Carousel

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s iconic musical Carousel is to receive a concert performance for one night only at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 19th May.

Joanna Riding and Janie Dee will reprise their performances as Julie Jordan and Carrie Pipperidge for the first time in twenty-seven years since appearing in the National Theatre’s legendary production of Carousel, which earned them both Olivier Awards. The two-time Olivier Award-winners are currently enjoying great acclaim and success in the National Theatre’s revival of Follies Joining them will be Hadley Fraser as Billy Bigelow.

The 1945 musical marks the second collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and is based on Ferenc Molnar’s 1909 play Liliom. The story revolved around carousel barker Billy Bielow, whose romance with millworker Julie Jordan come at the price of both their jobs. He participates in a robbery to provide for Julie and their unborn child; after it all goes tragically wrong, he is given a chance to make things right. A secondary plot line deals with millworker Carrie Pepperidge and her romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow. The show premiered prior to the inception of the Tony Awards, but at the time won eight Donaldson Awards.

This one-night concert performance will feature a thirty-one-piece orchestra conducted by Alex Parker playing Don Walker’s complete original orchestration. It is produced by Jack Maple & Brian Zeilinger for Take Two Theatricals, and Quick Fantastic.