Photo Flash: First Look- Mesa Encore Theater's CAROUSEL

New York theatre director Phillip Fazio has teamed up with Los Angeles actress Sarah Wolter, who is making her directorial debut, and together have directed a hauntingly poignant production of Carousel for Mesa Encore Theatre. The musical direction is by Debra Jo Davey and choreographer is Jennifer Cafarella (Ballet Arizona). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production below!

Performances of this classic will open Friday, March 6th, and then every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM, from March 7-22nd, plus matinees at 2:30 PM on March 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22nd, at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, in the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse. Advance tickets can be obtained now for $27 (adults), $24 (seniors), and $15 (children 12 and under). Call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com to purchase tickets or for information on group rates.

Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, whose other works include 'Oklahoma!,' 'The Sound of Music,' 'The King and I' and 'South Pacific,' among others. Their partnership, one of the most successful in musical theatre history, garnered 34 Tony awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes and two Grammy awards. 'Carousel' was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play 'Liliom,' transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline. The musical opened on Broadway in 1945, and in 1999 was named "Best Musical of the 20th Century" by 'TIME Magazine.'

Carousel's tale of love and redemption revolves around carousel barker Billy Bigelow, whose romance with Julie Jordan results in the loss of their jobs. Tragedy strikes when Billy lashes out in frustration, but he receives a second chance that ultimately brings hope and peace to both himself and Julie. Its score features musical hits such as "If I Loved You" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

"The tale of Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow is one of American musical theatre's great romantic tragedies. Their love is doomed from the start, not by outside circumstances - but by the choices they each make, or don't make. Ultimately, that is what Carousel is about: choice. Anyone who has ever contemplated their own lives, and questioned how much of it is shaped by free will verses fate; will find beauty and meaning in this production of Carousel," Sarah Wolter, co-director.

Leading the cast are local favorites, Joseph Cannon as Billy Bigelow, and Brenda Jean Foley as Julie Jordan.

Mesa Encore Theatre, a non-profit 501(c)3, is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1937, making it Arizona's longest, continuously-running community theatre. MET is the proud 2014 recipient of the Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award, a national award from AACT (American Association of Community Theatre, http://aact.org/awards/national.html) which recognizes the artistic growth it has demonstrated over the last ten years. In addition, MET reviewed the top number of nominations and awards for non-professional companies at the recent ariZoni Awards of Excellence. More information can be found on MET's website, www.mesaencoretheatre.