Goodspeed Opera House

The Goodspeed Opera House is located in East Haddam, Connecticut and has been in operation since 1959. The theatre has received international acclaim and is dedicated to " the preservation and advancement of musical theatre and the development of new works to add to the repertoire." In addition to performing classic shows, the theatre considers itself at the forefront of shaping the future of musical theatre. In addition to the opera house, Goodspeed develops new musicals and musical artists at the Nora Terris Theatre. Each year the theatre produces three musicals at the opera house. Nineteen of the original productions have moved onto Broadway, wining more than a dozen Tony Awards. The Opera House building was built in 1876 by William Goodspeed and served as his banking and shipping business headquarters. It was also intended to serve as a venue for his love of theatre. The first shows at the theatre was in 1877 and was a performance of Charles II and the farces Box and Cox and Turn Him Out. Following Goodspeed's death, the opera house served as a general store and a storage depot before being restored to a theatre and then dedicated in 1963. The theatre offers group sales and special discounts. Past products have included Annie Get Your Gun, Band Geeks!, Fifth Annual Festival of New Artists, Radio Girl, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and James and the Giant Peach.