CAROUSEL COMES TO LYRIC OPERA
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s stunning new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel opens tonight and runs through May 3, 2015 at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony, Emmy, and Olivier Award winner Rob Ashford. It stars Steven Pasquale (The Bridges of Madison County) as carousel barker Billy Bigelow; Laura Osnes (Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) as his true love, millworker Julie Jordan; Jenn Gambatese (Lyric’s The Sound of Music) as Carrie Pipperidge; Matthew Hydzik (Side Show) as Carrie’s beau Enoch Snow; Denyce Graves (Lyric’s Carmen) as Nettie Fowler; Jarrod Emick (Damn Yankees) as Jigger Craigin; Charlotte d’Amboise (Pippin) as Mrs. Mullin; and Tony Roberts (Victor, Victoria) as the Starkeeper.
Conductor David Chase makes his Lyric debut with Carousel, leading members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Chase is a regular collaborator with director/choreographer Rob Ashford. Visual artist Paolo Ventura makes his theatrical debut as set designer. Tony Award-winning Catherine Zuber is costume designer. Neil Austin is lighting designer, Mark Grey is sound designer, and Michael Black is chorus master.
The opening night performance of Carousel will be broadcast on 98.7 WFMT and streamed on wfmt.com on Sunday, April 12 at 7:15pm.
Carousel ticketholders can visit the new gallery exhibit “Creating Carousel” before curtain and during intermission of all performances. Located in the Opera Club on the lower level of the Civic Opera House, the exhibit includes set design paintings, set model elements, and a video interview with artist Paolo Ventura, costume design drawings by Catherine Zuber, and some vintage carousel elements on loan from Architectural Artifacts. It is free to all ticket holders and will be on display through early May. The exhibit is co-curated by Michael Schoenig and Scott Marr.
This month marks the 70th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of Carousel, which had its first performance April 19, 1945.
The Company
Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale and The Company
The Company
Laura Osnes
Steven Pasquale, David Lively and Laura Osnes
Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale
Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale
Steven Pasquale and Laura Osnes
Denyce Graves and Company
Jenn Gambatese, Denyce Graves and Company
Jenn Gambatese, Laura Osnes and Company
Jenn Gambatese, Matthew Hydzik and Company
Jenn Gambatese and Matthew Hydzik
Jarrod Emick and Company
The Company
Charlotte d’Amboise, Steven Pasquale and Jarrod Emick
Steven Pasquale
Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale and Jarrod Emick
Denyce Graves
The Company
Matthew Hydzik, Jenn Gambatese and Jarrod Emick
Steven Pasquale and Jarrod Emick
Denyce Graves, Steven Pasquale and Laura Osnes
Tony Roberts and Steven Pasquale
Steven Pasquale, Abigail Simon, and Tony Roberts
Charlotte d’Amboise and Company
Charlotte d’Amboise and Company
Abigail Simon, Martin Harvey, Charlotte d’Amboise and Company
Steven Pasquale, Abigail Simon, and Laura Osnes
Tony Roberts
Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale and Company
The Company in the finale
photos by Todd Rosenberg and Robert Kusel
Carousel
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr
ends on May 3, 2015
for tickets, call 312-827-5600 or visit Lyric Opera
for more shows, visit Theatre in Chicago