West End CAROLINE OR CHANGE to transfer; opening at Studio 54 in April

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:03pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/19/theater/broadway-roundabout-caroline-change-soldiers-play.html

The Roundabout is planning to stage a revival that originated in England and was much praised there. The production, directed by Michael Longhurst and starring Sharon D. Clarke, began at the Chichester Theater Festival in 2017 and then had two runs in London, first in early 2018 at Hampstead Theater, and then transferring later that year to the Playhouse Theater in the West End.

The critic Ben Brantley, writing in The New York Times, declared the revival, which he saw in the West End, “gloriously transformative” and said the show demonstrates “the titanic dimensions of greatness.”

The Broadway production is scheduled to begin previews March 13 and to open April 7 at Studio 54; Ms. Clarke will lead the cast and the other performers are to be chosen in New York. Ms. Clarke’s performance was widely hailed; she won this year’s Olivier Award for best actress in a musical.

Updated On: 8/19/19 at 01:03 PM

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:08pm

That's awesome!  Any idea how long the run will last?  The Playbill website doesn't give a closing date, and I know most shows at Studio 54 don't stay long.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:10pm

wow!! I have never seen this show before, and I've heard nothing but great things about this specific production so I really believe ill get the chance to see it! Wahoo! 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:10pm

YES!! I've loved this score for years! I'm so excited to get to see it live for the first time! 

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:11pm

I know nothing about this show, but the praise it has gotten on these boards is good enough for me. Looking forward to it!

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:12pm

I am over the moon about this. I hope Lauren Ward comes with it; I love her.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:15pm

MollyJeanneMusic said: "That's awesome! Any idea how long the run will last? The Playbill website doesn't give a closing date, and I know most shows at Studio 54 don't stay long."

Roundabout usually produces limited runs, so I would foresee this being open until maybe early/mid-June or July, and possibly extending depending on Tony buzz and reviews. The only other revival slated to open this season is West Side Story and I already have a feeling this will be more of a critical success. This show has always seemed to struggle finding its audience, but it's out there and I hope more people flock this time. As much as I love Avenue Q and as blockbuster as Wicked was and is, this was a stronger musical that season, in my opinion.

[binau]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:17pm

And the West End transfers keep coming. How funny that Sharon and Adrienne are competing again for the Tony.

Updated On: 8/19/19 at 01:17 PM

[bearhorn]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:19pm

Wow! This is fantastic news.

I missed out on the original run & have eagerly awaited a return!

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:19pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "MollyJeanneMusic said: "That's awesome! Any idea how long the run will last? The Playbill website doesn't give a closing date, and I know most shows at Studio 54 don't stay long."

Roundabout usually produces limited runs, so I would foresee this being open until maybe early/mid-June or July, and possibly extending depending on Tony buzz and reviews. The only other revival slated to open this season is West Side Story and I already have a feeling this will be more of a critical success. This show has always seemed to struggle finding its audience, but it's out there and I hope more people flock this time. As much as I love Avenue Q and as blockbuster as Wicked was and is, this was a stronger musical that season, in my opinion."

Um... Company will most likely be transferring too. I am super pumped for this. Would be my first time seeing a live production of this show.

Studio 54 is an odd theater for this, but at least I know better than to sit in those rear mezz seats now.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:23pm

The best musical of the 21st century. Hopefully it will get the love it never got in its original run.

Having seen this on the West End, Clarke is excellent. Very different than Tonya was but she made Caroline her own. My only issues with the show was some of the staging, so hopefully that will all be worked out here. I’m so excited to be able to walk down the street and see this whenever I want for a few months. :)

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:23pm

qolbinau said: "And the West End transfers keep coming. How funny that Sharon and Adrienne are competing again for the Tony."

Now only if Rosalie Craig can transfer over and we get Kelli O'Hara in something this season...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:38pm

Having seen the original Broadway production about 2 weeks before it closed, I definitely will be seeing this revival.  It'll be interesting seeing a new staging of it as the original staging was so fantastic on every level.  I'll be going with an open-mind and no expectations as I did when I saw the original.  I only went just to add it to my Flop List and spent the entire 1st act with my jaw dropped.  I was blown away with what I was experiencing both visually and audibly.  Watching it turn into a thing of legend as the years have passed is fully merited.  It was everything everyone has said it was.  

[musikman]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:40pm

Ohh I could not be happier with this news.  The original is one of my favorite theatrical memories.  Just wish we didn't have to wait 7-8 months for it!

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:40pm

Might be my favorite musical of this century. I can't wait.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:42pm

All of THIS! So so excited to finally see this show with such a fabulous actress!

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 1:58pm

Pour one out for the Parade revival that almost was, but very excited for this announcement nonetheless! I have never seen this show live before (missed it during its original run) but have since fallen in love with the score. So very glad to see it being revived and especially excited for Sharon D Clarke!

[BJR]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:10pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Having seen the original Broadway production about 2 weeks before it closed, I definitely will be seeing this revival. It'll be interesting seeing a new staging of it as the original staging was so fantastic on every level. I'll be going with an open-mind and no expectations as I did when I saw the original. I only went just to add it to my Flop List and spent the entire 1st act with my jaw dropped. I was blown away with what I was experiencing both visually and audibly. Watching it turn into a thing of legend as the years have passed is fully merited. It was everything everyone has said it was."

Absolutely agree. It will be strange to see a new production but I'm heartened by the reviews that favorably compare it to the original. (I was offered to direct it once and was actually relieved when it fell through because I so revere that original production.)

Fantastic news.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:15pm

Damn, I hadn’t even thought about Adrienne and Sharon competing.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:15pm

Caught this in London, and as said elsewhere above, Clarke is a stunner. I had quibbles with a few design elements and a casting choice or two, but it was all in all a wonderful production. I'll look forward to seeing Clarke again and can't wait to see who we're going to get as Emmie!

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:17pm

Sharon D. Clarke is true West End royalty! You are all so lucky to have her - she was wonderful in this.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:20pm

If we’re really going to do the Warren/Clarke comparisons, Warren is giving a fantastic performance in a pretty mediocre, not that great show whereas Clarke is fantastic in one of the best musicals ever written. I don’t see it as much of a contest, really.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:20pm

All I can say is AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I can't wait to finally see a production of this show. One of my all time favorite scores. Yay for more musical revivals!!

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:46pm

I hated every second of it, but it's always nice to see UK'ers on Broadway.

Sharon seems like a lovely lady.

x

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 8/19/19 at 2:46pm

I’ll be as excited as the rest of you to see this revival next year, but coming at it from a different direction. I went to the original Bway production expecting to see the show that all of you love and revere so, only to be left unmoved and frankly not a little bored. I’ve gone back and listened to the OBC cd over and over, understanding clearly what the show wants to accomplish, and still falling short for me. (Maybe I’m hyper sensitive to the depiction of the Jewish family as a bunch of money-grubbing whiners for so much of the show that sets me off.)

So I’ll be there at Studio 54 ready to finally fall in love with Caroline like the rest of you.