals. In addition to its onstage productions, Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre."

For more information, visit www.goodspeed.org.