The eagerly-anticipated Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change will begin performances on March 13, 2020 and open on April 7, 2020 at Studio 54. Producers have announced some additional casting for the production that is set to star Olivier Award-winning performer Sharon D. Clarke (playing the title character in Caroline, or Change in the West End). Joining Clarke at Studio 54 will be Alexander Bello (Joe Thibodeaux), John Cariani (Stuart Gellman), Arica Jackson (Washing Machine), Tamika Lawrence (Dotty Moffett), Caissie Levy (Rose Stopnick Gellman), Harper Miles (Radio 3), Jonah Mussolino (Noah Gellman), Nya (Radio 2), Chinua Payne (Jackie Thibodeaux), Nasia Thomas (Radio 1), Stuart Zagnit (Grandpa Gellman), Chip Zien (Mr. Stopnick). Additional casting will be announced soon.
With book and lyrics by Tony Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America), music by Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), Caroline, or Change was a contender for the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical. This production, which comes to Broadway direct from a smash-hit London run, is directed by Michael Longhurst, with choreography by Ann Yee. Musical Supervision will be by Nigel Lilley and Musical Direction by Chris Fenwick.
The cast announced today includes some familiar Broadway names. Caissie Levy, who just wrapped-up originating the role of Elsa in the Broadway production of Disney’s Frozen. John Cariani appeared on Broadway as Itzik in the Tony Award-winning musical, The Band’s Visit. Chip Zien originated the role of The Baker in the 1987 production of Into the Woods and Mendel in the original Broadway production of Falsettos. Alexander Bello just completed a run in Roundabout Theatre’s The Rose Tattoo. Arica Jackson is an alum of Broadway’s Waitress and Tamika Lawrence hails from Getting the Band Back Together and Dear Evan Hansen. Among Stuart Zagnit’s Broadway credits are Newsies and The People in the Picture. Jonah Mussolino was last seen on Broadway in A Bronx Tale. Chinua Payne returns to Broadway after playing Young Simba in The Lion King. Nasia Thomas played Mama Rose / Flo Ballard / Tammi Terrell in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations on Broadway Harper Miles and Nya are making their Broadway debuts.
The plot for Caroline, or Change is explained as follow. “Caroline, an African-American maid whose world of 1963 Louisiana ripples with change both large and small. Erupting with transcendent songs and larger-than-life imagination, Caroline, or Change explores how, in times of great transformation, even the simplest acts shake the earth.
Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs. His latest book, Sitcommentary: The Television Comedies That Changed America, released on October 15. He maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.