As promised, today will be another SUNDAY SHOWSTOPPER SNIPPET dedicated to my Pink Sisters – those who are survivors who have completed their treatment and are in process of adding ‘life to their years,’ those still in the midst of their treatment, and those who are just starting this journey through Breast Cancer. As a cancer survivor, I can attest to the feeling of loneliness and despair that we all experience during treatment. That feeling that nobody else could possibly understand, that, despite everyone’s best intentions and words, we still feel alone in this fight. I want to assure my Pink Sisters, though, that you are NOT alone – that there are others who have walked in your footsteps, others who are currently walking beside you, and our pink angels, who watch over us.
“YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE” is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It was the anthem of my sentimental favorite musical, “CAROUSEL,” but has also been sung in concert to give strength to those facing hardship, to those starting out on a new experience, to those needing comfort.
In 1945, Rodgers and Hammerstein, the team now synonymous with ‘musical theatre,’ were only in the beginning of their remarkable collaboration. Carousel was their second musical, following the historic, art form changing success of their first collaboration in 1943, Oklahoma! The original Broadway production was very well received, and ran for 2 years (starring John Raitt and Jan Clayton as Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan). It was honored with the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical of 1945, and, I have every confidence that it would have also won the Tony Award for Best Musical had the Tony Award existed (the Tony Awards did not begin until 1947).
In 1956, a film version was released starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, and, then, in 2013, Lincoln Center did a live concert version with Nathan Gunn, Kelli O’Hara, Jessie Mueller, Jason Daniele, and John Cullum (and, yes, they are both wonderful and available on DVD and CD!). The stage version has enjoyed several highly acclaimed revivals – 1992 Olivier Award for Best Revival in London, 1994 Tony Award for Best Revival on Broadway.
It is with TREMENDOUS anticipation and excitement that I announce that Carousel is being revived on Broadway again in 2018 [you can purchase tickets through this LINK]! The cast will include Jessie Mueller (Tony Award for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Joshua Henry (currently touring the U.S. as Aaron Burr in Hamilton) as Julie and Billy. And, THE MOST EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT OF ALL …. Renée Fleming will be playing the role of Nettie Fowler, which means, Ms. Fleming will be singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” 8 or 9 times a week, live, on stage!
This snippet is from a live performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Renée Fleming to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks; she also performed this song for President Obama’s first inauguration.
