Carousel - Lincoln Center 1994

[temms]

So, I was YouTubing and lost my breath a bit when I discovered someone posted this. I have no idea how long it may stay up, but this remains possibly the greatest number I've ever seen on a Broadway stage. 5:37 in particular is quite possibly the single most thrilling moment I've ever experienced in a theatre.

I had forgotten some of the details of the staging, but I'm reminded how utterly brilliant it was.
The Carousel Waltz

[Gypsy9]

Yes, the 1994 Lincoln Center production of CAROUSEL was indeed thrilling and brilliant. Audra McDonald and Michael Hayden and the actress playing the female lead were all wonderful. Hayden might not have had John Raitt's voice, but his acting was superb. The staging of the prologue was special, but then the staging of the whole musical was special. I will always remember this CAROUSEL as being a highlight of my 60 years of theatergoing.

[Jon]

The leading actress was Sally Murphy, who later appeared on Broadwahy in The Wild Party, the Fiddler on the Roof revival, and August: Osage County, and Off-Broadway in A Man of No Importance. She is a member of the Ste;ppenwolf ensemble.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Hayden was robbed of a Tony nomination that season. Can't remember if Murphy was nominated. McDonald stole that entire season with her Carrie Pipperidge.

[AC126748]

Still hard to believe that neither Hayden nor Murphy were nominated. Both were sublime.

And this thread can go no further without mentioning the late, wonderful Shirley Verrett's performance as Nettie.

[CarlosAlberto]

This took me all the way back to 1994, I had recently moved back to NYC after living 3 years in Puerto Rico. This was the first Broadway production I saw upon returning.

This production was top-notch and first rate all-the-way!!

I had forgotten how thrilling the opening Carousel Waltz was. Thanks to whoever snuck in their camera and preserved this.

[sundayclothes2]

I remember seeing this but was young and don't remember much about it. Looking at the cast list, I can't believe how many great performers were in that show! Taye Diggs, Brian d'Arcy James, Eddie Korbich, Audra "Ann" McDonald, Sally Murphy...and Fisher Stevens was Jigger Craigin??!

[DottieD'Luscia]

One of my most favorite Broadway productions. Like CarlosAlberto said, thrilling!! Watching that clip gave me chills and I remember having tears in my eyes the first time I saw it. The ballet in the 2nd act was stunning.

I also saw the tour when it was in New Haven, CT, and Sarah Uriarte Berry as Julie gave such a beautiful and wonderfully nuanced performance.

[wickedfan]

Thank God someone posted this! I have another video of the waltz with the entire original company about two weeks into previews, though it is much worse quality (colors are faded and the camera only captures the thrust, nothing behind it). Still, this number is absolutely thrilling as was the rest of the production.

Indeed Murphy and Hayden SHOULD have been nominated for Tony Awards but weren't due to a lot of bad press about their voices. I never understood the Murphy backlash about her voice, which I find to be as strong as any Julie Jordan. And her acting was far and away the best of any of them.

Watching this video shows how many of the recent revivals are just so sub-par. Aside from the production values (28 piece orchestra, cast of 40+, and the design can't be rivaled), just the creativity that went into this production is magnificent. The fact that Nicholas Hytner, Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Bob Crowley were able to come up with THAT for the prologue out of essentially just the music and little clues in the script (I love that we actually get to SEE Julie "gaze absent minded at the roof" at the mill) proves what geniuses they are (were, sadly, in MacMillan's case). We desperately need another Hytner musical with a Crowley design. Imagine what those two could do with Carnival, ...Forum, or Lady in the Dark.

[Jon]

Sure, Sally should have been nominated over Susan Wood from the GREASE revival, but that year no one stood a chance against that other Murphy gal... Donna.

[DottieD'Luscia]

There is an interesting story about how the Act 2 ballet was choreographed, as I believe Kenneth MacMillan had already passed away prior to the London production opening.

[wickedfan]

According to an insert in the RNT production, MacMillan died towards the end of rehearsals, with the Prologue, June is Bustin Out All Over, and the majority of the Act 2 ballet completed. His assistant, Jane Elliott, and two company members finished the rest based on his notes. This included the beginning of the Act 2 ballet (Louise's solo right before her friends come on), and Blow High Blow Low. The latter I know was changed for Broadway and possibly again when it went on tour. Hytner was never really happy with how it turned out, making it less and less of a dance piece with each incarnation.

[MTVMANN]

Anyone have the concert from PBS that they did?

Here is a clip of "If I Loved You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVdI_9qTAuo&feature=related

[Gaveston2]

Thank you, temms. I didn't see the show and hadn't seen that clip.

I meant to watch a minute or two and then couldn't look away!

[ahhrealmonsters]

I watched it at the Lincoln Center library (at TOFT) for an assignment in college, and I kept on re-watching that opening scene. Gah, I still get chills.

[CurtainPullDowner]

I've told this before, but I saw this production in London, literally after stepping off a plane, because it was the final performance. I went into the theatre, the lights went down and there was that clock and I thought, oh sh*t, I'm in the wrong theatre, since I knew CAROUSEL like the back of my hand.
I was extremely surprised and relieved when the music started and saw what was unfolding before my eyes.
Crowley's sets were magical, as was the whole show.

[jo]

On an aside -- I never saw the Hytner staging of Carousel ( either at the West End or at Lincoln Center) but I had heard so much and so many good things about it, than when I was in London in 1999, I took the chance to see a British production of an American landmark musical, Oklahoma!

[ThankstoPhantom]

I didn't see this production, however that video was so theatrically compelling that I did, indeed, cry from how moving and inspirational it seemed.

[Wildcard]

This production ranks in the top 5 shows I've ever seen. Prior to seeing this show, my only exposure to Carousel was the film. The staging was excellent and how the themes of the show were explored impressed me. Simple movements such as how the carousel formed or how the boats went off to the clambake was pure theatrical magic.

[ClumsyDude15]

Is it too much to ask for a production like this one to occur again? That opening was stunning, and Carousel is one of my absolute favorite musicals, and I'd kill for a production that didn't strip it of everything it could be and leave it empty like some tin can like how many revivals are being done these days.

[ClumsyDude15]

The Tony performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qDb7YnRNxug#!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Audra McDonald reportedly fainted during her audition but was cast anyway (and won her first Tony).

[sidwich]

I saw this production when it was still at the Royal National Theatre in London, and as thrilling as this clip is, it was even more amazing at the RNT. I'll never forget the collective audience gasp when the Carousel finally emerges fully formed.

In particular, the Act II ballet was one of the most jaw-dropping pieces I've seen in the theatre. The Broadway version was also good, but there was something about the MacMillan choreography set on the original dancers was just a little bit more.

[HeyMrMusic]

This production is one of those "If you could go back in time" shows for me. I love Carousel but haven't actually seen a production. And this one, well I only hear raves about it and I love the cast recording (Audra's "Mister Snow"!). Thank you for posting those clips. They are beautiful. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see it live. The reveal of the carousel...no words. Breathless.

[AC126748]

Audra McDonald reportedly fainted during her audition but was cast anyway (and won her first Tony).

It's true. Audra actually had several high-profile fainting spells early in her career, which she talked about in an interview. I believe she said that she suffered from stage fright now a while, which caused her to hyperventilate and pass out.

[Gothampc]

"Audra actually had several high-profile fainting spells early in her career, which she talked about in an interview. I believe she said that she suffered from stage fright now a while, which caused her to hyperventilate and pass out."

You would think a program like Juilliard would be able to help her with that.