Sara in Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/14278

Gettelfinger, Osborne, Peterson, et al. Set for Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence
By: Brian Scott Lipton · Jun 17, 2008 · Connecticut

Full cast and creative team have been announced for the Goodspeed Opera House's production of the David Heneker-Beverley Cross musical Half a Sixpence, to run July 11-September 19. The production, which opens officially on August 6, will be directed by Gordon Greenberg, with choreography by Patti Colombo.
The show will star Jon Peterson as Arthur Kipps, Sara Gettelfinger as Ann, Julia Osborne as Helen, Jeff Skowron as Chitterlow, James Judy as Mr. Shalford, Donna English as Mrs. Walsingham, and Carrington Vilmont as Young Walsingham.

Members of the ensemble are Adriene Couvillion, Desireé Davar, Danny Gardner, Cameron Henderson, Elise Kinnon, Peter Leskowicz, Kate Marilley, Caroline Massage, Cheryl McMahon, Rod Roberts, Eric Shorey, Colby Q. Lindeman, and Katie Warner Johnson.

The creative team includes Rob Bissinger (sets), David C. Woolard (costumes), Jeff Croiter (lighting), Michael O'Flaherty (music direction), and Dan DeLange (orchestrations).

For more information, call 860-873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.

Info about the show

http://www.goodspeed.org/show_detail.aspx?id=634#
A bouncy, romantic, musical that will leave you laughing and wanting more. Enjoy the antics of young Arthur Kipps - a Cockney shop clerk who inherits a fortune, flirts with “society”, loses his money and winds up happier without it. Chock full of lively dancing and memorable tunes: Party’s on the House, If the Rain’s Got to Fall, Flash Bang Wallop and more. Perfect for the entire family, it’s sure to be the biggest bloomin’ hit of the summer!

To purchase tickets:
https://www.goodspeed.org/peo/
Ticket prices range from $26-$70.

http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=29045
Goodspeed Announces Cast of 'Half a Sixpence'

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, announces the cast of HALF A SIXPENCE, a delightful musical comedy which promises to be fun for the whole family. HALF A SIXPENCE will run July 11 through September 19, 2008, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.

HALF A SIXPENCE, the summer production at the Goodspeed Opera House, is a bouncy, romantic musical that will leave you laughing and wanting more. Enjoy the antics of young Arthur Kipps - a Cockney shop clerk who inherits a fortune, flirts with "society," loses his money and winds up happier without it. Chock full of lively dancing and memorable tunes: "Party's on the House," " If the Rain's Got to Fall," "Flash Bang Wallop," and more. Perfect for the entire family, it's sure to be the biggest bloomin' hit of the summer!

HALF A SIXPENCE, known for its show-stopping production numbers, features Music and Lyrics by David Heneker and Book by Beverley Cross. The musical is based on the novel "Kipps" by H.G. Wells. Following its successful London run at the Cambridge Theatre from 1963 to 1965, Half a Sixpence premiered on Broadway on April 25, 1965, at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 512 performances.

Making his Goodspeed Musicals debut is Jon Peterson who will be playing the lovable Arthur Kipps. Mr. Peterson appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret. In addition to his regional credits Peterson has numerous National Tour and West End credits including The Sound of Music with Petula Clarke, A Chorus Line, Dames at Sea, and Cats. Mr. Peterson was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2006 for his performance in George M. Cohan Tonight!. Sara Gettelfinger, whose Broadway credits include Seussical, Nine, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will play Ann. Helen will be played by Julia Osborne who returns to Goodspeed where audiences may remember her as Edith in Pirates of Penzance, a role she reprised at Paper Mill Playhouse. Jeff Skowron will make his Goodspeed Musicals debut as Chitterlow. Mr. Skowron's Broadway credits include Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, High Society, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. James Judy, who played Finian in Goodspeed Musicals' Finian's Rainbow, will play Mr. Shalford. Judy's Broadway credits include Into the Woods and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Goodspeed audience favorite Donna English returns to delight as the privileged Mrs. Walsingham. Ms. English's Goodspeed Opera House credits include On The Town, On the Twentieth Century and They All Laughed, and Princesses and The Gig at The Norma Terris Theatre. Carrington Vilmont, who has played numerous roles in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, will make his Goodspeed debut as Young Walsingham.

