Its landmark Goodspeed Opera House is a distinctive feature of the view from the Connecticut River and is the birthplace of some of the world's most famous musicals, including Annie, Man of La Mancha, and Shenandoah.

After William Goodspeed's death in 1882, the opera house fell into disrepair, facing a series of less glamorous uses—from a militia base during World War I to a general store and a Department of Transportation storage facility.

The state agreed to sell the building to the group for one dollar, provided they acquire enough funding to restore and maintain it.

Critic fellows from the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT travel to the Goodspeed each summer to practice reviewing full productions.

More than 250,000 items are available to rent for professional and amateur productions, featuring costumes from Tony-winning Broadway designers such as William Ivey Long, Gregg Barnes, Catherine Zuber, Willa Kim, Florence Klotz, Linda Cho, Anthony Powell, and more.

Tickets to the opera house or theatre productions should be ordered in advance as most performances in the relatively small theater sell-out quickly.

[6] In 1984, Goodspeed Musicals added a second performance venue—the Norma Terris Theatre—in nearby Chester, Connecticut, occasionally referred to as the Goodspeed-At-Chester.