PRESS RELEASE - 9 March 2015
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YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE AS HIT MUSICAL CAROUSELRETURNS
Ahit production of the classic American musical, Carousel, is returning to theUK stage this spring.
Voted the best musical of the 20th century by Time magazine,Carouselis one of the finest works composed by one of Broadway’s most successful partnerships, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.Alongside Carousel, their other much-loved hits of stage and screen includeThe Sound of Music, Oklahoma! and The King and I.
Studded with some of the most powerful, upliftingand moving music ever written for the stage, songs from Carousel include 'If I Loved You,' the joyous 'June is Bustin' Out All Over,' and, of course, the timeless anthem'You'll Never Walk Alone.'Featuring stunning choreography, this electrifying staging of Carousel is an unmissable theatre highlight for 2015.
Set in a tight-knitcommunity on the New England coast, Carouselrevolves around the ill-fated affair between the charismatic but troubled Billy Bigelow and a young mill-worker, Julie Jordan. When they fall in love after a chance meeting at the carnival, little do they realise that Billy’s rebellious ways will soon end in tragedy. Fifteen years later, Billy is given one more chance to make things right with Julie and the daughter he never met, but is it too little too late?
Directed by Jo Davies, this charming musicalis brought vividly to life, with set and costume design by Olivier Award winnerAnthony Ward(The King’s Speech, ENRON, Oklahoma!, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Young Liverpool-born baritone Keith Higham plays thecarousel barker Billy Bigelow,Gillene Butterfield returns as Julie Jordan, andYvonne Howard plays Nettie.
The full Broadway score is ravishingly recreated by the musical forces of more than 40 musicians from the critically acclaimed Orchestra of Opera North, led by conductor James Holmes, with a chorus ofover 30singers from Opera North,England’s national opera company in the North of England.
UK venues for the tour ofCarouselin 2015 include Leeds Grand Theatre, Theatre Royal Norwich and Edinburgh Festival Theatre, before this beautifully staged production travels to the Republic of Ireland for further performances in Dublin.
An instant hit with audiences and critics alike, it has been praised as an “exhilarating” show which “does great honour to a rich piece of musical theatre” (Daily Telegraph); “a real masterpiece […] totally charming” (Mail on Sunday); and “tremendously uplifting” (Financial Times).
CAROUSEL
Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Book & Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Original dances by Agnes de Mille
Based on the Play ‘LILIOM’ by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin Glaser
Performed by arrangement with JOSEPH WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of R & H THEATRICALS of New York
First performed 19 April 1945, Majestic Theatre, New York
Opera North’s production of Carouselwas first performed at Leeds Grand Theatre on 2 May 2012, in a co-production with the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris.
Performance lasts approx 2 hours 50 minutes with one interval.
Cast:
Billy BigelowKeith Higham (ex 30 (mat) May; 4 (mat), 11 (mat) June)
Philip Rhodes (30 (mat) May; 4 (mat), 11 (mat) June)
Julie JordanGillene Butterfield
Carrie PipperidgeAoife O’Sullivan(ex 21 (mat), 28 (mat) May, 13 (mat) June)
Lorna James (21 (mat), 28 (mat) May, 13 (mat) June)
Enoch SnowJoseph Shovelton
Nettie FowlerYvonne Howard
Jigger CraiginStuart Neal
Mrs MullinMichele Moran
Star keeper/Dr Seldon Russell Dixon (ex 10, 11 June)
Star keeper/Dr Seldon David Robertson (10, 11 June)
Heavenly FriendAnthony Warren
LouiseBeverley Grant*/Alex Newton†
1st PolicemanKevin Brewis
Mr BascombeDean Robinson
CaptainIvan Sharpe
2nd PolicemanPaul Gibson
Mrs BascombeVictoria Sharp
1st SailorArwel Price
2nd SailorPaul Rendall
3rd PolicemanNicholas Watts
Heavenly SecretaryMiranda Bevin
PrincipalJeremy Peaker
ArminyNicola Unwin
Dancers:Children:
William AtkinsonAzzura ArdoviniMagnus CameronGeorgia Cox
Jake BowermanRebecca FiguiguiLucas CulffEmily Halstead
Kirill Burlov†Beverley GrantGeorge KentCharlotte Marsh
Matthew ChambersEva MargailKitty McNeillLilly McNeill
Mickaël GadeaAna MrdjanovDominic PierechodErin Price
Jamie Higgins*Alex NewtonLucy ShermanLauren Shipley
Shaun WaltersCaitlin SurteesIndia Thompson
Joseph McDonnell
Creative team:
ConductorJames Holmes
DirectorJo Davies
Revival DirectorEd Goggin
Set & Costume DesignerAnthony Ward
Lighting DesignerBruno Poet
ChoreographerKay Shepherd
Choreographer (Ballet)Kim Brandstrup
Video DesignerAndrzej Goulding
Sound DesignerRick Clarke
Fight DirectorAlison De Burgh
* Leeds: 21 (mat and eve), 22, 23 May. Norwich: 28 (eve), 30 (mat) May. Edinburgh: 2, 4 (mat), 5, 6 (eve) June. Dublin: 11 (mat), 13 (mat) June.
† Leeds: 13, 14 (mat and eve), 15, 16 (mat and eve), 17 (4pm), 19, 20 May. Norwich:28 (mat), 29, 30 (eve) May. Edinburgh:3, 4 (eve), 6 (mat) June. Dublin: 10, 11 (eve), 12, 13 (eve) June.
Listings:
LEEDS, Grand Theatre
Wednesday 13 May – Saturday 23 May 2015
7.00pm plus matinees
13, 14 (2.00pm and 7.00pm), 15, 16 (2.00pm and 7.00pm), 17 (4.00pm), 19, 20, 21 (2.00pm and 7.00pm), 22, 23 May
Booking via 0844 848 2700 or
NORWICH, Theatre Royal
Thursday 28 May – Saturday 30 May 2015
7.30pm plus matinees
28 (2.30pm and 7.30pm), 29, 30 (2.30pm and 7.30pm) May
Booking via 0160 363 0000 or
EDINBURGH, Festival Theatre
Tuesday 2 June – Saturday 6 June 2015
7.30pm plus matinees
2, 3, 4 (2.30pm and 7.30pm), 5, 6 (2.30pm and 7.30pm) June
Booking via 0131 529 6000 or
DUBLIN, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Wednesday 10 June – Saturday 13 June 2015
7.30pm plus matinees
10, 11 (2.30pm and 7.30pm), 12, 13 (2.30pm and 7.30pm) June
Booking via0844 847 2455or
For further information and production photos, please contact:
Julia Gregg, Press & Communications Manager
0113 223 3526
Sian Dudley, Press Officer
0113 223 3528
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