Carnival

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:55pm

Can anyone tell me anything about Carnival? I just auditioned for it and honestly have no idea what it is about or anything. Thanks

[kec]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:58pm

This should help:
Carnival Information

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:10am

It's a delightful show, with a top-notch score. I thoroughly enjoyed the Paper Mill production, but couldn't get down to DC to see the Kennedy Center production. It was Gower Champion's first show after BYE BYE BIRDIE. A bit of trivia: in the original production, during rehearsals, Anna Maria Alberghetti couldn't be heard above the orchestra and therefore became the first Broadway performer to wear a microphone. So we can blame Anna Maria. I guess.

[kec]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:33am

I have a vague memory of seeing the show in City Center, a looong time ago when I was in school. The film version is more familiar to me, and is one of my favorite films.

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:34am

There is no film version of "Carnival!".
You must be referring to the MGM semi-musical "Lili" starring Leslie Caron on which "Carnival!" was based.




"Lili" on IMDB Updated On: 3/13/07 at 11:34 AM

[kec]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:40am

That was what I was referring to. I should have included the title -- did the film come first?

[D2]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:43am

There are four good roles for men in Carnival:

Paul - dark, brooding, bitter puppeteer. A former dancer, unable to dance anymore because of a "war wound."

Jacquot - Paul's assistant. He leads the best ensemble number in the show: "Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris."

Marco the Magnificent - good looking, egostically charming, sleazy sleight of hand artist. Always unfaithful to his assistant/lover Rosalie, a real ladies man.

Schlegal - the owner of the carnival. An over the top, blustery impresario.

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:50am

Yeah, the film was released in 1953. "Carnival!" premiered on Broadway, April 13, 1961.

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:51pm

Are the roustabouts ensemble members?

[D2]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:52pm

yes.

[bcectchc]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 4:57pm

And Lili, the lead, must be able to easily hit a high C. That cuts out most of the auditioners...

[Piercemn]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 7:05pm

I've seen four productions in the past 40 years. The first starred Jean Pierre Aumont and Marisa Pavan and it was at the now closed Melody Top Theatre in Milwaukee in 1969. I saw a summer stock production several years later which was passable, and another which was over-produced. A community theatre production I saw a few years ago was positively dreadful.

It's a charming show if it's done right. The score is glorious. Enjoy it if you are cast.