The Goodspeed Opera House stage will transform into the deck of a battleship when the musical comedy Dames at Sea sets sail as the first show of Goodspeed Musicals' 2002 season, April 5-July 6, in East Haddam, Conn.

A musical gem full of comedy, tap dancing and torch songs, Dames at Sea was inspired in part by the same 1933 movie on which 42nd Street was later based. With book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, Dames at Sea tells the imaginative story of naïve, fresh-faced Ruby, who becomes the last-minute star of a new show when the theatre is demolished and the star gets seasick. With a little luck and love, the show must go on..........on the deck of a battleship.

The toe-tapping music by Jim Wise includes such standards as "It's You," "Broadway Baby," and "Choo Choo Honeymoon." The original production opened off-Broadway in 1968 and starred Bernadette Peters, launching her career. Goodspeed's production will be directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson, who previously directed Betty Buckley in an award-winning production of Gypsy as well as a televised musical version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Ruby will be performed by Andrea Chamberlain, seen on Broadway as Ramona in Little Me and in Goodspeed's No, No, Nanette . Dick will be played by Joel Carlton, whose off-Broadway credits include Imperfect Chemistry, Jeffrey, and Most Men Are, and is another No, No, Nanette alum. Theatre starlet Mona Kent will be performed by Corinne Melançon, whose Broadway credits include Kiss Me, Kate, Jekyll & Hyde, and Big, and Michael Gruber, featured on Broadway in the original companies of Swing! and Miss Saigon, will play Lucky. Joan will be played by Paula Leggett Chase, seen in Broadway's revivals of Kiss Me, Kate and Damn Yankees, and the roles of Harry Henessey and the Captain will be played by David Engel, most recently seen on Broadway in Seussical.

The musical director for Dames at Sea is F. Wade Russo, with sets and costumes by design team Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, and lighting by Tony Tucci. Dames at Sea is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, producing six musicals each season at the historic Goodspeed Opera House and The Norma Terris Theatre, opened in Chester, Conn., in 1984 for the development of new musicals. In addition to its onstage productions, Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and publishes "Show Music", "The Musical Theatre Magazine". Dames at Sea is sponsored by People's Bank. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of American Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals.