AN R&H THEATRICALS TITLE
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Full-Length Musical, Drama / 5w, 5m plus ensemble
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the Play Liliom by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer
Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille
Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)
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Cast Size
5w, 5m plus ensemble -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Adaptation (Literature), Period -
Target Audience
Adult, Pre-Teen (Age 11-13), Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
- Winner! 1993 Olivier Award, Best Musical Revival
Winner! Five 1994 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical
Winner! Three 1994 Drama Desk Awards
Nominee: Seven 1994 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical Revival
Winner! Two 2018 Tony Awards
Nominee: Eleven 2018 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical
Winner! Five 2018 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Orchestrations
Nominee: Twelve 2018 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical Revival
Details
Summary
History
After tryouts in New Haven and Boston, Carousel opened on 19 April 1945 at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre, where it ran for 890 performances. The original Broadway cast featured John Raitt as Billy, Jan Clayton as Julie, and Jean Darling as Carrie. Winner of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award as Best Musical of 1945, Carousel went on to a two-year national tour, as well as countless productions throughout the world. In 1950, Carousel premiered at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it played for 566 performances, and in 1956 the motion picture version was released, starring Gordon MacRae as Billy and Shirley Jones as Julie.
In March 1994, Carousel marked its first return to Broadway since the original run, playing for a year at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. This Carousel received a record-setting five Tony Awards (the most of any show that season), including Best Revival of a Musical. A Japanese production played extended engagements in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka in 1995, and a U.S. National Tour visited over 40 cities from February of 1996 through May of 1997, and starred Broadway stars to be Patrick Wilson, Sarah Uriarte Berry and Jennifer Laura Thompson. In 2002, Carnegie Hall hosted a concert performance with Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, Philip Bosco, Blythe Danner, John Raitt, Norbert Leo Butz, Jason Danieley, Judy Kaye and Lauren Ward.
In April 2018, Carousel returned to Broadway starring Joshua Henry, Jessie Mueller, Renée Fleming, Lindsey Mendez and Alexander Gemignani.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
- Time Period 19th Century
- Setting The New England Coast, 1873-1888.
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Intense Adult Themes
Media
“Carousel is a great musical — one of the greatest, actually.” – Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THE 20TH CENTURY!” – Time Magazine
“The most emotionally potent of all the great Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musicals.” – Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Beautiful, bountiful, beguiling... it is the product of taste, imagination and skill.” – New York Daily Mirror
“As close to perfection as musical theater gets...At the end of Carousel, the communal heft of this theatergoing experience will ensure that you won't be walking alone.” – Boston Globe
“Carousel will be 50 next year, but as of this morning, it is the freshest, most innovative musical on Broadway. It is also the most beautiful.” – David Richards, The New York Times
“As relevant today as ever.” – Steve Cohen, Broad Street Review
Videos
Carousel – Through Time and History
“Blow High, Blow Low” – 2018 Tony Awards
Joshua Henry and Jessie Mueller Perform “If I Loved You”
“June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” Lyric Video
Photos
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Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)
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Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)
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Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)
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Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)
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Image: 1994 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)
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Image: 1994 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)
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Image: 1994 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)
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Image: 1994 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)
Music
Music Samples
- Musical Style Classic Broadway, Operetta
- Dance Requirements Difficult
- Vocal DemandsModerate
- Orchestra Size X-Large
- Chorus Size Large
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
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