Lectures For Lifelong Learners!

Near the close of World War II in Europe in April of 1945, one of the signature shows in the history of American musical theater, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel”, began its run at the Majestic Theater on Broadway. This retrospective will give us an opportunity to explore the origins of the show dating back to Ferenc Molnar’s 1909 play “Liliom”, its transformation into a musical starring Broadway newcomers John Raitt and Jan Clayton, and the controversy surrounding the casting of the 1956 film version. Included in the presentation will be archival interviews with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein as well as Shirley Jones who discusses her role as “Julie Jordan” in the film. Finally, we will be able to revel again to outstanding performances of many of the songs of “Carousel” including “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “Soliloquy”, and of course, “If I Loved You”.