Goodspeed Announces Casting for Judy Garland Musical Chasing Rainbows

Casting has been announced for Goodspeed's production of Chasing Rainbows — The Road to Oz, running from September 16-November 27 at the East Haddam, CT theater.

The new musical 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." Following the star's bumpy road to "Oz," the musical includes some of the tunes that made Garland famous including "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "You Made Me Love You," and "Over the Rainbow."

Ruby Rakos (Billy Elliot) will star as Frances Gumm/Judy Garland (reprising her 2015 performance at North Carolina's Flat Rock Playhouse), alongside Kevin Earley (Death Takes a Holiday) as Frank Gumm, Sally Wilfert (Assassins) as Ethel Gumm, Michael Wartella (Tuck Everlasting) as Mickey Rooney, Michael McCormick (Chaplin) as L.B. Mayer, Karen Mason (Wonderland) as Ma Lawlor/Kay Koverman, Gary Milner (Doctor Zhivago) as Roger Edens/George Jessel, Ella Briggs (Goodspeed's A Wonderful Life) as Baby Frances Gumm, Piper Birney (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as Young Virginia Gumm, and Lea Mancarella as Shirley Temple.

The ensemble includes Lissa deGuzman, Colby Dezelick, Jennifer Evans, Jordana Grolnick, Michael Hartung, Dan Higgins, Lucy Horton, Bryan Thomas Hunt, Andrea Laxton, Danny Lindgren, and Jesse Sharp. The swings will be Joseph Fierberg and Elise Mestichelli.

Directed by Tyne Rafaeli, the production is conceived by Tina Marie Casamento, with a book by Marc Acito, and music adapted by David Libby.

The creative team will also include choreography by Chris Bailey, scenic design by Kristen Robinson, costume design by Elizabeth Caitlin Ward, lighting design by Ken Billington, hair and wig design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer, music direction by Michael O’Flaherty, assistant music direction by Bill Thomas, and orchestrations by Dan DeLange.

For tickets and more information, click here.