Photo credit on all: Phil Velasquez / Chicago TribuneĪccording to this article by Chicago Tribune Theater critic Chris Jones-who subsequently awarded Carousel 4 stars (out of 4)-it is certainly within the realm of possibility that this production will eventually transfer to Broadway. Oklahoma and The Sound of Music have been absolutely phenomenal, and similarly supported by the wondrous Lyric orchestra, Carousel boasts a top tier Broadway director in Rob Ashford and a cast full of musical theater luminaries, including Steven Pasquale, Laura Osnes, Jenn Gambatese, Matthew Hydzik, Jarrod Emick and Charlotte d'Amboise.ĭenyce Graves, who I saw in the title role of Carmen at the Lyric, brings genuine opera chops to the proceedings, and it was fun to see Tony Roberts-who I know from the movie Annie Hall, but also with numerous Broadway credits-in a non-singing role. (Before the Rogers & Hammerstein series, with The King and I coming in 2016, I loved Sweeney Todd and Show Boat at the Lyric.)
( I loved The Passenger there just last month.)Īnd I heartily applaud-conceptually and meritoriously-whenever the Lyric Opera has seen fit to bring Broadway to the glorious Civic Opera House. While there's probably some overlap in the definition and delineation of "opera" and "musical," given that examples of the latter are more typically sung in English-at least in America and Britain-without the overtly sonorous intonations that characterize the "operatic form" (as best I can describe), I have far more voluminously, emphatically and emotionally embraced musicals than operas.īut I have eminent respect for the operatic form and the greatness of the Lyric-and try to get to at least one traditional opera each year.
Presented outside the auspices of the Lyric's subscription series, Oklahoma (in 2013), The Sound of Music and now Carousel have been newly produced by the prestigious opera company, but done-predominantly meaning sung-as musical theater works, not operas. Although the tradition dates back only two years, the Lyric Opera's annual staging of a classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical has become one of my favorite staples of Spring in Chicago.
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