Over the years, Goodspeed has been the testing ground for more than 20 musicals that eventually opened on Broadway. Four years later, the Opera House reopened and quickly became a premiere location to preserve the legacy of the American Musical Theater and to incubate the development of new musicals. Goodspeed Musicals and began restoring the iconic structure along the Connecticut River. In 1954, the local community founded a non-profit organization. The actual structure had a long history of use, but unfortunately fell into disrepair in the early 20th century. From the beginning it was a place for dramatic and musical theater productions. It also owned many of the town’s other businesses serving visitors.Īn interesting fact about the Goodspeed Opera House is that it never hosted opera. Although the Opera House appears to be located far away in rural Connecticut, William Goodspeed designed it as a tourist destination.

William Goodspeed built the Second Empire-style Opera House with mansard roofs along the Connecticut River in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut, to attract tourists in 1867. It took me 45 years but I finally got there and the experience was incredible. At the time, I thought it would be an incredible experience to take a road trip to see a performance at the Opera House. My curiosity was piqued, so I researched the Opera House and found some incredible scenic photographs of an iconic four-story structure in the mid-1800s that stood majestically along the Connecticut River. Part of the show’s appeal was that it was first screened by local critics at a small theater called the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. In 1977, I had the opportunity to see the famous musical theater production Annie, shortly after it opened on Broadway.

Goodspeed opera house in ct