Members of the ensemble are Adriene Couvillion, who was last seen in Goodspeed's Li'l Abner, as Laura; Desireé Davar; Danny Gardner, who returns to Goodspeed Musicals where he previously performed in

High Button Shoes and Singin' in the Rain, as Sid; Wes Hart as Pearce; Cameron Henderson as Buggins;

Elise Kinnon, who is currently appearing in the Goodspeed Musicals production of Happy Days: A New Musical; Peter Leskowicz; Kate Marilley who last performed on the Opera House stage in L'il Abner ; Caroline Massagee; Cheryl McMahon, who returns to Goodspeed having entertained audiences last summer in High Button Shoes, as Mrs. Botting; Rod Roberts as Carshot; and Eric Shorey. The male swing will be Colby Q. Lindeman who performed in Goodspeed Musicals' 2007 season production High Button Shoes and the female swing will be Katie Warner Johnson.

Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence will be directed by Gordon Greenberg of Goodspeed's Happy Days: A New Musical, Pirates of Penzance, and last year's hit production of Happy Days at the Norma Terris Theatre. Mr. Greenberg's other Goodspeed credits include The Baker's Wife and O. Henry's Lovers. Greenberg directed the current off-Broadway revival of Jacques Brel... (Zipper Theatre), Theory of Three (NY Stage and Film), Immaculate Misconception (Hampstead New End Theatre, London), and the National Tour of Peter Pan. The choreographer will be Patti Colombo who choreographed the Goodspeed Musicals audience favorite Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Ms. Colombo choreographed the Broadway revival of Peter Pan and the Seussical National Tour. Sets will be designed by Rob Bissinger whose Broadway credits include Assistant Scenic design for Legally Blonde, Hairspray and Thoroughly Modern Millie and Associate Scenic design for All Shook Up. Mr. Bissinger returns to Goodspeed Musicals where he previously designed Pirates of Penzance in 2006. Costumes will be designed by David C. Woolard. His work includes the costume designs for Goodspeed Musicals' Happy Days, Pirates of Penzance, The 60's Project, Redhead, and All Shook Up (Goodspeed Musicals and Broadway). Mr. Woolard's designs for Broadway include The Who's Tommy, revivals of Damn Yankees and Bells Are Ringing, and the recent The Farnsworth Invention. Lighting Design will be by Jeff Croiter whose previous designs for Goodspeed include Happy Days, Pirates of Penzance, and The Baker's Wife.

Music Direction will be by Michael O'Flaherty. He is in his 17th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. F. Wade Russo of Goodspeed's The Boy Friend, Mack & Mabel, Call Me Madam, Singin' in the Rain and Associate Conductor and keyboardist for Broadway's By Jeeves, is Assistant Music Director. Orchestrations will be by Dan DeLange, who provided the orchestrations for Goodspeed Musicals' The Boy Friend, Red Hot and Blue, Call Me Madam, Babes in Arms, Singin' in the Rain, and High Button Shoes. The Dance Arrangments will be by Gregory M. Brown. Half a Sixpence is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

HALF A SIXPENCE will run July 11 through September 19, 2008 [Official Press Opening August 6, 2008]. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).Tickets are on sale now through the Goodspeed Box Office at 860.873.8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org.

Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The only regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of American Airlines, official airline of Goodspeed Musicals; additional support from Blum Shapiro; Hoffman Lexus; Mohegan Sun; Henkel Adhesives Technologies; Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C.; and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118795.html
Gettelfinger, English, Judy, Osborne to Star in Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence, Starting July 11
By Kenneth Jones
18 Jun 2008


Sara Gettelfinger
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Broadway's Sara Gettelfinger is among the performers announced for Goodspeed Musicals' new production of Half a Sixpence, inspired by an H.G. Wells novel, playing July 11-Sept. 19 at Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT.

The tale of a Cockney lad named Arthur Kipps, who wins a fortune and loses his girl because of it, features music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. The musical comedy was a vehicle for toothy Tommy Steele in London, on Broadway and in a film version. The score is known for its boisterous uptempo numbers and "If The Rain's Got to Fall." Gordon Greenberg (Happy Days, Pirates of Penzance) directs. Opening is Aug. 6.

Joining the already announced Jon Peterson (a Drama Desk Award nominee for his work in George M. Cohan Tonight!) as Kipps, will be Gettelfinger (Broadway's Seussical, Nine and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Ann; Julia Osborne as Helen; Jeff Skowron as Chitterlow; James Judy as Mr. Shalford; Donna English as rich Mrs. Walsingham; Carrington Vilmont as Young Walsingham; Adriene Couvillion as Laura; Desireé Davar; Danny Gardner as Sid; Wes Hart as Pearce; Cameron Henderson as Buggins; Elise Kinnon; Peter Leskowicz; Kate Marilley; Caroline Massagee; Cheryl McMahon as Mrs. Botting; Rod Roberts as Carshot; and Eric Shorey. The male swing will be Colby Q. Lindeman, and the female swing will be Katie Warner Johnson.

