In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, the swaggering, carefree carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, captivates and marries the naive millworker, Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant and, desperately, intent upon providing a decent life for his family, he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent "up there". Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day and, time being what it is "up there", fifteen years have passed and he now encounters the teenage daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless child, her father's reputation as a thief and bully having haunted her throughout her young life. How Billy instills in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. It's easy to understand why, of all the scores he created, CAROUSEL was Rodgers' personal favourite.
Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS
3 Women
3 Men
FEATURED
2 Women
2 Men
ENSEMBLE
Large singing-dancing ensemble with Townspeople, Amusement Park Carnies, Youngsters and Seafaring Men
CHARACTERS
Carrie Pipperidge
Julie Jordan
Mrs. Mullin
Billy Bigelow
Juggler
1st Policeman
David Bascombe
Nettie Fowler
Enoch Snow
Jigger Craigin
Arminy
2nd Policeman
Captain
1st Heavenly Friend (Brother Joshua)
2nd Heavenly Friend
Starkeeper
Louise
Carnival Boy
Enoch Snow, Jr.
Principal
Dr. Seldon
Townspeople, Amusement Park Carnies, Youngsters, and Seafaring Men
Set Requirements: CAROUSEL takes place on the New England Coast between 1873 and 1888.
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
An Amusement Park on the New England Coast;
A Tree-lined Path along the Shore;
Nettie Fowler's Spa on the Ocean Front;
On an Island across the Bay;
Mainland Waterfront;
Up There (Heaven);
A Beach;
Outside Julie's Cottage;
Outside a Schoolhouse;
Genre / Style: Musical Drama
Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set (22 Books & 1 Logo)
20 Libretto/Vocal Books
2 PIANO VOCAL SCORE
1 Logo
Orchestration Package (27 Books)
1 FLUTE I (Doubling Piccolo)
1 PIANO VOCAL SCORE
1 FLUTE II (Doubling Piccolo)
1 OBOE (Doubling English Horn)
1 CLARINET I
1 CLARINET II
1 BASSOON (Optional Bass Clarinet)
1 HORN I
1 HORN II
1 HORN III
1 TRUMPET I
1 TRUMPET II
1 TROMBONE I
1 TROMBONE II
1 TROMBONE III
1 TUBA
1 PERCUSSION
1 HARP
2 VIOLIN I (Divisi)
2 VIOLIN II (Divisi)
2 VIOLA (Divisi)
2 CELLO (Divisi)
1 BASS
Synthesizer String (1 Str Syn I, 1 Str Syn II)
1 SYNTHESIZER STRING I
1 SYNTHESIZER STRING II
Two Piano Arrangement (2 Act I, 2 Act II)
2 TWO PIANO ARRANGEMENT - Act I
2 TWO PIANO ARRANGEMENT - Act II
Musical Numbers: The Carousel Waltz, If I Loved You, Mister Snow, June Is Bustin' Out All Over, When The Children Are Asleep, Soliloquy, A Real Nice Clambake, You'll Never Walk Alone.