Teal Wicks & More Lead Goodspeed Musicals' CAROUSEL This Summer, 7/13 - 9/23

Goodspeed Musicals will welcome Carousel to the main stage this summer. The classic Golden Age musical will run from July 13 – September 23 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Carousel and will celebrate an official opening night on August 1, 2012. 

Carousel has captivated audiences around the world with the powerful love story of an innocent young millworker and swaggering carousel barker. He meets a tragic end but is given one chance for redemption by delivering hope to the daughter he never knew and whispering words left unspoken to his wife. 

Carousel features Music by Richard Rodgers and Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Ferenc Molnár's play Liliom as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer. Original Dances are by Agnes De Mille.

The cast will be led by Teal Wicks as Julie Jordan and James Snyder as Billy Bigelow. Wicks appeared in Broadway's Wicked and Goodspeed's 1776 and Pippin. Snyder appeared in Broadway's Cry-Baby. Starkeeper will be played by Ronn Carroll whose numerous Broadway credits include Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, How To Succeed…, Crazy For You, and Gypsy. Carroll's Goodspeed credits include How To Succeed…, Camelot, 1776, and The Little Rascals. Carrie Pipperidge will be played by Jenn Gambatese who appeared in Broadway's Is He Dead?, Tarzan, All Shook Up, A Year With Frog and Toad, Hairspray, and Footloose. Gambatese also charmed audiences as Annie Oakley in Goodspeed's Annie Get Your Gun and All Shook Up at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre. Enoch Snow will be played by Jeff Kready of Broadway's Billy Elliot: The Musical, Sunday in the Park with George, and Les Misérables.

Ms. Mullin will be played by Deanne Lorette of Broadway's La Bête. Nettie Fowler will be played by Anne Kanengeiser who appeared in Broadway's Little Women and Ragtime. Jigger will be played by Tally Sessions of Broadway's The House of Blue Leaves and Goodspeed's Lizzie Borden at The Norma Terris Theatre.

The ensemble includes Jessica Bishop (Broadway's West Side Story and The Phantom of the Opera), Beth Crandall (Broadway's West Side Story), Belle Doraz of Madison, Conn. as a Snow Child (Goodspeed's Show Boat), Jennifer Evans (Broadway's Ragtime and A Tale of Two Cities and Goodspeed's Where's Charley and Very Good Eddie), Eloise Kropp as Louise, Edward Lawrence, Leisa Mather, Jonathan Rayson as Mr. Bascombe (Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors and A Year With Frog and Toad), Sam Rodgers, Michael Scirrotto, Jet Thomason (Goodspeed's Show Boat), Travis Waldschmidt, AaRon Young (Goodspeed's Annie Get Your Gun), and a Snow Child to be announced. The Swings are Maria Briggs and Andrew Scott Holmes.

Carousel will be directed by Rob Ruggiero who helmed audience favorite Show Boat last season at Goodspeed as well as Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Mr. Ruggiero also directed Broadway's High and Looped. Choreographer for this production will be Parker Esse who served as Associate Choreographer for Broadway's Finian's Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities.

Michael Schweikardt will be the Scenic Designer. His designs have been seen in Goodspeed's Show Boat, Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776. Alejo Vietti will serve as Costume Designer. Vietti also designed Goodspeed's Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot and Meet John Doe at The Norma Terris Theatre. Lighting design will be by John Lasiter who served as Lighting Designer for Goodspeed's Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, and 1776, and Broadway's High. Sound design will be by Jay Hilton who is in his 26th season at Goodspeed.

The Music Director for Carousel will be Michael O'Flaherty who is in his 21st season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. F. Wade Russo will be Assistant Music Director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who orchestrated Goodspeed's Mame, Show Boat, My One And Only, How To Succeed…, Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, The Boy Friend, and many more.

Carousel is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Carousel will run July 13 through September 23, 2012 [Official Press Opening August 1, 2012]. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

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