Jennifer Ellis, Ciaran Sheehan & Leigh Barrett Star in Reagle's CAROUSEL, Beginning Today

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston opens its 48th consecutive summer season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's masterpiece CAROUSEL, today, June 9, 2016. CAROUSEL will run for eight performances at the Robinson Theatre (617 Lexington St. Waltham, MA, 02452).

Directed and Choreographed by Rachel Bertone (The Wild Party, Guys & Dolls), CAROUSEL will feature seasoned Broadway performers alongside regional talent. Heading the cast are IRNE Award winner Jennifer Ellis (My Fair Lady, The Most Happy Fella) as innocent millworker Julie Jordan, Broadway star Ciarán Sheehan (LES MISERABLES, Phantom) as swaggering carnival barker Billy Bigelow, and Elliot Norton/IRNE Award winner Leigh Barrett (Grey Gardens, Ragtime) as Nettie Fowler, the kind-hearted mother figure.

Under IRNE Award winning Music Director Dan Rodriguez (Guys and Dolls), CAROUSEL will also feature some of the most powerful music ever written for the stage including "If I Loved You", "June is Bustin' Out All Over" and the iconic "You'll Never Walk Alone."

CAROUSEL was named the best musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine. Spanning heaven and earth to explore themes of human frailty and resilience, CAROUSEL tells of roguish carnival barker Billy Bigelow and mill worker Julie Jordan who meet and fall in love. The tale that follows is a story of love, violence, hope and redemption. Music by Richard Rodgers. Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on Ferenc Molnar's Play "Lilion", as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer. Original Dances by Agnes de Mille.

Performance Schedule: Thurs, June 9 at 3:00 PM; Fri, June 10 at 7:30 PM [PRESS NIGHT]; Sat, June 11 NO SHOWS; Sun, June 12 at 2:00 PM; Thurs, June 16 at 3:00 PM; Fri, June 17 at 7:30 PM; Sat, June 18 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun, June 19 at 2:00 PM.

Single adult tickets are $35-$63; discounts apply for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased at www.reaglemusictheatre.com, by calling 781-891-5600, or at the theater box office. Season subscribers can save 20% on each show! Subscriptions available for purchase thru June 19th, 2016 by calling the box office.

Featured Cast of CAROUSEL:

*Denotes member of Actors Equity Association

JENNIFER ELLIS* (Julie Jordan): Jennifer is thrilled to return to Reagle Music Theatre after starring as Eileen Sherwood in the company's 2015 production of Wonderful Town. She has since made her Off-Broadway debut in Shear Madness NYC. Jennifer recently played Eliza Doolittle to critical acclaim in The Lyric Stage Company's production of My Fair Lady (named in the Wall Street Journal's "Best Theater of 2015" and earning a 2016 IRNE Award for Best Actress-Musical). Jennifer has performed in numerous regional productions earning rave reviews and multiple IRNE nominations: Comedy of Errors, Richard III, The Skin of Our Teeth (Commonwealth Shakespeare); Nine, Far From Heaven (ArtsImpulse Award, IRNE nomination, SpeakEasy); Out of Sterno, (IRNE nomination) Jacques Brel, The Most Happy Fella (IRNE Award, Gloucester Stage); The Cherry Orchard, Snow White (Peterborough Players); Urinetown, City of Angels, ?1776 (Lyric Stage); A Christmas Carol (Nat. Tour), Boston Lyric Opera. www.JenEllis.net

CIARAN SHEEHAN* (Billy Bigelow): Dublin born Ciarán Sheehan is an acclaimed actor, singer and voice healer who made his Broadway debut in "Les Miserables" (Babet, Marius). Shortly thereafter was cast as Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera." After a year of playing Raoul on Broadway, Ciarán then starred in the coveted role of The Phantom. He sang the role of the Phantom in over 1,000 performances during the course of two and a half years both on Broadway and in Toronto. Other NY stage performances include numerous appearances with The Irish Repertory Theatre Company; Shaughnessy in "The Hostage", Ciarán in "The Irish...and how they got that way..." by Frank McCourt, Sir Dinadan in "Camelot" (with Jeremy Irons), and Woody in "Finian's Rainbow." Television appearances include Law and Order, One Life To Live, Another World, Late Night with David Letterman, and numerous appearances on PBS Stations nationally. As a producer, Ciarán created the sold out productions of "The Molly Maguires" directed by Tony nominated director Sheryl Kaller at the FM Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA in which he also starred. He has three PBS specials to his credit - "The Irish...and how they got that way...", "From Galway to Broadway," and "Ciarán ~ An Evening with Friends." Recordings include The Irish...and how they got that way, Ha'penny Bridge, and Ciarán ~ An Evening with Friends Vol. I & 2. Ciarán's current projects include his three shows - "Ciarán ~ An Evening with Friends," "Awaken," and "Broadway and Beyond," as well as various special events and stage productions projects. He is also delighted to be collaborating on original music for his next CD project as well as in the early stages of an autobiography book project. He studies voice with David Jones and acting with Terry Schreiber and Larry Moss in New York City. www.ciaransheehan.com