Patti Colombo (the recent Cathy Rigby productions of Peter Pan) will choreograph. The creative team also includes set designer Rob Bissinger, costume designer David C. Woolard, lighting designer Jeff Croiter, music director Michael O'Flaherty, assistant music director F. Wade Russo, orchestrator Dan DeLange and dance arranger Gregory M. Brown. Half a Sixpence is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Goodspeed bills the story this way: "The story of Arthur Kipps, a young man working in a small London shop as a draper's assistant who unexpectedly inherits a fortune. As he climbs up the social ladder, Kipps discovers romance and excitement before losing everything and realizing that although you can't buy happiness, true love is priceless."

For tickets call (860) 873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.

Thx Regi for the info!!
it's great to see our Broadway baby :lol: on stage again :lol:

for Sara!!!!

yeah i'm really excited for Sara. I plan on going to at least one of the performances sometime in late July. I can't wait.

If you go to the Goodspeed Opera House's website, there is a commercial... just click here :cheer:

http://www.goodspeed.org./shows_more.aspx?id=948

Good luck to Sara & the rest of the cast on the first performance of this show tonight!

A review of the show: :cheer:
http://www.openmindgroup.com/randommusings/?p=92

Article from Playbill.com

British Musical Comedy Half a Sixpence Opens at Goodspeed Aug. 6


Jon Peterson and Sara Gettelfinger

[...]
The tale of a Cockney lad named Arthur Kipps (played by Jon Peterson, a Drama Desk Award nominee for George M. Cohan Tonight!), who wins a fortune and loses his girl Ann (played by Sara Gettelfinger) because of it, features music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross.

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=b84c4f7f-262c-4d22-8e4a-5be8ba409707

Dazzling Dance Enriches 'Sixpence'


By Kristina Dorsey Published on 8/19/2008

Sad but true: good choreography can be taken for granted. You see a musical, you talk about a powerhouse performance or a raise-the-roof song or, heck, even the lavish costumes.

When you see the choreography of Patti Colombo in “Half a Sixpence,” its genius simply can't be ignored.

Goodspeed audiences experienced Colombo's thrilling work before, in 2005's “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” She is back with “Half a Sixpence,” and her invigorating, clever choreography jumps, shall we say, off the stage. The production numbers, from “Flash Bang Wallop” to “Money to Burn,” snap with an irresistible combination of grace, athleticism and inventiveness.

She punctuates the pieces with interesting bits of business. In a pub sequence, dancers use beer steins as percussion, clicking them together and even on the floor. In another scene, world-view dance styles - the French can-can, traditional Russian moves - are woven into the production number.

Colombo has an amazing ability to use skillfully the Goodspeed Opera House's small stage. No matter how crowded the stage or expansive the moves, she coordinates it easily, and the brilliant group of dancers perform it all with agility.

In addition to Colombo, “Half a Sixpence” boasts another one of those “oh, good, THEY'RE part of this show” names: director Gordon Greenberg. He helmed the wildly successful reimagining of “Pirates of Penzance” at Goodspeed, as well as the show that was on the Goodspeed mainstage before “Sixpence”: the musical based on the TV series “Happy Days.”

With “Sixpence,” he captures the turn-of-the-century era in London while keeping things dynamic and fresh.

The book by Beverly Cross for “Half a Sixpence,” on the other hand, is rather staid. You know where the story is going, and it gets there without too many flourishes or witty surprises along the way. A shop clerk inherits a fortune and lets the money go to his head. He ends up with a wealthy fiancee, although he can't quite forget his working-class gal. No real subplots exist to provide a counterpoint.

Part of that might have to do with the fact that “Sixpence” was created back in the 1960s (based on an H.G. Wells novel) as a star vehicle for British performer Tommy Steele. Taking on that central role of Arthur Kipps at Goodpseed is Jon Peterson, who throws himself into the role with bright-eyed enthusiasm. He's got a quirky edge and a shock of perpetually surprised hair.

As Kipps' girlfriend, Sara Gettelfinger gives a more serious performance than one would usually anticipate in a musical comedy and sings with a lovely, rich tone, especially on the ballad “I Know What I Am,” which is one of the strongest songs in the score by David Heneker.

And because this is a class-status comedy, the snooty rich are present and accounted for. Donna English, Julia Osborne and Carrington Vilmont play them with the perfect clipped pronunciation and haughty attitude.