[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7577-S7578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 SALUTE TO THE GOODSPEED OPERA COMPANY

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Goodspeed 
Opera Company in my home town of East Haddam, CN for receiving the 1995 
Tony Award for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Theater. This award, 
given upon recommendation by the American Theater Critics Association, 
is the second such award received by the Goodspeed Theater and is well-
deserved recognition for the Goodspeed's decades-long record of 
excellence in theater. This award marks the first time a national 
regional theater has received a second special Tony award for general 
excellence.
  The Goodspeed Opera House, located on the Connecticut River, was 
originally built in 1876 by William Goodspeed, a shipping merchant. 
This beautiful, six-story Victorian landmark fell into disuse and 
disrepair in the early 1900s and basically sat abandoned until 1959 
when it was saved from demolition through the efforts of the State and 
community. With local support and significant private assistance, the 
building was restored and reopened in 1963 as the Goodspeed Theater, 
home to the Goodspeed Opera Company. Since that time, the Goodspeed has 
been dedicated to the advancement of the American Musical through the 
creation of original musicals and the production and reinterpretation 
of classic American musicals.
  Under the leadership of executive director, Michael Price, the 
Goodspeed Theater has developed dozens of original musicals, many of 
which have gone on to Broadway. These have included such well known 
musicals as ``Annie,'' ``Shenandoah'' and ``Man of La Mancha.'' Just 
this year, the Goodspeed sent its production of ``Gentlemen Prefer 
Blondes'' directly from East Haddam to Broadway.
  The Goodspeed Opera Company has not only attracted national attention 
but has also served as an artistic beacon for its own community. This 
special relationship is symbolized by the ongoing financial support of 
the Chester and East Haddam communities as well as its numerous and 
diverse audiences from all over the Northeast. The Goodspeed is the 
very heart, both literally and figuratively, of my hometown of East 
Haddam. Not only is it our single largest industry and the cultural 
center of the region, it is also our main landmark and point of 
reference; in East Haddam, all roads lead to the Goodspeed.
  It is also timely to note that the Goodspeed Theater receives support 
from the National Endowment for the Arts. In this time when Federal 
funding for the arts is under attack, the Goodspeed exemplifies how a 
small Federal investment in a community arts organization can have an 
enormous yield. Theaters, such as the Goodspeed, assure that first rate 
artistic events and productions are accessible to people who do not 
live near large urban cultural centers. At the same time, places like 
East Haddam and its surrounding areas have enjoyed additional economic 
activity brought in by theater patrons. And in the case of the 
Goodspeed, the benefits have been even broader since many of the 
musicals created there have gone on to [[Page S7578]] become national 
treasures seen and enjoyed by millions of people on Broadway and all 
over the country.
  Once again, I congratulate the Goodspeed Opera Company on the Tony 
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Theater and on its long 
record of excellence.


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