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| Carousel's Original 1945 artwork during out of town previews at the Colonial Theatre in Boston and the motion picture version using the newly created Cinemascope 55 |
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By Doug Coxon,
New Hamburg Independant
"Seeing is believing. And everyone will have an opportunity to see what The Community Players can do to confirm Carousel's status next month. TCP has already confirmed its own status as one of the best communtiy theatre groups in the province. The New Hamburg-based troupe is busy working through final rehearsals before the curtan rises on their 24th..." Read More...
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The 2008 Carousel edition of The Community Player is now available online. The
Community Player features stories and insights on this year's production
of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, presented in The New
Hamburg Arena, May 8 –- 11, 2008. Tickets sales for Carousel are
now onsale.
DOWNLOAD THE COMMUNITY PLAYER, 2008 CAROUSEL EDITION - here |
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The
Community Players of New Hamburg are pleased to announce the presentation
of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel on stage,
in the New Hamburg Arena, May 8 –- 11,
2008. Following last year's
completely sold out run of Titanic,
The Musical, TCP returns
to more traditional ground with the team who helped define musical
theatre - Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
First staged in 1945, Carousel represents only the 2nd collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein. At its core, the themes and values of love, family, community, making choices, faith (in oneself and each other) and redemption remain as important today as they were over 60 years ago. Time Magazine has named Carousel the best musical of the 20th Century and the composers themselves, considered Carousel the favourite of all their works together. The Community Players are thrilled to be bringing this classic production to their stage.
The music is beautiful, lively
and inspiring. Songs from the show include The Carousel
Waltz, If I Loved You, June
is Bustin' Out all Over, What's the Use
of Wond'rin and the inspiring
finale You'll Never Walk
Alone.
TCP welcomes back last year's
directing team, which includes Director Gord Davis, Musical Director
Jen Hoffman and Artistic Director Brent Roth to bring TCP's
unique vision of Carousel to the stage.
Carousel has opportunities for
a large cast of all ages, especially lead and ensemble roles for
women. “"One
of the things that really drew us, besides the rich story and music,
were the opportunities for TCP's incredibly talented
female performers."” says
Artistic Director Brent Roth.
“"By choosing Carousel, TCP shows once again,
its immense diversity and willingness to tackle challenging musical
theatre. We are going to take a traditional show and really delve
into some mature real-life storylines, balanced with the rich and
powerful Rodgers & Hammerstein score, and create a new and exciting
concept that will bring the beauty of Carousel to a whole
new generation."” says director Gord Davis.
In staging Carousel, TCP will do what they do best: bring
the show to life with simple yet imaginative story-telling and allow
the magic of live theatre to do the rest. The show will be staged
May 8-11, 2008 in the New Hamburg Arena.
 more
info here
Carousel premiered at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on April 19,
1945
and played for 2 years and a total of 890 performances.
Two young millworkers in freshly industrialized 1870s New England
visit the town's carousel after work. One of them, demure Julie
Jordan, shares a lingering glance and suggestive touch
with the carousel's barker, Billy Bigelow. instrumental
piece: Carousel Waltz
Julie's friend Carrie Pipperidge presses her for information, but Julie is reticent about the encounter. You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan Eventually satisfied, Carrie confides that she has a beau of her own: local fisherman Enoch Snow Mister Snow.
A policeman appears and warns the women that Billy has taken money from other women. Carrie goes off, but Julie stays. She and Billy, now alone, can talk freely, but neither can quite confess the growing attraction they feel for each other. If I Loved You
Despite the incommunicative start, Julie and Billy are married
shortly thereafter. When we next see them, Julie is confiding to
Carrie that Billy, now unemployed, is unstable and occasionally
violent. Carrie has news, too, she and Mr. Snow are officially
engaged Mister Snow reprise and
looking forward to their idealized notion of married life When
The Children Are Asleep. As they and the town's other
young folk prepare to attend a clambake, spitfire Carrie pokes
fun at the local boys, cheered on by the local girls Give
It To 'Em Good, Carrie. Julie's cousin Nettie
Fowler leads them all in a celebration of spring accompanied by
an elaborate dance June Is Bustin' Out All Over before
they leave for the clambake.
Meanwhile, Billy has fallen in with the unsavory sailor Jigger
Craigin Blow High, Blow Low, who
tries to recruit him to help with a robbery. Billy is initially
uninterested, but then Julie tells him of her pregnancy. Overwhelmed
by the news, and determined to provide for his future child, he
decides to be Jigger's accomplice after all Soliloquy.
