"Half A Sixpence"
Spends Summer At Goodspeed

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theater in the country, will present the British musical, "Half a Sixpence," July 11 - September 19 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Gordon Greenberg directs.

"Half a Sixpence" is a light, romantic musical about 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. Based on the novel Kipps by H.G. Wells and known for its flashy production numbers, "Half a Sixpence" features music and lyrics by David Heneker with a book by Beverley Cross.
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Making his Goodspeed debut as Kipps is Jon Peterson (strumming banjo at left with Cameron Henderson, Wes Hart, and Eric Shorey).

Peterson appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in "Cabaret." His credits also include numerous National Tour and West End productions including "The Sound of Music," A" Chorus Line," "Dames at Sea" and "Cats."

The cast also features Sara Gettelfinger, Julia Osborne, Jeff Skowron , James Judy, Donna English, and Carrington Vilmont.

Members of the ensemble include Adriene Couvillion, Desireé Davar, Danny Gardner, Wes Hart, Cameron Henderson, Elise Kinnon, Peter Leskowicz, Kate Marilley, Caroline Massagee, Cheryl McMahon, Rod Roberts, and Eric Shorey.

"Half A Sixpence" originally opened in London's West End in 1963. Popular British entertainer Tommy Steele starred. A Broadway production, also starring Steele, opened at the Broadhurst Theatre two years later and was nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Author and Best Composer/Lyricist. A film version, yet again with Steele in the lead, following in 1967.

Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House with additional musicals presented at The Norma Terris Theatre in nearby Chester. The Terris Theater was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals.

For tickets and information, call the Goodspeed Box Office at 860-873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.

-- OnStage Boston

Production Photo: Diane Sobolewski