"The Rocket Man - The Robert Goddard Musical" - by Stephen Murray - 4th Wall Stage Company (Worcester, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jeanine Belcastro Went as "Esther Goddard," Chris Bardizbanian as "Young Robert/Ensemble" and Ryan Sullivan as "Robert Goddard" in a scene from "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" by Stephen Murray, from 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. now playing through April 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Frank Bartucca frbphoto.com)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“The dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
- Robert Goddard
4th Wall Stage Company
Presents Stephen Murray's
"THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL"
Book and Music by Stephen Murray
Directed and Produced by Barbara Guertin
Cast Includes: Ryan Sullivan as "Robert Goddard," Jeanine Belcastro Went as "Esther Goddard," Jim Douglas as "Benny Doyle/Ensemble," Jerry Bisantz as "Buzz Aldrin/Ensemble," Edgardo Lopes as "Charles Lindberg/Ensemble," Chris Bardizbanian as "Young Robert/Ensemble," Tracy Martino as "Fannie Goddard/Ensemble."
Additional Creative Team:
Technical Director, Lighting and Sound - Eric L'Ecuyer; Captioning Services - Jack Peacock, Eye Audio Radio; Costumes- The Actor's Wardrobe; Video Image Production - Matt Wasser; Props and Choreography - Cristin Torrey.
Performances:
March 27, 2026 through April 4, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA.
TICKETS:
Call # 508-951-2665 or visit www.4thwallstagecompany.org
ORDER TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
4th Wall Stage Company launches into spring with a delightful new musical based on a local legend in "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" now playing in Worcester.
The new musical has been created and developed by another local celebrity, musician and playwright Stephen Murray.
For anyone who is familiar with the Robert Goddard legacy, one question might be foremost in their mind - Is this new musical by 4th Wall accurate or does it omit certain information about its subject, Robert Hutchings Goddard (born 1882 and died 1945) in its effort to be entertaining?
Neither being a historian nor a scientist, I cannot speak to the musical's accuracy, but I can tell you it is very much an entertaining story about an American scientist.
It is also a story about a local legend that keeps squarely to the reported/recorded facts, rather than trying to do a "deep dive" to unearth or speculate on any skeleton's that may reside in Goddard's casket...uh, closet.
The objective here is not to assess the musical’s historical accuracy but rather assess its intent, and from where I stand its intent is obvious – 4th Wall Stage Company offers a musical that not only intends to entertain but perhaps will inspire a future scientist out there.
So, on that level alone, this is where 4th Wall Stage Company's "ROCKET MAN" absolutely succeeds.
As the musical begins, we meet Worcester native Goddard (Ryan Sullivan), an American physicist who grew up in the city and attended both Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University.
However, while Goddard’s local connection might be of initial interest to area audiences, it is Goddard’s contributions to science that soon soars Murray’s musical to national, global, and even universal heights in scope.
Supported by a talented 4th Wall Ensemble portraying multiple characters, we watch as the musical biography of Goddard unfolds, with much of the first act recalling the early life of the inventor/engineer as told by actor Sullivan, who exclusively and effortlessly portrays Goddard.
(Photo: Ensemble member Chris Bardizbanian in a moment from "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" by Stephen Murray, from 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. now playing through April 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Frank Bartucca frbphoto.com)
Goddard is credited as “The man who ushered in the Space Age” for his creating and building of the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, successfully launched in 1926.
However, as we witness in "ROCKET MAN," Goddard’s prior attempts - or at least as such events are depicted - those efforts weren’t always effective in getting off the ground…I mean as in literally...getting OFF the ground.
In fact, they were routinely disastrous, if Murray’s musical is to be believed and, again, I have no reason to doubt its accuracy.
History shows as Goddard’s work improved, though, it also broadened and evolved.
As the reported efficiency of his solid-fueled rocket became more well-known, this thrust America into a new era of modern rocket and innovation.
This “efficiency” also became of interest to powerful adversarial nations outside America, especially as the world boosted itself into another global conflict.
