Caroline, Or Change
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''Caroline, or Change'' is a musical with music by
Jeanine Tesori Jeanine Tesori, known earlier in her career as Jeanine Levenson, (born November 10, 1961) is an American composer and Arrangement, musical arranger best known for her work in the theater. She is the most prolific and honored female theatrical com ...
and lyrics and book by
Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Among his stage work, he is most known for ''Angels in America'', which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, as well as its subsequent acclaime ...
. 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 African Americans, which merged varied African cultural influences with the exp ...
, blues,
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, classical music, and Jewish
klezmer Klezmer ( or ) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for listening; these wou ...
and folk music. The show ran both
Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
and on Broadway as well as in London.


Production history


Workshops & Off-Broadway

The musical was first workshopped in 1999 at New York's
Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
Public Theater. 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 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, New York, U.S. The theater was designed by Her ...
on May 2, 2004, and closed on August 29, 2004, after 136 performances and 22 previews. The musical starred Tonya Pinkins in the title role,
Anika Noni Rose Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), Tiana in ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009). She was named a Disney Legends, Disney Legend in 2011. Rose starred ...
as Emmie Thibodeaux, Harrison Chad as Noah Gellman, Veanne Cox as Rose Stopnick Gellman and Chandra Wilson 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 (born September 15, 1964) is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, film, opera and television. After training at New York University Tisch School of the Arts he started his career on Broadway (theatre), Broadway. He ha ...
; 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 of Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensiv ...
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 a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
s, including Best Musical – winning Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Anika Noni Rose.


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 recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...
for Best New Musical. The opening night cast in London starred Tonya Pinkins as Caroline. Other cast members included Pippa Bennett-Warner as Emmie Thibodeaux, Anna Francolini as Rose Stopnick Gellman, Hilton McRae as Mr. Stopnick, Perry Millward, Jonny Weldon and Greg Bernstein alternating as Noah, Clive Rowe 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 as part of 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 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. History The original ''Hampstead Theatre Clu ...
,
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
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 in ...
, 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 Studio 54 is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater and former nightclub at 254 West 54th Street (Manhattan), 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Opened as the Gallo Opera House in 1927, it served ...
. On March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. 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,
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, 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 b ...
,
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
, California. Its premiere in The Washington, D.C., 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 Main Street Theater,
Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
, in January 2008 with Tamara Siler; Center Stage,
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, Maryland, in December 2008 to January 2009 with E. Faye Butler; the Guthrie Theatre,
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, Minnesota, April to June 2009, the Gallery Players, Brooklyn, N.Y., January to February 2010, The Human Race Theatre Company,
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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 ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, garnered
Dora Mavor Moore Awards The Dora Mavor Moore Awards (also known as the Dora Awards or the Doras) are awards presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), honouring theatre, dance and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moor ...
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 played January 31 to February 16, 2020, starring Jully Black as Caroline and Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman as The Moon at the
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres are a pair of stacked theatres in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Winter Garden Theatre is seven storeys above the Elgin Theatre. They are the last surviving Edwardian stacked theatres in the world. History ...
."New Production of 'Caroline or Change'"
''The Star'', May 22, 2019


Plot

;Act One On a hot day in 1963 in Lake Charles,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, 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 appliances 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, after uprooting her cushy New York lifestyle to move to the bayou with Stuart ("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 the adorable little 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, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
'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"). Stuart and Rose find the bill and, in a rare display of parental instincts, confront Noah over what happened, but Noah is saved from punishment when Mr. Stopnick pretends the bill is his, satisfied that Noah learned his lesson. 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, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
and the Civil Rights Movement * 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


Notable casts


Awards and nominations


Original Broadway production


Original London production


2017 Chichester/Hampstead/West End revival


2021 Broadway revival


References


External links

* *
''Caroline, or Change''
at the Music Theatre International website
Review of the Broadway production



Tonya Pinkins
– ''Downstage Center'' interview at
American Theatre Wing The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...
.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Caroline, or Change Musicals by Jeanine Tesori Broadway musicals 2003 musicals Original musicals Laurence Olivier Award–winning musicals Fiction set in 1963 Sung-through musicals Tony Award–winning musicals Musicals set in Louisiana