Carousel is the second musical by the team of Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics). The 1945 work was adapted from Ferenc Molnár‘s 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline. The story 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.
Credits
Music by Richard Rodgers, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the play “Liliom” by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer
Awards
- TWO TONY AWARDS
- ELEVEN TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS INCLUDING BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
- FIVE DRAMA DESK AWARDS
- TWELVE DRAMA DESK AWARD NOMINATIONS INCLUDING BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
- TWO OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS
- SIX OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS
- THREE DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD NOMINATIONS INCLUDING OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
- CHITA RIVERA AWARD
- SEVEN CHITA RIVERA AWARD NOMINATIONS
- THREE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD NOMINATIONS INCLUDING FAVORITE MUSICAL REVIVAL
- CLARENCE DERWENT AWARD
- GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION
