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Carousel with the New York PhilharmonicOpening Date: Feb 27, 2013
Closing Date: March 2, 2013 Air date: April 26, 2013 Medium: television Where to watch: DVD, Amazon Prime, BroadwayHD |
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Stage Production Notes
The original production of Carousel opened on Broadway in 1945. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and choreographed by Agnes De Mille, the production starred John Raitt and Jan Clayton.
Carousel was unique for being one of the first Broadway musicals to have serious themes, dealing with death, crime, and violence. The show was also unique for the size of its orchestra. Rodgers reportedly demanded an larger than usual orchestra, with 39 players instead of the usual 28.
A film version was released by MGM in 1956 starring Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones.
The musical was revived in a popular production directed by Nicholas Hytner in London in 1992. The production transferred to Broadway in 1994 where it won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
In 1999 TIME Magazine declared Carousel “the best musical of the 20th century.”
Filmed Production Notes
The New York Philharmonic staged concert version opened on February 27, 2013 for a limited engagement of five performances at Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center, New York. Tickets for the show ranged in price from $95 to $245.
The production featured an orchestra of 71 players, including 50 string players, and a chorus of 32 people.
The concert version received mixed reviews. Several critics praised the musical direction, and noted the performances of Kelli O’Hara and Stephanie Blythe. There was less enthusiasm for Nathan Gunn’s portrayal of Billie. The New York Times praised the production “as gorgeously sung a production…as you are ever likely to hear.” Playbill described it as “full-value and memorable.” Backstage was less enthused, claiming “the drama remains absent” and that the production “has scrubbed out every bit of sexuality and emotional darkness it can…”
Reviews of the Live Capture
The live capture received rave reviews. Brad Hathaway called the filmed production “one of the greatest concert presentations of a musical that I’ve ever seen”. Carol Jean Delmar writing for Opera Theater Ink stated:
The original production of Carousel opened on Broadway in 1945. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and choreographed by Agnes De Mille, the production starred John Raitt and Jan Clayton.
Carousel was unique for being one of the first Broadway musicals to have serious themes, dealing with death, crime, and violence. The show was also unique for the size of its orchestra. Rodgers reportedly demanded an larger than usual orchestra, with 39 players instead of the usual 28.
A film version was released by MGM in 1956 starring Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones.
The musical was revived in a popular production directed by Nicholas Hytner in London in 1992. The production transferred to Broadway in 1994 where it won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
In 1999 TIME Magazine declared Carousel “the best musical of the 20th century.”
Filmed Production Notes
The New York Philharmonic staged concert version opened on February 27, 2013 for a limited engagement of five performances at Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center, New York. Tickets for the show ranged in price from $95 to $245.
The production featured an orchestra of 71 players, including 50 string players, and a chorus of 32 people.
The concert version received mixed reviews. Several critics praised the musical direction, and noted the performances of Kelli O’Hara and Stephanie Blythe. There was less enthusiasm for Nathan Gunn’s portrayal of Billie. The New York Times praised the production “as gorgeously sung a production…as you are ever likely to hear.” Playbill described it as “full-value and memorable.” Backstage was less enthused, claiming “the drama remains absent” and that the production “has scrubbed out every bit of sexuality and emotional darkness it can…”
Reviews of the Live Capture
The live capture received rave reviews. Brad Hathaway called the filmed production “one of the greatest concert presentations of a musical that I’ve ever seen”. Carol Jean Delmar writing for Opera Theater Ink stated:
...the actors’ close-ups allowed me to key into the characters’ emotionality more keenly than had I been in the theater. I was watching this “Carousel” alone, so I was free of the inhibitions I might have felt had I been sitting next to a stranger in the audience. The result was a knock on the head that hit me like a bolt of lightning with a need to analyze each character’s essence as the tears welled up in my eyes.
Delmar also noted that “This television version of “Carousel” enabled us to hear the glorious music in a different light,” - stating that the music became more intimate as a result of the filmed live production.
