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Playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie) have elegantly crafted this bold and uniquely poignant new theatrical work. Tesori's skillful and varied score of gospel, soul and Ramp;B, enlivens this nearly sung-through musical.brbrSet in 1963 in sleepy Lake Charles, Louisiana, Caroline, or Change centers its action on the Gellman family and their African-American maid, Caroline. "Nothing ever happen underground in Louisiana / 'Cause there ain't no underground in Louisiana / There is only underwater." Caroline informs the audience at the beginning of the show, and Caroline herself is underwater, drifting through her life, nearly paralyzed by her circumstances - a single mother of four working in a service job to a white family. Caroline spends her days in the basement laundry room, with the Washing Machine (a sultry Caribbean blues singer), Dryer (a fiery Ramp;B singer), and radio (a Supremes-like trio), with an afternoon visit from the young Gellman son, Noah, who is just as isolated upstairs in his home as Caroline is downstairs. A fragile, yet beautiful friendship has developed between Noah and Caroline since his mother's death. Noah's new stepmother Rose, unable to give Caroline a raise, a tells Caroline that she may keep the money Noah leaves in his pockets. Caroline balks, and refuses to take money from a child-but her own children desperately need food, clothing and shoes...Does she or doesn't she?brbrKushner brings his remarkable talent to the book and lyrics-there are no easy choices for the characters to make, and each role is fully realized, complicated and deeply human. The thunder of the civil rights movement and John F. Kennedy's death is distant, yet reverberates deeply through the script, provoking all characters to see their lives in a new light and either embrace or reject the larger social changes that are in motion. The most surprising choices are made by the children, Noah Gellman, and Caroline
Cast and Creative team for CAROLINE OR CHANGE at CADENCE THEATRE COMPANY
Caroline, or Change is directed by Chase Kniffen, with Musical Direction by Ryan Corbitt, Vocal Supervision by Stephen Rudlin, and Choreography by Leslie Owens-Harrington. The talented cast features Richmond favorite Desiree Roots in the title role of Caroline. She is joined by Brandon McKinney, Karla Brown, Carolyn Minor-Daughtry, Katrinah Carol Lewis, Jessi Johnson, Lisa Kotula, Bianca Bryan, John Winn, Carolyn Meade, Stephanie M. Hill,Jim Dyk, Tyandria Jackson, Donathan Arnold, Sam Merkle, William A. Anderson and Andrew Boothby.
Scenic Design is by Chase Kniffen, Lighting Design is by Michael Jarrett, Costume Design is by Sarah Grady, Sound Design is by Derek Dumais, Properties Design is by James Murphy, Set Dressing is by James Murphy and Terrie Powers, Scenic Painting is by Terrie Powers, Set Construction is by Joel Ernst, Stage Management is by Hannah Zold Story, Music Consulting is by Anthony Smith and Production Management is by McLean Jesse (Cadence Theatre Company).
Videos
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The Prom School Edition
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The Prom
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