(Photo: Jeanine Belcastro Went as "Esther Goddard" with Ensemble member Jerry Bisantz in a moment from "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" by Stephen Murray, from 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. now playing through April 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Frank Bartucca frbphoto.com)
As "ROCKET MAN" cleverly recalls, Goddard and his fellow scientists would launch as many as 34 rockets between 1926 and 1941.
But the 4th Wall story, at least as constructed, shows the intent of Goddard’s personal interest was less in the destructive capabilities of rockets and more its potential to reach previously unachieved accelerated altitudes and speeds.
Again, is the above all historically accurate as represented in "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL?"
I don’t know as (even as old as I am) I was not there and cannot profess to know any of Goddard’s actual intent, but I certainly believe the resolve of the musical to be truthful based on what information is widely known.
However, what is widely known is that Goddard's work as both a theorist and engineer made possible the advances and initiatives that would ultimately make spaceflight possible.
(Photo: Jeanine Belcastro Went as "Esther Goddard," Chris Bardizbanian as "Young Robert/Ensemble" and Ryan Sullivan as "Robert Goddard" in a scene from "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" by Stephen Murray, from 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. now playing through April 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Frank Bartucca frbphoto.com)
Unfortunately, as both history and "ROCKET MAN" also teaches us, (spoiler alert) Goddard would never live to see them.
Ironically, it is in his passing that the musical quickly becomes far more interesting as the focus shifts from Robert Goddard onto his widow, Esther (delightfully portrayed by Jeanine Belcastro Went), an unrelenting force to be reckoned with in her own right.
It was through Esther’s efforts that many of Robert's 214 patented inventions were awarded posthumously, and some became important milestones toward America achieving spaceflight.
In fact, the argument could be made that a separate musical, one exclusively based upon Esther’s own story, might have proved just as entertaining as "ROCKET MAN."
So, why NOT a “ROCKET WOMAN” musical?
Perhaps someday – until then, I guess we’ll all just have to keep reaching for the stars.
In the interim, "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" is capably staged by 4th Wall Stage Company director Barbara Guertin with Stephen Murray also serving as Music Director.
The songs are pleasing enough with a few memorable group numbers that are performed mostly tongue-in-cheek but never in a way that seems disparaging or disrespectful.
One of the best aspects of the staging is in its minimalism with the clever usage of projected imagery, thus enhancing the storytelling.
The imagery is not just used to reflect the main “bullet points” of the story, denoting time and place in the Goddards’ lives - it is also used to enhance the musical numbers, making them more entertaining, even fun and interactive at times.
So, everyone should have a blast seeing "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL" which continues from 4th Wall Stage Company at the Worcester Historical Museum in Worcester until April 4th, 2026.
For more information and tickets, contact 4th Wall Stage Company at # Call # 508-951-2665 or visit www.4thwallstagecompany.org
ORDER TICKETS
Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
4th Wall Stage Company and Museum of Worcester present "THE ROCKET MAN - THE ROBERT GODDARD MUSICAL,"based on Worcester’s own Dr. Robert Goddard – the man who invented Rocket Science.
Goddard was the inventor and researcher who, through his teaching and relentless experimentation, created the first successful launch of a rocket in March of 1926.
The musical follows his life and his love – Esther, who continued to fight for his well-deserved patents well after his passing.
Worcester’s own Stephen Murray has turned their love story into a charming must be seen musical - a world premiere!
ABOUT 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY
4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY became a reality in 2010 and staged its first production in 2011. The mission of 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY is to present live stage theatrical productions which are of enduring interest and which inspire, challenge, and entertain both artists and audiences. The goal is to attract audiences by providing roles to actors and actresses which are compelling and rewarding and help them to realize their full potential as artists as they explore ideas and emotions which speak to our common humanity. 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization and goals include outreach to other artists, cultural organizations, and educational institutions throughout Massachusetts while concentrating around home base of Central Massachusetts.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box # 20034
Worcester, MA. 01602
