''Caroline, or Change'' is a musical with music by
Jeanine Tesori
Jeanine Tesori (known earlier in her career as Jeanine Levenson) is an American composer and musical arranger best known for her work in the theater. She is the most prolific and honored female theatrical composer in history, with five Broadway m ...
and lyrics and book by
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...
. The score combines
spirituals
Spirituals (also known as Negro spirituals, African American spirituals, Black spirituals, or spiritual music) is a genre of Christian music that is associated with Black Americans, which merged sub-Saharan African cultural heritage with the ex ...
, blues, Motown, classical music, and Jewish klezmer and folk music.
The show ran both Off-Broadway and on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
Public Theater
The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as the Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers.Epstein, Helen. ''Joe Papp: An American ...
. Director George C. Wolfe continued to workshop the musical at the Public Theater, where it opened on November 30, 2003, and closed on February 1, 2004.
Original Broadway Production
It transferred to
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
at the
Eugene O'Neill Theatre
The Eugene O'Neill Theatre, previously the Forrest Theatre and the Coronet Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 230 West 49th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and ...
on May 2, 2004 and closed on August 29, 2004 after 136 performances and 22 previews. The musical starred
Tonya Pinkins
Tonya Pinkins (born May 30, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Her award-winning debut feature film ''RED PILL'' was an official selection at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival, won the Best Black Lives Matter Feature and Best First Fea ...
in the title role,
Anika Noni Rose
Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for voicing Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess, as seen in ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009). She was named a Disney Legend in 2011.
...
as Emmie Thibodeaux,
Harrison Chad
Harrison Chad is an American actor known for his roles in Broadway musicals, television, and film.
Early life and education
Chad was born in New York City and started performing when he was six years old. He has performed in four Broadway show ...
as Noah Gellman,
Veanne Cox
Veanne Cox (born January 19, 1963) is an Emmy and Tony-nominated American stage and screen actress and former ballet dancer.
Early life
Cox was born in Norfolk, Virginia. She is a 1981 graduate of Manchester High School in Chesterfield, Virgin ...
as Rose Stopnick Gellman and
Chandra Wilson
Chandra Danette Wilson (born August 27, 1969) is an American actress and director. She is best known for her role as Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC television drama ''Grey's Anatomy'' since 2005, for which she has been nominated for the Emmy ...
as Dotty Moffett (all both off-and on-Broadway). The choreographer was Hope Clarke; scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez; costume design by
Paul Tazewell
Paul Tazewell is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, and opera and television. He received the 2016 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for '' Hamilton''. In 2016, he and his design team were awarded an Emmy for their work on ''The ...
; and lighting design by
Jules Fisher
Jules Fisher (born November 12, 1937) is an American lighting designer and producer. He is credited with lighting designs for more than 300 productions over the course of his 50-year career in Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensive ...
and Peggy Eisenhauer. Despite its relatively short run, it was critically acclaimed and nominated for six
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...
s, including Best Musical.
Original London Production
Opening in October 2006, a London production at the National Theatre on the Lyttelton stage, also directed by Wolfe, ran in repertory with Marianne Elliot's production of ''Thérèse Raquin'' to January 2007. The production did not transfer to the West End but did win the
Olivier Award
The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known a ...
for Best New Musical. The opening night cast in London starred Tonya Pinkins as Caroline. Other cast members included
Pippa Bennett-Warner
Philippa Elaine Fanti Bennett-Warner (born 23 July 1988) is a British actress. She was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award in 2010 for her performance as Cordelia in Michael Grandage's production of ''King Lear'', and long-listed for Best Actr ...
as Emmie Thibodeaux,
Anna Francolini
Anna Francolini (born 30 October 1973) is an English actress.
Early life
Francolini was born in Chertsey, Surrey, attended Bristol Grammar School and studied theatre at the University of Warwick. She also trained as a member of the National Y ...
as Rose Stopnick Gellman,
Hilton McRae
Hilton McRae (born 28 December 1949) is a Scottish actor, working in theatre, television and film.
Career
McRae was part of the radical theatre group 7:84 before graduating from the University of Edinburgh, and by 1977 he had joined the Royal ...
as Mr. Stopnick,
Perry Millward
Perry Millward (born 24 October 1992) is an English actor primarily known for his work on theatre, stage (especially in London, London's West End theatre, West End), and with a number of film and television credits. Millward was born in Sidcup, ...
, Jonny Weldon and Greg Bernstein alternating as Noah,
Clive Rowe
Clive Mark Rowe (born 27 March 1964) is a British actor, best known for his role as Norman "Duke" Ellington in BBC Children's drama ''The Story of Tracy Beaker''. He also starred as Mayor Doyle in the Disney show ''The Evermoor Chronicles''.
...
as the dryer/bus Joy Malcolm, Ramona Keller, and Nataylia Roni, as the Radio.
