"Musical of the Century" Opens

Time Magazine named it "The Musical of the Century." Rodgers and Hammerstein called it their favorite musical. It captured 25 prestigious awards, including 5 Tonys. And it's coming to Carson City.

The Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's touching masterpiece, Carousel, at the Carson City Community Center in nine performances, weekends, November 6 through 21.

Lavishly animated by some of the duo's best works, including "You'll Never Walk Alone," "If I Loved You," "The Carousel Waltz" and "June Is Bustin' Out All Over," the musical is set in a coastal town in Maine toward the end of the 19th century. A carefree carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, falls in love with Julie Jordan, a naive, young mill worker. He loses his job just as he learns Julie is pregnant. Unwilling to let his child be raised in poverty, Billy agrees to help with a robbery, and dies in the attempt. When he reaches heaven, he is given a chance to come to earth for one day to help his wife and child.

Boston Globe critics commented that the show is "as close to perfection as musical theater gets...At the end of Carousel, the communal heft of this theatergoing experience will ensure that you won't be walking alone."

The show won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, eight Donaldson Awards, four Olivier Awards, five Tony Awards and eight LA DramaLogue Awards. Time selected it in 1999 as the Best Musical of the Century.

Playing Billy Bigelow in the WNMTC production is Leoney Berg, best known to local audiences as Bernardo in West Side Story. Maria Arrigotti, who played Maria in West Side Story, plays Julie Jordan. Merci Hase and Tony Windisch (who starred in Oklahoma! as Laurey and Jud) play Carrie and Enoch Snow. David Anderson plays Jigger.

Some 65 singers and dancers complete the cast, accompanied by a live orchestra. Robert Grant directs the work; Stephanie Arrigotti is the producer and orchestra conductor, and Gina Kaskie-Davis the choreographer.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., November 6 through 21. There is also a 2:00 Saturday matinee on November 20.

Admission is $14 general, $12 for students and seniors and $10 for youth 17 and younger. Block discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are available at Comma Coffee, 312 South Carson Street, Maytan Music on South Center Street in Reno, and the Western Nevada Community College Performing Arts Office on the Carson City campus. They may also be purchased by phone by calling 775-445-4249.