PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at Goodspeed with the Fun-Loving Cast of Good News!Goodspeed's new adaptation of the Jazz Age musical Good News!, about college romance, football and a certain dance called "The Varsity Drag," plays the historic Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Max Perlman snapped photos over the course of the week, showing the boys and girls at work and play in the scenic town.
By
Matthew Blank
May 29, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at Goodspeed with the Fun-Loving Cast of Good News!
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at Goodspeed with the Fun-Loving Cast of Good News!
Goodspeed's new adaptation of the Jazz Age musical Good News!, about college romance, football and a certain dance called "The Varsity Drag," plays the historic Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Max Perlman snapped photos over the course of the week, showing the boys and girls at work and play in the scenic town. Read the Playbill.com story.
82 PHOTOS
Photog extraordinaire Max Perlman with his twin brother Marc Perlman.
Max Perlman
Chelsea Morgan Stock is a real knockout offstage too. Here she leads a workout with Ross Lekites and Jessi Trauth.
Max Perlman
Morning Coffee with Noel Coward or Graham Keen...
Max Perlman
Everyone's favorite photo op (Andrew Roubal and Vaden Thurgood can't resist)
Max Perlman
Andrew Roubal and Lucas Thompson arrive for another two-show day
It's not a stretch to imagine Vaden Thurgood handspringing his way to Broadway
Max Perlman
Best Birthday gift is employment - or a pinata, take your pick (Lauren Sprague, Lindsay O'Neil and the great Riccucci)
Max Perlman
Before, During, After
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Dance Captain Drew Nellessen lowers the boom
Max Perlman
Preshow or Vogue shoot, Zurin Villanueva is always camera ready
Max Perlman
Never underestimate an agent's power. Well done (Beth Glover and Chelsea Morgan Stock)
Max Perlman
No Dressers, no clean drawers. Thank You Leandra Watson and Elizabeth Lovely
Max Perlman
I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way (Tessa Faye)
Max Perlman
Suiting up (Vaden Thurgood and Leandra Watson)
Max Perlman
Vic the Viking photobombs once again!
Max Perlman
The highly caffeinated captain of the Tait Football team Ross Lekites is ready to take the stage
Max Perlman
Pre-show pep talk from Pooch, Max Perlman
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All for one and one for... PLACES!
Max Perlman
Isn't it time for a little Good News!
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Veteran character actor Mark Zimmerman shares tricks of the trade with newbie Ross Lekites
Max Perlman
Dinner Break Choreography is essential to a happy home
Max Perlman
It's dinner time!
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Hi Ho Hi Ho
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John Scacchetti and friends
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The hostess with the mostest chooses her winning wines (Jessi Trauth)
Max Perlman
A working actor economizes (Myles McHale, Jessi Trauth, John Scacchetti)
Max Perlman
Jessi, Myles and John
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Making the stage right trek...so many stairs (Juliane Godfrey, Andrew Roubal)
Max Perlman
Around here reservations are required for the Equity cot (Barry Shafrin)
Max Perlman
But some take to improvising the between show nap (Mark Zimmerman, Andrew Roubal)
Max Perlman
Perfection doesnt need reflection (Andrew Roubal suits up)
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Tait College Vikings circa 1927
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The mascot has to wait his turn too (Graham Keen and Myles McHale)
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Huddle up for show two
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Beyond adorable. Now get off my cot!
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Swings Lucas Thompson and Jessica Jaros rule the green room
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Once they Drag themselves off the couch...Its nothing but a Varsity Drag (Jessica Jaros and Lucas Thompson)
Max Perlman
Getting a leg up on their castmates
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We love visitors! Hello, Dolly's Greg Dassonville swings by to cheer on Graham Keen
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Post show refreshments with the hubby at the Gelston (Lauren Sprague and Michael Linger)
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Family Day at Good News!, Juliane Godfrey and her biggest fan
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More 'rents! Jessi Trauth and Mom & Dad Claire and Rick Trauth
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The happy hostesses of house H. Now I know why everyone says the Artist Village looks like Wisteria Lane.
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You can keep the cream in your coffee, we've got wine (Kate Marilley and Lauren Sprague)
Max Perlman
Just Imagine... if we had more wine! (Lindsay O'Neil and Juliane Godfrey)
Max Perlman
Wine Tasting hostess Jessi Trauth makes another house call!
Max Perlman
Beth Glover says the best things in life are free, especially when it's complimentary wine.
Max Perlman
Day Two: Every out of town actor needs their one-stop-shopping fix. Go shopping with Barry Shafrin and Tessa Faye.
Max Perlman
Unless there's a BIG sale happening and quantities are limited
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An actress prepares, an actor despairs
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'Well maybe just this one powder' Barry Shafrin and Tessa Faye.
Max Perlman
Don't be shady, be a lady (Barry Shafrin DOES do a turn in drag during the show...
Max Perlman
Diamonds are a girl's best friend OFFSTAGE but... these top every actress' must have list, right Tessa Faye?
Max Perlman
In an hysterical panic to hydrate, Tessa Faye grabs one too many Mucinex
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Not with my Walgreens card, Shafrin!
