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Overview

Synopsis

Richard Rodgers once wrote that of all the musicals he wrote, Carousel was his personal favorite. This American classic features some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most iconic pieces, including “If I Loved You”, “Mister Snow”, “June Is Bustin Out All Over”, and the iconic “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s second collaboration, and was adapted from Ferenc Molnar’s 1909 play Liliom. They transferred the Budapest setting of Liliom to the New England coastline, where Carousel takes place. The story tells of roguish carnival barker Billy Bigelow and mill worker Julie Jordan, both loners, who meet and fall in love. Their marriage ends up costing both their jobs, and things go downhill from there. Billy’s desperation makes him violent against those he loves most, and drives him to commit crimes in order to provide for his family. When Billy falls in with con-man Jigger Craigin, he ends up getting caught in the midst of an armed robbery and takes his own life. Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day 15 years later, and he encounters the daughter he never knew. Louise is a lonely, friendless teenager, her father's reputation having haunted her throughout her young life. Yet Billy is able to instill in both the child and her mother a sense of hope. Voted the best musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Carousel is the classic American musical, spanning heaven and earth in its exploration of human frailty, resilience, and the power of forgiveness.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Ferenc Molnar’s 1909 play Liliom
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1945
Genres
Drama, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
a small fishing town in new england, 1873
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Opera, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Child, Early Teen Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Julie Jordan

Lead

Female

Soprano

Billy Bigelow

Lead

Male

Baritone

Enoch Snow

Lead

Male

Tenor

Carrie Pipperidge

Lead

Female

Soprano

Nettie Fowler

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Jigger Craigin

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Mullin

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Louise Bigelow

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

David Bascombe

Featured

Male

Bass

Enoch Snow, Jr.

Featured

Male

Spoken

Carnival Boy

Featured

Male

Silent

Principal

Featured

Either or Both

Spoken

Brother Joshua

Featured

Male

Spoken

Second Heavenly Friend

Featured

Either or Both

Spoken

Captain

Featured

Male

Spoken

First Policeman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Second Policeman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either or Both

Songs

Act One

  • * "The Carousel Waltz" – Orchestra
  • "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan" – Carrie Pipperidge and Julie Jordan
  • "(When I Marry) Mister Snow" – Carrie
  • "If I Loved You" – Billy Bigelow and Julie
  • * "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" – Nettie Fowler and Chorus
  • "(When I Marry) Mister Snow" (reprise) – Carrie, Enoch Snow and Female Chorus
  • "When the Children Are Asleep" – Enoch and Carrie
  • * "Blow High, Blow Low" – Jigger Craigin, Billy and Male Chorus
  • "Soliloquy" – Billy

Act Two

  • * "This Was a Real Nice Clambake" – Carrie, Nettie, Julie, Enoch and Chorus
  • "Geraniums in the Winder" – Enoch
  • "There's Nothin' So Bad for a Woman" – Jigger and Chorus
  • "What's the Use of Wond'rin'?" – Julie
  • "You'll Never Walk Alone" – Nettie
  • "The Highest Judge of All" – Billy
  • * Ballet: "Billy Makes a Journey" – Orchestra, *Louise, *Carnival Boy. *Ensemble
  • "If I Loved You" (reprise) – Billy
  • Finale: "You'll Never Walk Alone" (reprise) – Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

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Scenes

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