GOODSPEED MUSICALS CELEBRATES IT 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A CONCERT AT THE BUSHNELL

Lindsay Mendez   James Synder

Sarah Uriarte Berry                                                     

That lovely white multi-tiered wedding cake in East Haddam known as Goodspeed Musicals will celebrate its 50th Anniversary this year.  To commemorate this milestone event, a concert will be held this Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

Highlighting this musical tribute will be a bevy of tunes from the grand parade of hits over the decades.  Sit back and enjoy the songs from "Annie," "Man of La Mancha," "Brigadoon," "Finian's Rainbow," "No, No, Nanette," "42nd Street," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Mame," "On the Town," "The Fantasticks" and much more, sung by the professional talents of Sarah Uriarte Berry,  Lindsay Mendez, Quentin Earl Darrington and James Snyder.

Guest conductor Michael O'Flaherty who for more than two decades has served as Resident Musical Director for Goodspeed Musicals will hold his baton at the ready and pay tribute to the American musicals that have imprinted the Goodspeed trademark on a legacy of great shows.

You'll remember Sarah Uriarte Berry as Magnolia in Goodspeed's recent great "Show Boat," as well as Broadway and national tours that include "Beauty and the Beast," "Carousel," "Cinderella, "Les Miserables," "Next to Normal." "Sunset Boulevard" and "A Light in the Piazza" among others.

Lindsay Mendez most recently starred as Rose Fenny in the World Premiere musical "Dog Fight" at Second Stage Theatre Company, directed by Joe Mantello.  On Broadway, she appeared in "Bless The Lord" in the 2011 revival of Godspell, Everyday Rapture (Roundabout), Grease.  Off-Broadway: Everyday Rapture (Second Stage Theater Company), The Marvelous Wonderettes (West Side Theatre).  Her other credits include Love's Labour's Lost (directed by Alex Timbers), Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (TRTC), Unknown Soldier (O'Neill), Ryan Scott Oliver's 35MM (Galapagos Art Space), The Trouble with Doug (NAMT, directed by Victoria Clark), Princesses (NAMT, Goodspeed, 5th Avenue Theatre).  Lindsay can be heard in NYC singing jazz and contemporary music with her collaborator, jazz pianist Marco Paguia (www.LMandMP.com).  Together, they will make their Lincoln Center debut with the American Song Book series in the Kaplan Penthouse on March 29th, 2013. She is also a member of the League of Broadway Super Friends, a five-person band singing to benefit organizations in need. 

 Quentin Earl Darrington was Lucas in Goodspeed Musicals' production of "Abyssinia," as well as appearing on Broadway and national tours in "Memphis," "Ragtime," "The Color Purple" and "The Lion King."  As Billy Bigelow in Goodspeed's "Carousel," James Synder has also starred on Broadway in "Crybaby" in addition to "Broadway: Three Generations," "Fanny," "Happy Days," "Mama!," "Oedipus the King," "Rock of Ages," "Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes" and "The Fantasticks."

For tickets ($20-67.50, students $10, under 40 $25), conact the Hartford Symphony Orchestra at 860-244-2999 or online at www.hartfordsymphony.org.  The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m.. at the Bushnell's Mortensen Hall, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, with performers from The Hartt School Musical Theatre Department, Class of 2013, Alan Rust, Director and Michael Morris, Director of Music.  These are the same students who did a spectacular job performing at Goodspeed's Festival of New Artists in January.

Celebrate Goodspeed and the American Musical Theater in this thrilling concert that applauds Broadway and its decades of achievements.