2018 London Revival
A revival was produced at the
Minerva Theatre, Chichester
The Minerva Theatre is a studio theatre seating, at full capacity, 310. It is run as part of the adjacent Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, and was opened in 1989.Daniel Evans' inaugural season as artistic director of
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...
, running from 6 May to 3 June 2017. The production was directed by Michael Longhurst, starred
Sharon D. Clarke
Sharon Delores Clarke (born 12 August 1966) is an English actress and singer. She is a three-time Olivier award winner, and is best known to television audiences for her role as Lola Griffin in the medical drama ''Holby City'', and as Grace O'Br ...
as Caroline and received critical acclaim earning five star reviews. The production transferred with Clarke to the
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. Roxana Silbert has been the artistic director since ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
from 12 March to 21 April 2018. The production transferred to the West End at the
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt i ...
, where it began playing on 20 November 2018, and ran until 2 March 2019, once again starring Clarke.
2021 Broadway Revival
A Broadway revival by Roundabout Theatre Company based on the Chichester production initially was announced to start previews on March 13, 2020 and open on April 7, 2020 at Studio 54. On March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. Rescheduled previews began October 8, 2021 and it officially opened on October 27 and ran through January 9, 2022. Direction was by Michael Longhurst with choreography by Ann Yee. The revival starred Sharon D. Clarke and Samantha Williams (Emmie).
Regional theatre
Pinkins and Anika Noni Rose (Emmie Thibodeaux) reprised their roles in late 2004 at the
Ahmanson Theatre
The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that compose the Los Angeles Music Center.
History
The theatre was built as a result of a donation from Howard F. Ahmanson Sr, the founder of H.F. Ahmanson & Co., an insurance and savings and ...
,
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, California and in January to February 2005 at the
Curran Theatre
The Curran Theatre, located at 445 Geary Street between Taylor and Mason Streets in the Theatre District of San Francisco, California opened in February 1922, and was named after its first owner, Homer Curran. As of 2014, the theater is owned by ...
,
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
, California. Its premiere in The Washington DC area at The Studio Theatre in 2006, starring Julia Nixon and Max Talisman, received rave reviews, and won The Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical (Nixon), and Outstanding Resident Musical. The Chicago premiere at the Court Theatre in fall 2008 earned four Jeff awards for director Charles Newell, Musical Director Doug Peck, star E. Faye Butler, and best production of a musical at a large scale theater.
Other regional productions have included Center Stage,
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, Maryland, in December 2008 to January 2009 with E. Faye Butler; the
Guthrie Theatre
The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concept of the theater was born in 1959 in a series of discussions between Sir Tyrone Gut ...
,
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Minnesota, April to June 2009, the Gallery Players, Brooklyn, N.Y., January to February 2010, The Human Race Theatre Company,
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater D ...
November 4–20, 2011, and Syracuse Stage (Syracuse, New York) February 1-February 26, 2012. In 2017, the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland staged it as part of a season with a focus on Tony Kushner plays. Its Colorado regional premiere took place April 5 to May 5, 2019, at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, directed by Kenny Moten and starring Mary Louise Lee as Caroline.
A 2012 production by Acting Up Stage Company in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
garnered
Dora Mavor Moore Awards
The Dora Mavor Moore Award (also known as the Dora Award) is an award presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which honours theatre, dance and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, who helped es ...
for Outstanding Production of a Musical, Sterling Jarvis (principal actor), Arlene Duncan (principal actress) and Outstanding Musical Direction (Reza Jacobs). A new production by Acting Up Stage Company, now called The Musical Stage Company, in Toronto, Ontario will play January 31 to February 16, 2020 starring Jully Black as Caroline and Canadian soprano
Measha Brueggergosman
Measha Brueggergosman (née Gosman; June 28, 1977) is a Canadian soprano who performs both as an opera singer and concert artist. She has performed internationally and won numerous awards. Her recordings of both classical and popular music ha ...
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
, Caroline, a black maid who works for the Gellman family for $30 a week, launders clothes in the basement ("16 Feet Beneath The Sea"). Caroline keeps herself sane in the basement by imagining the items in the basement as people ("The Radio"/"Laundry Quintet"). The Gellmans' 8-year-old son Noah, whose mother has recently died of cancer, is attracted to Caroline, a no-nonsense single parent ("Noah Down The Stairs"). Caroline allows Noah to light her one cigarette each day, a secret they can share ("The Cigarette"). Caroline puts the laundry in the dryer and sings about her four kids and cleaning houses for 22 years ("The Dryer"/"I Got Four Kids").
Noah's new stepmother Rose cannot give Caroline a raise, but tells her to take some extra food home to her kids ("Caroline, There's Extra Food"); Caroline declines. Noah's father Stuart, despondent since his wife's death, tells Noah he has lost his faith ("There is No God, Noah"). Noah confesses that he hates Rose ("Rose Stopnick Can Cook"). Rose confesses to her father, Mr. Stopnick, that she is unhappy as well ("Long Distance").