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One large bottle, two parched performers
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BFFs take matters into their own hands
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Finis
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A quick roadtrip to Devils Hopyard (John Scacchetti, Lucas Thompson, Graham Keen)
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I got the whole world..
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Couldn't keep my Sunny Side Up
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Everybody say cheese!
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You can take John Scacchetti out of Ohio but...
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Any J Crew scouts out there?
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Just the boys now!
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A little picnic with the cast - remember BYO Junkfood
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Are they smize-ing, Tyra?
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Back at the Big House our co-eds frolic before the show
Max Perlman
When you're a Viking, you're a Viking...
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Actors Only Beyond This Point! (Andrew Roubal, Juliane Godfrey)
Max Perlman
The Best Things in Life are Free but gettin paid for a commercial spot ... priceless
Max Perlman
Ever chipper 'Sylvester' has a dark moment. I guess a 5-show weekend can wear on even the happiest frosh
Max Perlman
Beauty and Brains, the ladies rule Tait College Conservatory (Chelsea Morgan Stock and Beth Glover)
Max Perlman
Brains AND Brawn - Coach Mark Zimmerman does the NYT crossword... in ink!
Max Perlman
The gals of Pi Beta Phi pose between scenes (Clockwise: Tessa Faye, Zurin Villanueva, Lindsay O'Neil, Jessi Trauth, Juliane Godfrey, Kate Marilley and Lauren Sprague)
Max Perlman
Barry suiting up
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No hazing allowed in the dressing rooms, boys!
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Homesick for the city, John Scacchetti can't get enough of Subway Surf
Max Perlman
The sign says 'All You Can Eat'
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How low can you go? Professor Kenyen schools the boys! (Andrew Roubal, Beth Glover and Graham Keen)
Max Perlman
Happy Days crammed halls
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Vaden Thurgood, Andrew Roubal, John Scacchetti and Drew Nellessen waiting in the wings. Come on out and see us at Goodspeed!
Jeremy Desmon (Goodspeed's The Girl in the Frame) penned the new script based on the 1927 original by Laurence Schwab, Frank Mandel and B.G. DeSylva and a 1974 revised revival that played Broadway. The songs are by Ray Henderson, B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown.
One number from the the songwriters' catalog — "If You Haven't Got Love" — has been added to the score, Playbill.com previously learned. In addition to "The Varsity Drag," the most famous song from the original score is "The Best Things in Life Are Free." The '74 version added hits like "You're the Cream in My Coffee," "Button Up Your Overcoat" and "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," to be heard this time around, too. Performances continue through June 22 at Goodspeed Opera House. This launches the 50th season of Goodspeed Musicals, the two-time Tony Award-winning not-for-profit.
Here's Good News in a nutshell: "Anticipation builds on the Tait College campus as game day approaches but the football hero must first pass a big exam in order to play. When he unexpectedly falls for his tutor, romance blooms and hijinks ensue."
Desmon's The Girl in the Frame has been seen in more than a dozen productions, including at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in 2005. As a librettist, he won the Edward Kleban Prize. His musical Pump Up The Volume, an adaptation of the 1990 film, has been developed at Goodspeed Musicals and The Human Race Theatre.
Good News! also features new dance arrangements by Broadway, television and film composer-arranger David Krane. Krane has composed dance music and arrangements for 29 Broadway shows, including 110 in the Shade, La Cage aux Folles, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma!, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Music Man, Big, Ragtime, Victor/Victoria and Damn Yankees. Krane also provided orchestrations for Goodspeed's The Great American Backstage Musical (1982) and High Button Shoes.
The complete cast of Good News! includes Beth Glover as Professor Kenyon, Mark Zimmerman as Coach Bill Johnson, Ross Lekites as Tom Marlowe, Chelsea Morgan Stock (Broadway's Sister Act, The Little Mermaid) as Connie Lane, Max Perlman as Pooch Kearney, Barry Shafrin as Bobby Randall, Tessa Faye as Babe O'Day, Myles J. McHale as Beef Saunders and Lindsay O'Neil as Pat, with Juliane Godfrey, Graham Keen, Kate Marilley, Drew Nellessen, Andrew Roubal, John Scacchetti, Lauren Sprague, Vaden Thurgood, Jessi Trauth and Zurin Villanueva. The swings are Jessica Jaros and Lucas Thompson.
Good News! is directed and choreographed by Vince Pesce, who choreographed Goodspeed's Mame and directed and choreographed Something's Afoot. Pesce was associate choreographer of Broadway's Anything Goes, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town and Little Shop of Horrors.
The creative team includes scenic designer Court Watson, costume designer Tracy Christensen, lighting designer Charlie Morrison and sound designer Jay Hilton, plus music director Michael O'Flaherty, assistant music director William J. Thomas and orchestrator Dan DeLange.
Good News! is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.
The Max Martin musical features a number of his most beloved songs, including “…Baby One More Time,” “Roar,” “Since U Been Gone,” “It’s My Life,” “I Want It That Way,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” and more.
