REUNION had its world premiere under its original title, BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM, at the Norma Terris Theatre of the nationally recognized Goodspeed Opera House in May 1996, as the first show of the season and was produced by Michael P. Price, Executive Producer and Sue Frost, Associate Producer. The Norma Terris Theatre is the Goodspeed's second space, dedicated to the development of new musicals. The play was followed there by the new musical Mirette by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (creators of The Fantasticks and I Do, I Do) and the American premiere of By Jeeves, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn.
Directed by
Ron Holgate
Musical Supervision and Arrangements
by
Michael O'Flaherty
Choreography by
Karen Azenberg
Musical Direction by
Jay Atwood
Starring
Donna Lynne Champlin (Cordelia Hopewell)
David
Eric (Augustin Lovecraft)
Gary Marachek (Harry Hawk)
Sheryl McCallum (Cassie Drumwright)
Michael Moore (Tom Trudgett)
James Stovall (Hannibal Drumwright)
Stage Manager
Daniel S. Rosokoff
Set Designer
Peter Harrison
Costume Designer
Jan Finnell
Lighting Designer
Donald Holder
Orchestrator
Andrew Wilder
Producer
Michael P. Price
Associate Producer
Sue Frost
The Goodspeed Opera House, built in 1876 on the Connecticut River in East Haddam and reopened in 1963, is a national historic landmark dedicated to the heritage of musical theatre and the development of new works. Under the direction of Michael P. Price, Goodspeed produces six musicals each season, 15 of which have gone on to Broadway, receiving more than a dozen Tony Awards: Man of La Mancha (1966), Shenandoah (1974), Very Good Eddie (1975), Something's Afoot and Going Up (1976), Annie (1977), Whoopee (1979), The Five O'Clock Girl (1981), Little Johnny Jones (1982), Harrigan 'n Hart and Take Me Along (1985), Oh, Kay! (1990), The Most Happy Fella (1992) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Swinging on a Star, a 1996 Tony Award nominee for Best Musical (1995).
Goodspeed-at-Chester/The Norma Terris Theatre, opened in 1984, has fostered the development of 28 new musicals, including Das Barbecu, Annie 2, Heartbeats and Abyssinia. Goodspeed also publishes the quarterly Show Music, America's only magazine covering musical theatre around the world, and is home to the Library of Musical Theatre, an invaluable archive of musical recordings, publications and memorabilia. Goodspeed's 1996 musicals include Sweeney Todd, Paper Moon, Annie, Battle Cry of Freedom (Reunion), Mirette, and By Jeeves. Sue Frost is the Associate Producer and Warren Pincus is the Casting Director of Goodspeed.
The 26 songs in Reunion—all from the Civil War or earlier—tell the human stories of the struggle within the North for the soul of the war.
All have new arrangements by musical supervisor Michael O'Flaherty. Many of the songs are rarely heard and will be new to most ears. Those that are more familiar have been given unique treatments. And a couple of songs written in the South are included, because they were as popular in the North as they were in the South.
Full Reviews & Feature Articles
Links to complete copies of the many reviews and press features written about REUNION.
Highlights
One-page flyer with excerpts from the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, PBS, and many more reviews of past productions.
More about events in REUNION
REUNION is now licensed for performance by Samuel French, Inc. and is about to go to press. Click here to learn more.
The Meadow Brook Theatre, Michigan's largest professional theatre, has announced REUNION for its 2010-2011 season, opening February 9, 2011. Visit the Meadow Brook.
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