Chasing Rainbows

Goodspeed Musicals brings Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz, a brand-new musical that chronicles a time before “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Easter Parade,” and “A Star is Born”—a time when Judy Garland was simply, “the girl with the great big voice" to their stage. Filled with many beloved songs sung by Judy Garland throughout her career, Chasing Rainbows will run September 16 – November 27 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn. [Official Press Opening will be October 5, 2016]. The show is sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts, Eversource Energy, ConnectiCare, Comcast, and Webster Bank.

An awkward girl with a golden voice blossoms into Judy Garland in the inspirational new musical about the bumpy road to "Oz." The future superstar's complicated childhood comes alive with heartbreak, hope and the music that made her famous. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "You Made Me Love You" and "Over the Rainbow" sweeten the story of Judy striving to hold onto her family. A love letter to gifted underdogs who reach high—and how the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events, and more, visit goodspeed.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter @goodspeedmusicl, Instagram, and YouTube.

It’s 1934, and the Gumm family finally arrives in California from Minnesota. The girls have performed on the vaudeville circuit and have been uprooted each time their dad loses his job operating movie theatres. Young Frances enrolls at the prestigious Hollywood Professional School for child performers, and it’s not long before her classmates make it big: Shirley Temple announces she is leaving to star in her first feature film and Joe Yule signs a deal with MGM.    

Young Frances struggles to navigate Hollywood as her parents’ marriage is in turmoil. Joe assumes a new name - Mickey Rooney - and invites his pal to a party at the home of MGM executive, L.B. Mayer where she sings for the assembled stars. Mayer eventually falls for her girl-next-door quality, and even Clark Gable congratulates her. As Frances tries to claim her place in Hollywood alongside the likes of Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, and Deanna Durbin, Mayer announces that Shirley Temple will star in The Wizard of Oz with Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man. As luck would have it, Shirley’s deal falls through, and Frances Gumm is introduced to the world as Judy Garland!