"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

"It still makes an emotional impact and is as relevant today as ever."

Steve Cohen Broad Street Review

"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

"Beautiful, bountiful, beguiling...it is the product of taste, imagination and skill."

New York Daily Mirror

"BEST MUSICAL OF THE CENTURY!"

Time Magazine

"The audience is awash in the optimistic glow of Oscar Hammerstein's words and the glory of Richard Rodgers' music, beyond all reason. And CAROUSEL cements its estate in musical theatre heaven."

Alvin Klein The New York Times

After tryouts in New Haven and Boston, Carousel opened at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre on April 19, 1945, 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, starring Gordon MacRae as Billy and Shirley Jones as Julie, was released.

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.