Phone and internet sales begin March 28, via Telecharge.com. The O'Neill is at 230 West 49th Street.
George C. Wolfe recreates his late 2003 Off-Broadway work for the uptown bow of the musical by librettist Kushner and composer Tesori.
Following its critically acclaimed run at The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, Caroline, or Change will begin previews on April 12, followed by an opening of May 2.
Most of the Off-Broadway cast will return for the commercial run. Caroline, or Change "takes place in Louisiana in 1963, just before President Kennedy's assassination and during the Civil Rights movement. Caroline is the black maid of a Southern family, made up of a father, his new wife and the man's young son. The son's birth mother has recently died, and the stepmother is trying to establish a relationship with the child, who already has a close connection with Caroline. The title has a double meaning, referring to the myriad social changes swirling around the family and a family argument surrounding the spare change perpetually found in the boy's pants pockets."
The show's creative team includes Riccardo Hernández (set design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (lighting design), Jon Weston (sound design), Jeffrey Frank (hair design), Rick Bassett (orchestrator), Joseph Joubert (orchestrator), Buryl Red (orchestrator), Kimberly Grigsby (music supervisor), John Miller (music coordinator), Linda Twine (music director and conductor) and Hope Clarke (choreographer). Producers are Carole Shorenstein Hays, HBO Films, Jujamcyn Theaters, Freddy DeMann, Scott Rudin, Hendel/Morten/Wiesenfeld, Fox Theatricals/Manocherian/Bergère, Roger Berlind, Clear Channel Entertainment, Joan Cullman, Greg Holland/Scott Nederlander, Margo Lion, Daryl Roth, and Frederick Zollo/Jeffrey Sine in association with the Public Theater.
Caroline's playing schedule will be Monday-Saturday at 8 PM, and Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM (through April 25), and then Tuesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM, and Sunday at 6:15 PM (opening night).
Tickets range $26-$101 (including $1 theatre restoration charge).
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Some say actress Tonya Pinkins' fierce portrayal of a black maid in a white Louisiana household in the 1960s is key to the success of the moody, idea-filled show. Her final number, in which she struggles with the idea of change, both within herself and within her community, brought down the house at The Public.
Others might argue the show's strength is the muscularity of the score and the tension of the characters' relationships and the pictures created by director George C. Wolfe.
The show ended its twice-extended Off-Broadway run Feb. 1. The final weekend was sold out.
The Broadway production is capitalized at $6 million.
The ambitious, serious work is expected to offer serious competition in the 2004 Tony Awards, particularly in the direction, score and leading actress categories.
Pinkins won the 1992 Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical for Jelly's Last Jam.
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Caroline, or Change opened at the Public Theater on Nov. 30, 2003. The musical opened to divided reviews, but has won solid audience response and praise for lead actress Pinkins' no-holds-barred performance.
Composer Tesori told Playbill On-Line that her wish is to have a recording put together around the time of the spring commercial move, so as to incorporate some tweaks and refinements she, Kushner and Wolfe want.
The show, which began previews Oct. 29, 2003, marks the first collaboration between Tesori and Kushner, as well as Kushner's first musical.
The cast also featured Chuck Cooper, Veanne Cox, Reathel Bean, Harrison Chad, Tracy Nicole Chapman, David Costabile, Marcus Carl Franklin, Marva Hicks, Capathia Jenkins, Larry Keith, Ramona Keller, Adriane Lenox (who is not trasferring uptown), Alice Playten, Anika Noni Rose, Kevin Tate (who will not move to Broadway) and Chandra Wilson.
Caroline is the black maid of the Gellmans, a Louisiana family, made up of a father, his new wife and the man's young son, Noah. The son's birth mother has recently died, and the stepmother is trying to establish a relationship with the child, who already has a close connection with Caroline. The title has a double meaning, referring to the myriad social changes swirling around the Southerners and a family argument surrounding the spare change perpetually found in the boy's pants pockets.