After work, Caroline argues with her friend Dotty about each other's lifestyles ("Dotty and Caroline"). The moon rises as they wait for a bus ("Moon Change"). They discuss the recent mysterious destruction of a statue of a Confederate soldier at the courthouse ("Moon Trio"). The bus arrives with devastating news: President Kennedy has been assassinated ("The Bus"/"That Can't Be").
Rose tells Noah to stop leaving money in his pants pockets, and that any money Caroline finds in his laundry will be hers to keep ("Noah and Rose"). The Gellman family reminisces about the good President Kennedy did for the Jews and Dotty reminisces about the good he intended to do for African Americans ("Inside/Outside"/"JFK"). On the front porch of her house, Caroline tells her teenage daughter Emmie that the president is dead. Emmie says she does not care, because JFK never fulfilled his promises to the black community ("No One Waiting"/"Night Mama"). Noah, awake in his bedroom, asks Caroline what laws she would pass if she were president ("Gonna Pass Me a Law"/"Noah Goes To Sleep").
Rose tells Caroline she is allowed to keep any money she finds in Noah's pants, to supplement her salary and teach Noah a lesson ("Noah Has a Problem"). Noah and his father, Stuart, have trouble bonding ("Stuart and Noah"). Noah, aware of Caroline's situation, purposefully leaves his candy and comic book money in his pockets, as well as 75 cents ("Quarter in the Bleach Cup"). Caroline feels bad about keeping it, but does so, out of necessity. Caroline brings the money to Emmie, Jackie, and Joe who discuss all the things they can do and things they can buy with it ("Caroline Takes My Money Home"/"Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw").
;Act Two
As Christmas approaches Caroline, ironing clothes in the basement, remembers her ex-husband, who was kind and thoughtful until he became abusive ("Santa Comin' Caroline"/"Little Reward"/"1943"). Rose tells Caroline to keep any money Stuart leaves in his clothes as well but Caroline snaps at Rose saying she does not need her pity or money and threatens her with the iron ("Mr. Gellman's Shirt"/"Ooh Child"). Rose then asks if she, Dotty, and Emmie will work at her upcoming Chanukah party ("Rose Recovers"). Emmie, Jackie, and Joe encourage her to keep taking the laundry money, because the family needs it ("I Saw Three Ships").
At the Chanukah party, Noah educates Emmie about the holiday ("The Chanukah Party"). Rose shoos Noah out of the kitchen ("Noah, Out! It's Very Rude") and Dotty tells Emmie about the courthouse statue ("Dotty and Emmie"). When Mr. Stopnick belittles
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
's nonviolent civil disobedience, Emmie tells him white people have no right to be critical ("I Don't Want My Child To Hear That"/"Mr. Stopnick and Emmie"). Mr. Stopnick is impressed with Emmie's bravado, but Caroline tells her she cannot talk that way to white people; Emmie retorts that slavery is over. Caroline slaps Emmie ("Kitchen Fight"). Mr. Stopnick's Chanukah present to Noah is a $20 bill, intended as a life lesson about money and its value ("A Twenty Dollar Bill and Why"). At the bus stop, Emmie dreams of growing up to be independent and fighting for justice ("I Hate the Bus"). Back at the house, Stuart laments that he can give neither Rose nor Noah what they need ("Moon, Emmie, Stuart Trio").
Noah inadvertently leaves the $20 bill in his pants; after school he rushes to the basement, but Caroline has found it and says she is keeping it, per their agreement ("The Twenty Dollar Bill"). Noah and Caroline exchange racial insults, then Caroline returns the money and leaves ("Caroline and Noah Fight"). After five days, Caroline has not returned to work ("Aftermath"). That Sunday on her way to church, Caroline realizes that the laundry money had only fostered greed and hatefulness; she asks God to free her from earthly desires ("Sunday Morning"/"Lot's Wife"). The radio sings of a fierce heartbreak ("Salty Teardrops"). At church, Caroline gives Emmie, Jackie, and Joe fierce hugs and accepts that her children will have better and different lives from the one she has had. ("How Long Has This Been Going On?").
Noah finally lets Rose tuck him into bed and kiss him goodnight. Caroline returns to work and assures Noah that although things will never be the same between them, Noah will learn to live with his sorrow and move on ("Why Does Our House Have a Basement?"/"Underwater"). Emmie reveals that she helped take down the Confederate soldier statue, and proudly sings that she is the daughter of a maid, but she will continue to work for a greater cause, and her children will have a brighter future. Jackie and Joe come out to shush her and she tells them that it is up to the children of Caroline Thibedeaux to change the future ("Epilogue").
