Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre has been quiet all season, but no longer: the sound of a new musical in development is ringing through the venue.

"The Circus in Winter" is based on the Cathy Dary novel which is set, yes, at a circus. Characters deal with love and tragedy, and the population includes acrobats and sideshow figures and clowns - and "a dreamer named Wallace Porter searching for redemption and grace," as Goodspeed notes.

"The Circus in Winter" boasts a book by Hunter Foster and Beth Turcotte and songs described as rootsy folk rock by Ben Clark.

If the name Hunter Foster sounds familiar, it should. He's best-known as a Tony-nominated actor whose credits include "Urinetown," the "Little Shop of Horrors" revival and "Million Dollar Quartet." He's also a writer; in fact, "Summer of '42," for which he wrote the libretto, was developed at the Norma Terris in 2000 and starred Idina Menzel.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

"The Circus in Winter," Norma Terris Theatre, 33 North Main St., Chester; opens tonight and runs through Nov. 16; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wed., 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 3 and 8 p.m. Sat., and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sun.; $45; (860) 873-8668, goodspeed.org.