Wednesdays @ One welcomes back to the Baker Community Center theater historian Charles Troy, who brings to life the engaging backstory of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, Carousel, on the show’s 80th anniversary.
Charles Troy’s unique presentations employ a seamless blend of recorded songs (with lyrics projected on screen), original graphics, vintage photos, historic video, and an extensively researched, scripted narrative to dramatize the stories behind the great creations of the American Musical Theater.
Carousel is the second musical by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. The 1945 work revolves around carousel barker Billy Bigelow, whose romance with millworker Julie Jordan comes at the price of both their jobs. He participates in a robbery to provide for Julie and their unborn child; after it goes tragically wrong, he is given a chance to make things right. A secondary plot line deals with millworker Carrie Pipperidge and her romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow. The show includes the well-known songs “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin' Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Richard Rodgers later wrote that Carousel was his favorite of all his musicals.
Wednesdays @ One events are presented free of charge, thanks to the generous support of Colonial Café.