Musical numbers
;Act One
Washer / Dryer
*16 Feet Beneath The Sea — Caroline, The Washing Machine
*The Radio — The Radio
*Laundry Quintet— The Washing Machine, Caroline, The Radio
*Noah Down The Stairs — Noah
*The Cigarette — Noah and Caroline
*Laundry Finish— The Washing Machine, Caroline, The Radio
*The Dryer— The Dryer and The Radio
*I Got Four Kids— Caroline and The Dryer
Cabbage
*Caroline, There's Extra Food— Rose, Caroline and The Gellmans
*There Is No God, Noah— Stuart
*Rose Stopnick Can Cook— The Gellmans
*Long Distance— Rose
Moon Change
*Dotty and Caroline— Dotty and Caroline
*Moon Change— The Moon
*Moon Trio— Dotty, Caroline, and The Moon
*The Bus— The Bus
*That Can't Be— The Bus, Rose, Dotty and Caroline
*Noah and Rose— Rose and Noah
*Inside / Outside — The Moon, Noah and Rose
*JFK —Dotty, Grandpa Gellman and Grandma Gellman
Duets
*No One Waitin' — Emmie, Caroline, and The Radio
*'Night Mamma — Emmie
*Gonna Pass Me A Law — Noah and Caroline
*Stop Botherin’ The Night — Caroline
The Bleach Cup
*Noah Has A Problem — Rose and Caroline
*Stuart and Noah — Stuart, Noah and Rose
*The Bleach Cup — Caroline, Noah and The Washing Machine
*Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw — Emmie, Jackie, Joe, Noah, Caroline and The Moon
;Act Two
Ironing
*Santa Comin' Caroline — The Radio
*Little Reward — The Radio, The Washing Machine, and Caroline
*1943 — Caroline, The Washing Machine, and The Radio
*Mr. Gellman's Shirt — Rose and Caroline
*Ooh Child — The Washing Machine and The Radio
*Rose Recovers — Rose, The Dryer and Caroline
*I Saw Three Ships — Emmie, Jackie, Joe and Caroline
The Chanukah Party
*The Chanukah Party — Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, Mr. Stopnick, Rose, Noah, Caroline, and Emmie
*Dotty and Emmie — Dotty and Emmie
*I Don't Want My Child To Hear That — Caroline, Mr. Stopnick
*Mr. Stopnick and Emmie — Mr. Stopnick and Emmie
*Kitchen Fight — Caroline, Emmie, and Dotty
*A Twenty Dollar Bill and Why — Mr. Stopnick
*I Hate The Bus — Emmie
*Moon, Emmie and Stuart Trio — The Moon, Emmie, Stuart
The Twenty Dollar Bill
*The Twenty Dollar Bill — Noah, The Gellmans
*Caroline and Noah Fight — Caroline, The Dryer and Noah
Aftermath
*Aftermath — Noah, The Dryer, Rose, Stuart Mr. Stopnick
*Rose Waltz - Rose, Mr. Stopnick, Stuart
Lot's Wife
*Sunday Morning — Caroline and Dotty
*Lot's Wife — Caroline
How Long Has This Been Going On?
*Salty Teardrops — The Radio
*Why Does Our House Have A Basement? — Noah, Rose, and Caroline
*Underwater — Caroline
Emmie's Dream
*Epilogue — Emmie, Jackie, and Joe
Characters
*Caroline Thibodeaux: 39-year-old African-American maid for the Gellmans, a middle-class Jewish family
*Noah Gellman: The Gellmans' 8-year-old curious, sympathetic, and neurotic son
*Emmie Thibodeaux: Caroline's 16-year-old free-spirited daughter, supporter of
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
and the
Civil Rights Movement
The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite ...
*Rose Stopnick Gellman: Noah's concerned new stepmother from New York City, marries Stuart after his first wife's death
*Stuart Gellman: Professional clarinet player and Noah's father, mourning the loss of his wife
*Dotty Moffett: Friend of Caroline and fellow maid, takes night classes at the University
*The Radio: Domestic appliance portrayed by a Supremes-like trio, serves as a Greek Chorus for the show
*The Washing Machine: Domestic appliance portrayed by an actor, cleans clothes for the Gellmans and pushes Caroline to move forward in life
*The Dryer: Domestic appliance portrayed by an actor, torments Caroline throughout the show
*The Moon: Portrayed by an actor, is a calming and healing presence throughout the show
*The Bus: Portrayed by an actor, is the primary source of transportation for the African-American characters in the show
*Jackie Thibodeaux: Caroline's 10-year-old son
*Joe Thibodeaux: Caroline's 8-year-old son
*Mr. Stopnick: Rose's father, a Jewish man with a socialist ideology from New York City
*Grandpa Gellman: Noah's grandfather, Stuart's father
*Grandma Gellman: Noah's grandmother, Stuart's mother