Jason Danieley, Jessie Mueller & More Join NY Phil's CAROUSEL Concert

[Kelly2]

Just curious, based on past experience, do you think it will just be the songs or will some of the scenes be included too? The rehearsal photos indicate that there will be some mild staging/prop usage, so I just wasn't sure what to expect.

[darquegk]

The show honestly depends on Billy and Julie as actors at LEAST as much as singers, because in the years since the premiere, with changing social mores, it grows harder and harder to accept the premise that "Billy was an ultimately loving but complicated man, whose ineloquence led to his fists doing some of the talking for him" and STILL see him as, if not a hero, at least a lovable antihero.

[OKBroadwayFan]

Just got my tickets this afternoon. Very excited!

[EricMontreal22]

I would love if they could recreate Agnes DeMille's ballets--at least in Act II. Her choreography has been notated and preserved, so it is out there--and of course for the film it was botched.

"Just curious, based on past experience, do you think it will just be the songs or will some of the scenes be included too?"

More and more it seems that basically the entire show is--and they tend to be off book, but it depends. I remember Camelot being more staged than South Pacific (I believe they were in the same series) and Company was fairly staged...

[GavestonPS]

That is likely to sound a bit stupid given that dance IS action.

No, it doesn't sound stupid at all. The problem is that we now use the word "action" in two distinct senses.

Thanks to "action movies", we now use the word "action" when we really mean "stage business" or "activity", i.e., physical motion. In that sense, yes, dance is active.

But the older and more relevant meaning of the word "action" was defined by Aristotle in his POETICS. In that sense, action is sa choice made by an agent (or "character"--another word with multiple meanings) that materially changes the world of the play.

The dream ballet in OKLAHOMA! is action in both senses because the dream scares Laurie into changing her decision as to whom she will accompany to the social.

I haven't seen CAROUSEL on stage recently, so it probably isn't fair to comment. But to me, the play sort of stops dead while Billy watches his daughter dance and feud with the Snow children. And that's because while full of activity, the sequence does little to change the world of the play. (This is debatable, since seeing his daughter being mistreated inspires Billy to try to contact her. For me, however, it's a long way to go for a small result. Just imo.)

My opinion has nothing to do with the quality of the choreography.

[Play Esq.]

Question: going on Friday and would like to purchase a recording beforehand. Audra's performance is not available on itunes or mp3 amazon so I'm left wondering: OBC or wait for the Lincoln Center to come via snail mail?

[Kelly2]

Some photos of the set via Twitter. Looks BEAUTIFUL.

[Kelly2]

One more. Even more excited now, if possible. Tomorrow night!

[shrekster224]

Holy crap, how did they get Tiler Peck and Rob Fairchild from NYCB??

Does anyone have a full list of the ensemble?

[Kelly2]

I'd also be interested in an ensemble list if somebody's got one, if not I'm sure I can repost it from the program tomorrow night.

I still can't get over the sets. Beautiful.

[Kelly2]

One more!

[Kelly2]

Annnd one more. This one courtesy of Robert Fairchild's twitter.

[TalkinLoud]

Are they still planning on broadcasting this in movie theatres like they did Company?

[Kelly2]

Were they ever planning on the movie theatre thing with this? Did I miss that? I thought it was just the PBS broadcast.

[Kelly2]

Today's the day! :) Is anyone going tonight?

[SondheimFan5]

Are they using the Broadway orchestrations or the film orchestrations? I know the John Wilson Orchesrta used the film orchestrations for their R&H tribute because they are larger and more suitable for a symphony concert.

[Kelly2]

Another gorgeous photo from the NYPhil. And a birdie tells me the ensemble is fully costumed and wigged.

[NewYorkTheater]

Kelli O’Hara first learned about Carousel when she performed in it in high school. “I fell madly in love with it. It remains a very favorite.” She, co-star Nathan Gunn and John Collum (making his New York Philharmonic debut) explain when they first learned about the musical and why they think it is so beloved.


Kelli O'Hara, Nathan Gunn and John Cullum on Why Carousel Is So Beloved

[musikman]

Kelly2, I'll be there tonight! I'm trying not to hype it up too much for myself, but I'm just so anxious and excited to finally see it.

[Play Esq.]

NewYorkTheater...couple corrections:

1) It is not "Carousel at the New York Philharmonic and Live at Lincoln Center" as the New York Phil is an orchestra not a place (the venue the orchestra performs at is Avery Fisher Hall).

2) Unless you interviewed O’Hara, Gunn, and Collum directly, you should attribute the source of the quotes.

[NewYorkTheater]

Play Esq.
1.The headline I wrote was so that people could find my story: "New York Philharmonic" is the more likely search engine term than "Avery Fisher Hall"
2. The comments by the stars, delivered to me by e-mail, were in direct response to questions I asked them.

[EricMontreal22]

I liked your piece, NewYorkTheater--thanks for the link. I know this is quibbling,but inits way isn't Carousel as groundbreaking as Oklahoma!?

[NewYorkTheater]

Thanks Eric.
Ok, I'll concede that "In its way," Carousel is groundbreaking, but I don't think you'll find too many people who will argue that it is just as groundbreaking as Oklahoma, which transformed musical theater.