MUSICAL CAROUSEL COMES TO THE WEST END

The classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical CAROUSEL, will begin a major UK tour this Autumn, opening at the Churchill Theatre Bromley on Friday 26 September, before playing The Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, New Victoria Theatre Working, Theatre Royal Plymouth, New Wimbledon Theatre and the penultimate venue before the West End, The Manchester Opera House. The show will then open in London at The Savoy Theatre on 22 November, with a press night on Tuesday 2 December.

One of the truly great classic musicals, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL broke the mould with its gritty, courageous and emotional look at relationships. The story of the love affair between Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking CAROUSEL barker, and Julie Jordan, a naïve young mill worker, CAROUSEL is set to one of the most ravishing and celebrated scores of all time, the composer Rodger’s personal favourite, including The CAROUSEL Waltz, If I Loved You, June is Bustin’ Out All Over and You’ll Never Walk Alone. CAROUSEL has captivated audiences across the world since its original Broadway opening in 1945 and was lauded ‘Best Musical of its Century’ by Time Magazine in 1999.

In this new production by award-winning director, Lindsay Posner, Lesley Garrett, CBE, Britain’s most popular soprano, who recently lifted the roof at the London Palladium as the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, plays the pivotal role of ‘Nettie’. Lesley is joined by Jeremiah James as ‘Billy Bigelow’. Best-known as a member of the internationally renowned recording group, TEATRO, Jeremiah has also appeared in the Broadway productions of Legally Blonde: The Musical, The Full Monty and White Christmas. Playing ‘Julie Jordan’ is Alexandra Silber, who was most recently at London’s Savoy Theatre in the award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Lindsay Posner has most recently directed Fiddler On The Roof starring Henry Goodman at The Savoy Theatre and The Crucible Theatre Sheffield. Other credits include David Mamet’s A Life in The Theatre with Patrick Stewart and Oleanna with Julia Stiles and Aaron Eckhart, Sam Shepherd’s Fool For Love with Juliette Lewis (all West End), and Tom and Viv at the Almeida Theatre. Choreographer Adam Cooper was originally a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, before he famously took the lead role in Matthew Bourne’s male Swan Lake. He subsequently worked extensively in musical theatre starring in On Your Toes, Singin’ in the Rain and more recently as ‘Sky Masterson’ in the long running West End hit Guys and Dolls.

His choreography credits include On Your Toes (Leicester Haymarket & Royal Festival Hall), Singin In The Rain at Sadler’s Wells and Grand Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award.

CAROUSEL is designed by William Dudley (Kiss Me Kate, A Streetcar Named Desire, Woman In White, Hitchcock Blonde) with costumes by Deirdre Clancey and lighting by Peter Mumford, orchestrations by Larry Blank and musical direction by David Firman.

CAROUSEL is produced by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions, Michael Edward & Carole Winter, Tiger/WSZ, Stevens-O'Boyle, and Tulchin/Bartner/Ambassador Theatre Group in association with The Churchill, Bromley.