Carousel – November 2008

Carousel tour then West End

After a short UK tour, 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel is coming to London’s West End. The show is to start a short UK tour in September prior to a London transfer (venue and exact dates to be confirmed) in November. Possible venues include the Savoy, if Never Forget transfers.

** Book Carousel Theatre Breaks **

Lesley Garrett

Lesley Garrett, well known for both for her TV and stage appearances, will play Julie’s cousin Nettie Fowler . She came to prominence on the West End stage with her portrayal of the Abbess in that other Rogers and Hammerstien classic, The Sound of Music. Carousel will give Ms Garrett the opportunity to sing another Rogers and Hammerstien show stopping anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

The story of Carousel

Carousel mixes fantasy and reality . The story is set in New England and tells the tragic tale of carousel barker Billy Bigelow and mill worker Julie Jordan. The story follows the fate of the two main couples, one working class (Billy and Julie) and one mostly middle class (Enoch and Carrie) and and their children.

Billy spends much of the second half of the show as an invisible ghost, watching over his daughter as she goes through her painful teenage years.

Premiered on Broadway in 1945, Carousel was made into a Hollywood film, starring Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae, in 1956. (On a personal note I watched this several times on TV as a teenager and cried buckets!)

Its last major London production was at the National Theatre in 1992

Songs from Carousel

Full of classic songs Carousel has many good tunes that we all know and love including:

You’re a Queer One, Julie Jordan

Mister Snow

June Is Bustin’ Out All Over

When the Children Are Asleep

If I loved You

And of course:

You’ll Never Walk Alone

** Book Carousel Theatre Breaks **