During the clambake on a nearby island, A Real Nice Clambake, Carrie's fiancé walks in on some innocent flirting between Carrie and Jigger, and declares, as Jigger jeers, that he is finished with her Geraniums In The Winder/ Stonecutters Cut It On Stone. Julie, meanwhile, places her self-doubt aside and resolves to accept and love Billy as he is What's The Use Of Wondrin'?.
She sees Billy trying to sneak away with Jigger, and while trying to stop him, feels the knife hidden in his shirt. She begs him to give it to her, but he refuses and leaves to commit the robbery. Julie knows nothing about the crime, but realizes that Billy is about to do something that may get him in trouble.
Jigger and Billy play at cards, with the stakes being shares of
the forecasted robbery spoils. Soon Billy has lost his share of
the stake in the robbery; when the robbery victim appears, he is
able to pull a gun on Billy and Jigger in self-defense. The robbery
is aborted; and Jigger escapes while Billy does not. Billy stabs
himself with his knife and dies; Julie arrives too late to save
him. Nettie and the townsfolk comfort Julie You'll
Never Walk Alone, and we follow Billy to heaven.
There, a pair of blunt-spoken angels explain that he must
attempt to solve the problems he left behind The
Highest Judge Of All. They send him back down to
earth, fifteen years after his suicide. His and Julie's daughter,
Louise, is now an angry and rebellious teen instrumental:
Louise's Ballet. He tries to give her a small
gift, a star from Heaven. But she refuses it, and in frustration,
he slaps her hand. As he makes himself invisible, Louise tells
Julie what has happened. Without allowing her to actually see
him, Billy finally confesses his love to Julie If
I Loved You reprise.
Having thus made amends, he is there for Louise's high-school graduation You'll Never Walk Alone reprise, where, still invisible, he urges her to have confidence in herself. Although she does not hear him, she responds and, along with Julie, joins in the song.
Through this good deed, Billy is redeemed.
To see a comple list of Carousel's musical numbers and to listen to a selection of the music click here.
Billy Bigelow - The carousel barker who ends up marrying Julie.
Role: Lead Age: 25 - 35 Sex: M Voice: Baritone (B2 to G4)
Carrie Pipperidge - The simple-minded best friend of Julie who is in love with Enoch Snow.
Role: Lead Age: 18 - 28 Sex: F Voice: Alto (C3 to F4)
Julie Jordan - A mill girl who ends up marrying Billy Bigelow.
Role: Lead Age: 16 - 28 Sex: F Voice: Soprano (high: G5)
Enoch Snow - A man who is in love with Carrie, has a bright outlook on life, and plans to run a successful business in canned sardines.
Role: Supporting Age: 22 - 32 Sex: M Voice: Tenor (high: A4)
Jigger Craigin - The sleazy criminal, whaler and friend of Billy.
Role: Supporting Age: 25 - 35 Sex: M Voice: Baritone (low: A2)
Louise - Billy and Julie's daughter who suffers from the stigma of Billy's evil-doings.
Role: Supporting Age: 14 - 18 Sex: F Voice: Spoken Dancing: Intense
Nettie Fowler - Julie's cousin and friend.
Role: Supporting Age: 30 - 65 Sex: F Voice: Mezzo (high: E5)
Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon - As the Starkeeper, he allows Billy to return to Earth to resolve issues such as helping his daughter Louise. As Dr. Seldon he is the minister who gives a convocation speech at Louise's high school graduation.
Role: Supporting Age: 25 –- 85 Sex: M Voice: Spoken
1st Heavenly Friend —- Otherwise known
as Brother Joshua. He helps take Billy to heaven.
Role: Cameo Age: 25 –- 85 Sex: M Voice: Spoken
2nd Heavenly Friend -Role: Cameo
Arminy Livermore - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
Bessie - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
Captain - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: M
David Bascombe - The mill owner.
Role: Cameo Age: 40 - 75 Sex: M Voice: Spoken
Enoch Snow, Jr - One of Enoch Snow and Carrie's nine children. He has a crush on Louise.
Role: Cameo Age: 16 - 21 Sex: M Voice: Spoken Dancing: Light
Hannah Bentley - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
Jessie - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
June Girl - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
Mrs. Mullin - The owner of the Carousel and a lover of Billie.
Role: Cameo Age: 35 - 50 Sex: F Voice: Spoken
Penny Sinclair - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
Susan Peters - Role: Cameo Sex: F
Virginia Frazer - Role: Cameo Age: Sex: F
The Snow Children - Role: Cameo Age: Various Sex: Both Boys and Girls
Carousel will also require a full ensemble of women, men and children.
TCP is pleased to announce the Artistic Team Directors for CAROUSEL.
Gord's work
in theatre across Waterloo Region has thrilled audiences and earned
him the respect of his peers. He has worked for many years directing
the productions for Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions (Centre
in the Square), The Singer's
Theatre and, for many years, students at Elmira District Secondary
School. Gord is looking forward to another production with TCP.
