PHOTO CALL: Henry Krieger's Radio Girl, with Meredith Patterson and John Bolton, at Goodspeed

 PHOTO CALL: Henry Krieger's Radio Girl, with Meredith Patterson and John Bolton, at Goodspeed

By Irina Khodorkovsky
08 Aug 2010

Lee Meriwether, Orson Bean, Meredith Patterson, John Bolton and Michele Ragusa are among cast members of the new musical Radio Girl, an adaptation of the novel "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," which opened July 29 and runs through Aug. 22 at Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre

The cast also includes Gabriella Malek as Rebecca.

Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli,Radio Girl features music by Tony-nominated composer Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls, Side Show andTap Dance Kid) and Tony-nominated lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Working, Jelly's Last Jam and Triumph of Love)

The Terris in Chester, CT, is Goodspeed's home for developing new works; productions are not open to critics. Here's how Goodspeed characterizes the musical: "Rebecca is a spunky ten-year-old with a 'can do' attitude and enormous talent. She doesn't let anything get her down . . . not even being an orphan, or living during the Depression, and especially not her cantankerous Aunt Miranda! With charm, street smarts, pluck and a glorious voice, Rebecca triumphs as Lucky Little Radio Girl and lifts the spirits of America."

Aunt Miranda is played by Lee Meriwether, the former Miss America who played Betty on TV's "Barnaby Jones" and Catwoman on TV's "Batman"; Tony nominee Orson Bean (Subways Are for Sleeping) plays Homer; Uncle Harry is played by Joey Sorge (Goodspeed's Happy Days, Broadway's The Drowsy Chaperone); Meredith Patterson (Broadway's Irving Berlin's White Christmas and 42nd Street) plays Gwen; Anthony Holds (Broadway's Enronand Spamalot) plays Tony; John Bolton (Broadway's Curtains) is Orville; the role of Lola is played by Michele Ragusa (Goodspeed's Li'l Abner and Broadway's Young Frankenstein, Urinetown, Ragtime); Melva is played by Tony nominated actress Liz Larsen (Broadway's The Most Happy Fella, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray).

The company also includes Stephen Bienskie (Goodspeed's High Button Shoes), Andrew Boetcher, Ariel Reid, Pam Remler, Allie Schauer, David Spangenthal and Richard Riaz Yoder.

There are six Connecticut residents playing Lucky Little Radio Girl hopefuls: Meg Guzulescu (West Hartford), Morgan Martin (Glastonbury); Hayley Murphy (Madison); Betty Smith (Middlefield); Marissa Smoker (Branford) and Laura Spineti (Higganum).