Carousel opened officially Dec. 2, 2008 (after previews from Nov. 22), following an extensive national tour.

The classic musical was last seen in London in 1992 in Nicholas Hytner's production at the National Theatre (that subsequently transferred to the West End's Shaftesbury Theatre in 1993 and to the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York in 1994). This production is an entirely new staging, directed by Lindsay Posner and starring operatic soprano Lesley Garrett (last seen in the West End as the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music) as Nettie, Jeremiah James (from the classical "boy band" TEATRO) as Billy Bigelow and Alexandra Silber (most recently seen in Fiddler on the Roof, also at the Savoy) as Julie Jordan.

Carousel revolves around the doomed love affair between Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a naive young mill worker. The score includes such classics as "If I Loved You," "June is Bustin' Out All Over" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

The production is choreographed by Adam Cooper, designed by William Dudley (Kiss Me, Kate; A Streetcar Named Desire; Woman in White; Hitchcock Blonde) and features costumes by Deirdre Clancey, lighting by Peter Mumford, orchestrations by Larry Blank and musical direction by David Firman.

It is produced by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions, Michael Edward & Carole Winter, Tiger/WSZ, Stevens-O'Boyle, and Tulchin/Bartner/Ambassador Theatre Group in association with The Churchill, Bromley. To book tickets call the box office at 0870 060 6642 or visit www.carouselthemusical.com.