LEIGH BARRETT* (Nettie Fowler): A Boston-area favorite, Leigh has graced both the operatic and musical theatre stages. Although she has her degree from Baldwin Wallace College in Voice Performance, she has found her home on the musical theatre stage. Leigh is thrilled to be making her Reagle Music Theatre debut under the direction of Rachel Bertone and joining this wonderful cast to bring this R&H classic to life. Boston area audiences will know her from her work on local stages including-The Lyric Stage Company: Sondheim on Sondheim, Grey Gardens (Little/Big Edie), Souvenir (Florence Foster Jenkins), Follies (Sally Plummer), Little Night Music (Charlotte), Animal Crackers (Mrs. Rittenhouse), Big River (Miss Watson/Sally Phelps), Nicholas Nichelby (Miss La Creevy, Peg Sliderscew); SpeakEasy Stage Company: Passion (Fosca), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie), Adding Machine (Mrs. One/Mae/Prisoner's Wife), A Class Act (Lucy-IRNE Award), Elegies, Songs for a New World, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Drood); New Repertory Theatre: Closer Than Ever (director/woman 1), Into the Woods (Baker's Wife), Indulgences (Advisor 1), Dessa Rose (Ruth), The Wild Party (Madeleine True), Ragtime (Mother), The Threepenny Opera (Jenny); Stoneham Theatre: Gypsy (Mama Rose), Picnic (Irma), Pal Joey (Velma) IRNE award, Christmas Carol (Past), You Never Know; Central Square Theatre: Car Talk (Sheila); Gloucester Stage Company: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well; North Shore Music Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Mrs Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past), Singing in the Rain (Ms Dinsmore/Dora Bailey), Sleeping Beauty, My Fair Lady. Leigh is the proud recipient of two Elliot Norton Awards and two IRNEs. When not onstage, Ms. Barrett is a vocal and acting coach, director in Massachusetts. www.LeighBarrett.com

CAROUSEL will also feature Jessica Kundla as Carrie Pipperidge, Dan Prior as Enoch Snow, Todd Yard as Jigger Craigin, Karen Fanale as Mrs. Mullin, Kyra Christopher as Louise Bigelow, Stephen Rourke as Mr. Bascombe and Rick Sherburne as The Starkeeper.

CREATIVE TEAM:

ROBERT J. EAGLE (ProducingArtistic Director): Robert J. Eagle founded the Reagle Music Theatre in 1969. He has produced and directed over three hundred productions during his career. He is a pioneer in blending talents of professional and amateur performers, creating a unique performing and learning environment for both, while increasing pleasure for Reagle audiences. A retired Waltham Public School teacher and administrator, Bob established a unique relationship between the Waltham Schools and Reagle almost fifty years ago. He received a citation from the American Theatre Wing for his dedication to the promotion of education and the arts, for founding and operating the then "Reagle Players," and for being the catalyst for the 1.2 million dollar addition and improvements to the Fine Arts Center at Waltham High School. Eagle has been recognized for outstanding achievement in the arts and education by Boston College (Boston, MA) and The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), where he received Master's degrees from both. Eagle is very proud of the educational programs originated by Reagle at Waltham High, as well as the record-breaking number of IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England) Awards bestowed on Reagle Music Theatre.

RACHEL BERTONE (Director/Choreographer): Rachel Bertone is a director, choreographer, performer, and teacher in the Boston area. As a director/choreographer, her work has been seen on stages both in New York and at top Boston professional theaters such as Reagle Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Company, and Moonbox Productions. Most recently her production of Musical of Musicals earned six IRNE nominations for Best Direction, Best Choreography, and Best Musical, as well as an Elliot Norton Award nomination for Most Outstanding Musical. Over the last few years, she has had the great honor of Assistant Directing for Broadway veterans such as David Hugo (Les Miserables), Kirby Ward (Fiddler), and Larry Sousa (Bye, Bye, Birdie) at Reagle Music Theatre. Additional directing and choreography credits include: Creative License (NYCFringe Festival), West Side Story (IRNE Nomination: Best Choreography), Joseph...Dreamcoat (Turtle Lane), Guys and Dolls (IRNE Nomination: Best Choreography), My Fair Lady, South Pacific (Reagle Music Theatre), City of Angels, Big River, Animal Crackers (Lyric Stage), Company, A New Brain, Floyd Collins (Moonbox Productions). Currently she is directing John LaChiusa's The Wild Party at Moonbox Productions. Holding a BFA in Dance from The Boston Conservatory, Rachel is on faculty at The Boston Conservatory, A.R.T. Institute at Harvard University, Boston Ballet, The Jeannette Neill Dance Studio, Artbarn Community Theater and serves as the Associate Director of Reagle Music Theatre's Youth Programs.

DAN RODRIGUEZ (Music Director): Dan Rodriguez has been the resident music director at Reagle for the past 5 years, with recent favorites including Wonderful Town, Guys and Dolls, and Singin' in the Rain. Dan's other area credits include work with the Huntington Theatre Company (A Little Night Music), American Repertory Theatre (The Lily's Revenge, Pippin), Moonbox Productions (Musical of Musicals, Company), and many other area theaters, as well as work at the Boston Conservatory, Emerson College and other schools. His work has earned him four IRNE Awards and has been praised by such luminaries as Adam Guettel and Stephen Schwartz.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston (RMT) has been bringing Broadway-quality musical theatre to the greater Boston area for 48 seasons. Under the creative direction of Robert J. Eagle the non-profit theater company's professional productions have earned IRNE and Moss Hart Memorial Awards as well as rave reviews from critics. Reagle's productions have attracted Broadway stars and legendary performers including Patti LuPone, Sally Struthers, Vicki Lawrence, Andrea McArdle and Shirley Jones. RMT is also committed to supporting arts education for area youth through Youth Education programs and by using theatre techniques to support the Waltham Public Schools' curriculum. For the latest information on Reagle Music Theatre's programs and performances see www.reaglemusictheatre.org, and follow RMT on Facebook (ReagleMusicTheatre) and Twitter (@ReagleMusicThtr).

CAROUSEL is presented through special arrangement of R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.

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