Almost every state has at least one heritage line that offers visitors the opportunity to experience what train travel was like many years ago. Most of them are volunteers who dedicate countless hours to preserving America’s railroad history. Across America, many heritage railroad companies restore and preserve old steam locomotives, railroad tracks, and passenger cars.
this Essex Steam Train and River Cruise It was two experiences packed into one. Again, reservations are a must.Įast Haddam, Connecticut” id=”stay22-widget” width=”100%” height=”500″ frameborder=”0″> East Haddam, Connecticut” id=”stay22-widget” width=”100%” height=”500″ frameborder=”0″>ĭown the Connecticut River was another gem to behold. Owned by the Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, the restaurant is the perfect place to grab lunch or dinner while watching a show at the theatre.
History next door to the theater Gelston House Restaurant and InnFeaturing an inviting outdoor patio and traditional indoor seating. Reservation is essential as most seats are purchased early with season subscriptions. You can sign up for their email newsletter to learn about upcoming shows. There’s also a holiday production in November.
The Goodspeed Musicals performance season runs from May to September. The next two hours were pure magic, and after two acts and a hiatus, I regretted having to leave so quickly. Every seat in the house was close to the stage and the performers. After climbing another flight of stairs, I reached the orchestra seating area to find a restored 1800s theater for 398 people with a small balcony. The actual performance space was on the 3rd and 4th floors above the Opera House. On the second floor there was a theater members’ lounge and toilets. There was a small porch in the back with a beautiful view of the Connecticut River, but it was also packed with customers who had arrived long before me.įinally the main theater opened and we climbed an elegant red-carpeted staircase. The pre-show waiting area was small and quickly became crowded. At the entrance of the theatre, guests were taken to the first floor, where we bought drinks and souvenirs and saw the two Tony Awards awarded to the Goodspeed Musicals Organization. The Opera House is on the east side of the river in the charming town of East Haddam. The bridge opens frequently and I was lucky to be able to cross without delay. I crossed the west side of the Connecticut River over the Swinging Bridge in East Haddam. The road to the Opera House took me through tree-lined roads and small New England towns. My experience was unforgettable from start to finish. The day I visited, I saw a new musical based on the beloved children’s book Anne of Green Gables. In addition to Annie, Goodspeed Opera House also premiered two of my favorite musicals, Man Of La Mancha and Shenandoah. 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.
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