Following the announcement of their plans to offer a limited Australian tour of Carousel: A Concert in September 2024, producer Enda Markey has announced the cast who will be joining the already confirmed leads of Anna O’Byrne and Marina Prior in Sydney and Melbourne.
Danny Whitehead, known for his role in The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, will play Billy Bigelow. This marks his first role in Australia since relocating. Blake Bowden, recently seen in The Rocky Horror Show and The Book of Mormon, will portray Enoch Snow. Helpmann Award winner Kerrie Anne Greenland, known for her roless as Ellen in Miss Saigon and Eponine in Les Miserables will take on the role of Carrie Pipperidge.
Andy Conaghan will play Jigger Craigin, Tony Llewellyn-Jones will appear as the Starkeeper and Dr Seldon, and Paula Arundell will be Mrs Mullin. Former Australian Ballet star Jasmin Durham will portray Louise.
The ensemble features Taao Buchanan, Ben Clark, Andrew Dunne, Dominique Hamilton, Matthew Hearne, Genevieve Kingsford, Conor Neylon, Adele Parkinson, Josh Robson, Greta Sherriff, Alexander Tye, Jasmin Vaughns and Paul Whiteley.
The production of Carousel: A Concert will be further conducted by Guy Simpson, directed by Petra Kalive, and choreographed by Philip Connaughton. Renata Beslik will handle costume design, Gavan Swift will manage lighting design, and Tom Brickhill will oversee sound design.
Commenting on the full casting announcement, producer Enda Markey shared their excitement:
I’m thrilled to have assembled such an extraordinary group of Australia’s finest theatre stars to bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic score to life,” said producer Enda Markey. “CAROUSEL holds a special place in the hearts of so many people, and it has been far too long since audiences have had the opportunity to experience it live. I am excited to share the experience of seeing these remarkable performers live and to create an unforgettable event that will rekindle the magic of this iconic show.
Carousel is set in a seaside town in Maine and follows the love story of Billy Bigelow, a troubled carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a young mill worker. The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1945, features memorable songs such as “If I Loved You”, “Soliloquy”, “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over”, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
Carousel: A Concert will be performing three performances each at both the State Theatre in Sydney (2-3 September 2024) and the Princess Theatre in Melbourne (7-8 September 2024) with tickets available from $99 (plus booking fee). Those curious in checking out this concert can now book tickets via the concert’s official website.