Jen returns as Musical Director for her 8th TCP production. When not directing, she is a teacher at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate where she instills a love of music in her students. Jen not only brings a strong knowledge of music to the voices of our productions, but also conducts one of the finest community theatre orchestras found anywhere.
Karen juggles the roles of teacher, choreographer, producer, performer and
loves being an adjudicator, host and director of Dance Competitions. She has
owned & operated Dance competitions for 15 years and has trained dancers
that have worked in all aspects of dance for over 20 years. Karen is an inspirational
teacher that shares her talents across Ontario. She has choreographed over 15
musicals and loves working with musical theatre performers. Maybe one day her
daughters Joanna & Clare will sing & dance in shows. It is her joy
to be returning to New Hamburg & the wonderful people at TCP!
Brent has spent 18 years with The Community Players in
a variety of roles, the last 9 of which have been as Artistic Director.
Brent's love of “ Community” and of “Theatre” make
this one of the best jobs ever. Brent is looking forward to another
fantastic production with the 'Dream Team'.
Both Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II said that Carousel was the favorite of their works together. They broke new ground in musical theater storytelling with their extended music/dialogue scenes, such as the "bench scene", which feaures If I Loved You, and, hauntingly, the Soliloquy (where Billy imagines his future child). The bench scene, especially, used singing as if it were spoken dialogue set to music (much as in opera recitative, and in this scene, the "recitative" singing leads up to the actual song). The final anthem You'll Never Walk Alone has taken on a life of its own; a graduation standard, it is also customarily sung by fans at English football matches, especially those of Liverpool F.C.
Carousel is the first opportunity for Oscar Hammerstein II, a forward thinking liberal, to explore attitudes of society and prejudice in a musical play. The main theme of Carousel is that of class; Julie and Billy are both working class, whereas Enoch and (ultimately) Carrie are middle class, and the differences between these two families are touched on during the second act. The ultimate conclusion is that anybody can go far, no matter what their class, and that everybody
can be redeemed.
Rodgers and Hammerstein changed the face of American musical theater by integrating the elements of drama, music and dance as never before. Their 17-year partnership began in 1943 with Oklahoma! and continued through ten other musicals, including one motion picture (State Fair, 1945) and one teleplay (Cinderella, 1957), Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951) and The Sound of Music (1959). In all, the duo won 35 Tonys, 15 Oscars, two Grammys, two Pulitzers, and two Emmys.
"I hand him a lyric and get out of his way."
- Hammerstein on Rodgers
Rodgers began his career collaborating with another Columbian. As a freshman student at Columbia College, he composed the music for the Varsity Show of 1920, with lyrics provided by a former Columbia journalism student named Lorenz Hart. The success of the show, Fly with Me, led to a twenty-year partnership between Rodgers and Hart, and to such classic songs as "Manhattan," "Blue Moon," and "The Lady Is a Tramp" from shows including Connecticut Yankee (1927), The Boys from Syracuse (1938), and Pal Joey (1940). Hart's deteriorating health led to the breakup of their partnership in 1940. Hart attended the opening of Oklahoma! on March 31, 1943, in New York, graciously telling Rodgers at the final curtain, "This show of yours will run forever." Eight months later, Hart died of pneumonia.
Hammerstein, the grandson and namesake of an operatic impresario, also participated in the Varsity Show during his undergraduate years at Columbia College. After a year at Columbia Law School, he went on to fame as a librettist for operettas composed by Rudolph Firml (Rose Marie), Sigmund Romberg (Desert Song), and George Gershwin (Song of the Flame). Hammerstein had a successful career before beginning his partnership with Rodgers. He collaborated with Jerome Kern on eight musicals, most notably Show Boat (1927), and wrote the book and lyrics for Carmen Jones, the 1943 all-black version of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen.
" He's a meticulously hard worker and yet he'll roam the grass of his farm for hours and sometimes for days before he can bring himself to put a word on paper."
- Rodgers on Hammerstein
After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers wrote the music and lyrics for No Strings, for which he earned two Tonys. He then composed the music for Do I Hear A Waltz? (to lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a Hammerstein protégé), Two by Two, Rex, and I Remember Mama. Rodgers's centenary in 2002 was celebrated around the world with books, retrospectives, performances, new recordings of his music, and a Broadway revival of Oklahoma! Rodgers left behind a legacy of more than 900 published songs, forty musicals, and numerous works for film and television.
source material: Remarkable Columbians, Columbia University, New York City
website link
Carousel Information compiled, with additional information available
from the following sources:
www.stageagent.com
www.rnhtheatricals.com
www.ibdb.com
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