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Tia Ann Chapman / Hartford Courant
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Courant file photo
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Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant
![Deven May and Kerry O'Malley in "A Tree Grows In...]()
Michael McAndrews, Hartford Courant
Deven May and Kerry O'Malley in "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."
![Colleen Fitzpatrick and Sean McDermott in "The Pajama Game."]()
John Long, The Hartford Courant
Colleen Fitzpatrick and Sean McDermott in "The Pajama Game."
![James Judy and Erin Dilly in "Finian's Rainbow."]()
John Long / The Hartford Courant
James Judy and Erin Dilly in "Finian's Rainbow."
![Christiane Noll and Scott Waara in "Mack and Mabel."]()
Tia Ann Chapman / The Hartford Courant
Christiane Noll and Scott Waara in "Mack and Mabel."
![David Aron Damane in "Show Boat."]()
Tanner Curtis / Hartford Courant
David Aron Damane in "Show Boat."
![Goodspeed Opera House first opened to the public on October...]()
Courant File Photo
Goodspeed Opera House first opened to the public on October 24, 1877.
![Goodspeed Opera House held Governor's Night on June 12, 1972....]()
Harry Batz / Hartford Courant
Goodspeed Opera House held Governor's Night on June 12, 1972. Gov. and Mrs. Thomas Meskill attended and the Moodus Fife and Drum Corps, pictured, performed.
![Don Quixote was played by Shawn Elliott in 'Man of...]()
Stephen Dunn, Hartford Courant
Don Quixote was played by Shawn Elliott in 'Man of La Mancha.'
![Timothy Gulan and Lewis Cleale in 'Houdini.']()
Alan Chaniewski / Special to The Courant
Timothy Gulan and Lewis Cleale in 'Houdini.'
![Jenn Gambatese played the rough and tumble Annie Oakley]()
Michael McAndrews, Hartford Courant
Jenn Gambatese played the rough and tumble Annie Oakley
![James Royce Edwards in "Pippin."]()
Bob MacDonnell, The Hartford Courant
James Royce Edwards in "Pippin."
![The Pirate King, played by Andrew Varela, center, leads his...]()
Tia Ann Chapman, Hartford Courant
The Pirate King, played by Andrew Varela, center, leads his pirates during "Pirates of Penzance."
![Brian Spears, Erin Maguire and Natalie Bradshaw in "How to...]()
Brooke LaValley / Hartford Courant
Brian Spears, Erin Maguire and Natalie Bradshaw in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
![An interior images of Goodspeed Opera House in 1939. A...]()
Courant File Photo
An interior images of Goodspeed Opera House in 1939. A favorite target of vandals, it was slated for demolition in 1958.
![Leslie Denniston played the leading role of Desiree Armfeldt.]()
Stephen Dunn, Hartford Courant
Leslie Denniston played the leading role of Desiree Armfeldt.
![Bradley Dean, Maxime de Toledo and Erin Davies in "Camelot."]()
Bettina Hansen / Hartford Courant
Bradley Dean, Maxime de Toledo and Erin Davies in "Camelot."
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Tia Ann Chapman/Hartford Courant
![Debbie Gravitte in "Red, Hot and Blue."]()
Michael McAndrews, Hartford Courant
Debbie Gravitte in "Red, Hot and Blue."
![The Goodspeed Opera House Foundation built a 150-foot dock near...]()
Courant File Photo
The Goodspeed Opera House Foundation built a 150-foot dock near the opera house prior to its reopening in June 1963, to accommodate sea-borne opera buffs.
![The East Haddam opera house interior, before it's mid-1960s renovation.]()
Courant File Photo
The East Haddam opera house interior, before it's mid-1960s renovation.
![Noah Racey, left, dressed in drag impersonating his aunt in...]()
Michael McAndrews / The Hartford Courant
Noah Racey, left, dressed in drag impersonating his aunt in the musical "Where's Charlie." At right is is Greg Mills playing Jack Chesney.
![Nikki M. James and Jared Grimes in "Babes In Arms."]()
Michael McAndrews, Hartford Courant
Nikki M. James and Jared Grimes in "Babes In Arms."
Perched along the shores of the Connecticut River in East Haddam, the Goodspeed Opera House opened to the public with a grand party on Oct. 24, 1877. Special train service from Hartford was arranged for the dedication, which included a large party and “several pleasing comedies,” according to The Courant’s report of the event. Since then there have been highs and lows, and many successful productions.
