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Justin Bohon, Kathy Fitzgerald to Star in Goodspeed's Emmet Otter, With Howard, Bahorek, Barnhart
By Kenneth Jones
04 Nov 2009
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Justin Bohon
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| photo by Joan Marcus | Casting has been announced for the 2009 holiday engagement of Goodspeed Musicals' Jim Henson's Emmet Otter, a Christmas musical with human and puppet characters, to start Dec. 5 at Goodspeed Opera House. Jennifer Barnhart, a puppeteer from Avenue Q, is among the troupers.
The is the second consecutive year for the show, which Goodspeed hopes will become a long yuletide tradition.
Broadway's Justin Bohon, whose Broadway credits include playing Will Parker in the most recent Oklahoma!, will play Emmet. He is a Theater World and Fred Astaire Award winner, and a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominee.
According to the two-time Tony Award-winning not-for-profit in East Haddam, CT, "As Christmas approaches the world of Frogtown Hollow, Emmet Otter and his Ma can only dream of buying each other gifts. So when a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, both secretly enter hoping to win the prize money. In a heartwarming twist on 'The Gift of the Magi,' Emmet and Ma risk all they have and end up with the greatest grand prize of all. Featuring a lovable mix of actors and puppet characters from The Jim Henson Company, and a toe-tapping score, it’s a classic holiday musical for all ages!"
The musical is based on the book "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" by Russell and Lillian Hoban and the ground-breaking all-puppet HBO special of the same name produced and directed by Jim Henson and written by Jerry Juhl.
This production is a collaboration among Goodspeed Musicals, co-book writers Timothy A. McDonald of iTheatrics and Christopher Gattelli, Paul Williams, who contributed the music and lyrics, and The Jim Henson Company.
Emmet Otter will run Dec. 5, 2009, through Jan. 3, 2010, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Opening night is Dec, 16.
Broadway's Kathy Fitzgerald (Roz in 9 to 5, Outer Critics Circle nomination) will play Ma. Connecticut native Meg Guzulescu, who recently appeared in Broadway's Billy Elliot, will play Jane.
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Jennifer Barnhart
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| photo by Aubrey Reuben |
The company will also include Stephen Bienskie as both Russ and Stan Weasel; Leo Daignault as Doc Bull Frog and Chuck Stoat; Lisa Howard will reprise her role as Mrs. Gretchen Fox; puppeteer Anney Ozar, returns as Old Lady Possum; puppeteer James Silson returns as Howard Snake; puppeteer and puppet captain David Stephens will once again play the banjo pickin' Yancy Woodchuck as well as Fred Lizard and Pa Otter; Jill Abramovitz as Mrs. Mink and Hetty Muskrat; Stanley Bahorek as Charlie Muskrat; Scott Barnhardt as Wendell Porcupine; Outer Critics Circle Award winner Jennifer Barnhart, who joins Goodspeed direct from her six year run in Broadway's Avenue Q, will play Mme. Squirrel; Thomas Cannizzaro as Mayor Fox; Matt Furtado as Harvey Beaver. The swings will be Jessica Elovsson and Craig Glenn Foster.
McDonald (book) is an educator and playwright (Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley). He is the founding chairman of the New York based educational musical theatre consulting firm iTheatrics, which partnered with The Jim Henson Company for the initial development of the musical stage version of "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas."
Christopher Gattelli (cook/director/choreographer) choreographed Goodspeed Musicals' 13 at The Norma Terris Theater, which continued on to Broadway, and Me and My Girl at the Goodspeed Opera House. He choreographed the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George, and was recently nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for Best Choreography for South Pacific.
Composer-lyricist Paul Williams has written the music for numerous Henson projects, including the songs for the award-winning original HBO "Emmet Otter" special as well as "The Muppet Movie," featuring the ballad "Rainbow Connection." Williams returns to Goodspeed Musicals where he recently created the music for the theatrical sensation Happy Days: A New Musical. He is an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning songwriter.
The production will again feature sets designed by Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos; costumes designed by Gregg Barnes; lighting design by Brian MacDevitt.
Music director will be Larry Pressgrove. Ian Schugel is assistant music director. Music arrangements are by Gregory M. Brown. Orchestrations are by Dan DeLange.
Jim Henson's Emmet Otter is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.
For more information call the box office at (860) 873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.
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Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, and additional musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals.
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