East Haddam, Connecticut' id='stay22-widget' width='100%' height='500' frameborder='0'> East Haddam, Connecticut' id='stay22-widget' width='100%' height='500' frameborder='0'>įurther down the Connecticut River was another must-see gem. The restaurant, which is owned by the Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, is a perfect place to eat lunch or dinner when seeing a performance at the theater. Next door to the theater was the historic Gelston House Restaurant and Inn, which had an inviting outdoor patio and traditional indoor seating. Reservations are a must because many of the seats are purchased early through season subscriptions. You can sign up for their email newsletter to find out about upcoming shows. They also feature a holiday production in November. The Goodspeed Musicals performing season runs from May through September. The next two hours were pure enchantment, and after two acts and an intermission, I felt sadness in having to leave so soon. Every seat in the house was close to the stage and the performers.

After climbing another flight of stairs, I reached the orchestra seating area to find a 398-seat 1800s-restored theater with a small overhanging balcony. The actual performance space was on the 3rd and 4th floors at the top of the Opera House.

The second floor contained a theater members’ lounge and restrooms. There was a small porch in the back that had a scenic view across the Connecticut River, but it was also crowded with patrons who had arrived much earlier than me.Įventually, the main theater was opened, and we made our way up an elegant red-carpeted stairway. The pre-show waiting area was small and became quickly crowded. At the entrance of the theater, guests were ushered into the first floor, where we were able to get drinks and souvenirs and view two Tony Awards presented to the Goodspeed Musicals Organization. The Opera House is on the east side of the river in the charming town of East Haddam. The bridge frequently opens, and I was lucky to get across before a delay. I crossed from the west side of the Connecticut River over the Swinging Bridge at East Haddam. The drive to the Opera House took me along tree-lined roadways and through small New England towns. My experience was memorable from beginning to end. On the day I visited, I saw a new musical based on the beloved children’s book, Anne of Green Gables. In addition to Annie, the Goodspeed Opera House also premiered two of my favorite musicals, Man Of La Mancha and Shenandoah. Over the years, Goodspeed has been the tryout location for over 20 musicals that eventually opened on Broadway. After four years, the Opera House reopened and quickly became a premiere place for preserving the legacy of American Musical Theater and incubating the development of new musicals. In 1954, local people formed a non-profit organization called Goodspeed Musicals and set about restoring the iconic structure along the Connecticut River. The actual structure had a long history of use but sadly fell into disrepair through the early 20th Century. From its beginning, it was a place for dramatic and musical theater productions. He also conveniently owned many of the town’s other businesses that catered to visitors.Īn interesting fact about the Goodspeed Opera House was that it never actually hosted any operas. Even though the Opera House seemed to be located in a very remote location in the Connecticut countryside, William Goodspeed intended it as a tourist destination.

William Goodspeed built his mansard roofed Opera House in the Second Empire style along the Connecticut River in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut, to attract tourists in 1867. It took me 45 years, but I finally made it there, and the experience was nothing less than amazing.

At that time, I thought that a road trip to see a performance at the Opera House would be an incredible experience. My curiosity was piqued, so I researched the Opera House and found incredibly scenic photographs of an iconic four-story mid-1800s structure standing majestically along the Connecticut River. Part of the lure of the show was that it first premiered at a small theater called the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, where it was panned by local critics. Back in 1977, I had the opportunity to see the famous musical theater production, Annie, soon after it opened on Broadway.

Goodspeed opera house seating charts