B'way Update: Get Happy Reading

Corbin Bleu and cast in Summer Stock
(now titled Get Happy)
at Goodspeed Musicals.
Credit: Diane Sobolewski

Corbin Bleu and Stephanie Styles who co-starred in the Roundabout revival of Kiss Me, Kate will reunite for an industry reading of Get Happy, a new musical based on the 1950 MGM film musical summer stock which starred Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and Phil Silvers. The reading will be held on Jan. 17 in NYC with Donna Feore (Canada's Stratford Festival) directing and choreographing. The show premiered in 2023 at Goodspeed Musicals inder the title of Summer Stock. The score is composed of songs from the film such as "You Wonderful You," "Happy Harvest," and "Get Happy" which became one of Garland's signature tunes. There are also classic songs such as "Accentuate the Positive," "It Had to Be You," and "Happy Days Are Here Again." The book and additional lyrics are provided by Emmy winner Cheri Steinkellner (Cheers, Sister Act the Musical).

Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in Summer Stock

The plot centers on the cast of a pre-Broadway musical losing their rehearsal space and descending on a Connecticut farm to save their show. Of course the lady farm owner and the show's leading man find romance. Also in the cast are Stephen Lee Anderson, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Tony nominee Veanne Cox, Zoe Jensen, Will Roland and Tony nominee Douglas Sills, with Nicholas Cunha, Francesca Mancuso, Corinne Munsch, Kaylee Olson, Aaron Patterson, Jack Sippel, and Cayel Tregeagle.