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
- Book
- Oscar Hammerstein II
- Music
- Richard Rodgers
- Lyrics
- Oscar Hammerstein II
- 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
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- 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
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration on Oklahoma in 1943 was a massive success due to its social commentary and full integration of music, character building, and dance as plot-furthering devices. Oklahoma distinctly launched musical theater into a new stylistic era, and established high expectations for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s following projects. Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s second musical theater collaboration together. The musical opened on Broadway at the Majestic
to read the context for Carousel and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
PRELUDE
Carousel begins with a pantomime sequence performed during “The Carousel Waltz.” The sequence is set at an amusement park on the New England Coast and prominently features a merry-go-round, specifically named Mullin’s Carousel. At the beginning of the sequence, townspeople are seen enjoying the park’s attractions. A favorite attraction for many female characters is Billy Bigalow, the carousel’s barker. While working, Billy pays particular notice to Julie Jordan and allows her to skip
to read the plot for Carousel and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Either or Both |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either or Both |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
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.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A classical form of dance using precise and graceful steps and gestures.
A series of events in a performance or piece of literature that are a dream experienced by one of the characters.
References an era of book musicals written roughly between the 1940s and the 1960s.
A Broadway musical written and produced between 1943 and 1965.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