It was announced in late 2016 that the DVD of the production would be made available in February 2017.
In response to the COVID-19 shutdown, Lincoln Center released Carousel for free on their YouTube channel, Lincoln Center at Home. Carousel was available for free from June 5th at 8pm until September 8, 2020.
Carousel is available on DVD and Amazon Prime (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links).
It was announced in late 2016 that the DVD of the production would be made available in February 2017.
In response to the COVID-19 shutdown, Lincoln Center released Carousel for free on their YouTube channel, Lincoln Center at Home. Carousel was available for free from June 5th at 8pm until September 8, 2020.
Carousel is available on DVD and Amazon Prime (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links).
Carousel PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
Producer: Andrew Carl Wilik
Book, Lyrics and Book: Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: John Rando, Film: Glenn Weiss
Choreography: Warren Carlyle
Scenic Design: Allen Moyer
Costume Design: David C. Woolard
Lighting Design: Ken Billington
Sound Design: Peter Fitzgerald
Stage Manager: Peter Hanson
Conductor: Rob Fisher
Cast: Kelli O’Hara (Julie Jordan), Nathan Gunn (Billie Bigelow), Stephanie Blythe (Nettie Fowler), Jessie Mueller (Carrie Pipperidge), Jason Danieley (Enoch Snow), Shuler Hensley (Jigger Craigin), Kate Burton (Mrs. Mullin), John Cullum (Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon), Tiler Peck (Louise), Robert Fairchild (Carnival Boy)
Theatre: Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
Producer: Andrew Carl Wilik
Book, Lyrics and Book: Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: John Rando, Film: Glenn Weiss
Choreography: Warren Carlyle
Scenic Design: Allen Moyer
Costume Design: David C. Woolard
Lighting Design: Ken Billington
Sound Design: Peter Fitzgerald
Stage Manager: Peter Hanson
Conductor: Rob Fisher
Cast: Kelli O’Hara (Julie Jordan), Nathan Gunn (Billie Bigelow), Stephanie Blythe (Nettie Fowler), Jessie Mueller (Carrie Pipperidge), Jason Danieley (Enoch Snow), Shuler Hensley (Jigger Craigin), Kate Burton (Mrs. Mullin), John Cullum (Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon), Tiler Peck (Louise), Robert Fairchild (Carnival Boy)
Sources
- Martin Bookspan, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel,” PBS website (2013)
- Carol Jean Delmar, “A Dark ‘Carousel’ for 2013 Reflects the Tide of the Times,” Opera Theater Ink (April 29, 2013)
- Ruthie Fierberg, “Live From Lincoln Center: Carousel Starring Kelli O’Hara to Be Released on DVD,” Playbill (Dec 27, 2016)
- Bert Fink, “Turns on the Carousel,” Rodgers and Hammerstein website (undated)
- Erik Haagensen, 'Carousel' Too Cute in Concert by the NY Philharmonic,”Backstage (Feb 28, 2013)
- Brad Hathaway, “Theater Shelf: Philharmonic’s Staged Concert of Carousel On Line For Very Limited Time,” Florida Theatre On Stage (April 30, 1930)
- Adam Hetrick, “PBS to Air NY Philharmonic's Carousel With Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn; Warren Carlyle Will Choreograph,” Playbill (Jan 14, 2013)
- Charles Isherwood, “In a Sunny Setting, Lives Dappled by Shadow: ‘Carousel,’ With New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall”, New York Times (Feb 28, 2013)
- New York Philharmonic, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel,” New York Philharmonic website (2013)
- Stage Tube, “STAGE TUBE: Watch the Full PBS Special - Live from Lincoln Center's CAROUSEL!” Broadway World.com (April 28, 2013)
- Steven Suskin, “A Memorable Carousel, Starring Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn,” Playbill (March 1, 2013)
- Mark Vitali, Linda Qiu, “Live Music from Lyric’s Carousel” Chicago Tonight (April 14, 2015)
Written by Luisa Lyons (January, 2017)