Goodpeed Musicals will honor three-time Tony-winning composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown with the Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre June 8 at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Goodspeed Musicals’ gala event to support its New Works Initiatives will include cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and a performance by Brown.
Originally designed for and presented to Ira Gershwin more than 20 years ago, the Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre is Goodspeed's most prestigious honor. Previous recipients include Julie Andrews, Martin Charnin, Kristin Chenoweth, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Herman, William Ivey Long, Thomas Meehan, Chita Rivera, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, Charles Strouse, and Tommy Tune.
Executive Director Michael Gennaro said in a statement, “Goodspeed is delighted to bestow this honor upon such an extraordinary artist—one of the most esteemed talents of musical theatre today. His exceptional work is marked by a unique wit, style, energy, and finesse. Jason Robert Brown exemplifies all that the Goodspeed Award celebrates.”
“Nobody does the work of supporting and celebrating musical theatre with as much love, enthusiasm, and consistency as Goodspeed Musicals, and nobody’s been doing it for longer. I am especially moved to be this year’s honoree...helping to continue their amazing work, and getting to do it with some very fine musicians and singers. The first time I worked at Goodspeed was in 1994, and in these past 25 years (!), I’ve been thrilled every time I’ve come to this magical corner of Connecticut. I can’t wait for June and an opportunity to make some great music and celebrate the incredible legacy of Goodspeed Musicals,” Brown added.
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Brown's many works include the two-person The Last Five Years, his debut song cycle Songs for a New World, Parade (written with Alfred Uhry, for which Brown won the 1999 Tony Award for Best Score). Brown's work on The Bridges of Madison County, a musical adapted with Marsha Norman and directed by Bartlett Sher, received two Tony Awards (Best Score and Orchestrations). Goodspeed Musicals has staged productions of Brown's 13, which went on to Broadway and London’s West End, and My Paris.
