Butler Will Star in Baltimore Centerstage's Caroline, or Change

By Andrew Gans
and Kenneth Jones
29 Oct 2008

Caroline, or Change star E. Faye Butler
Caroline, or Change star E. Faye Butler
Photo by Michael Brosilow

E. Faye Butler, who recently starred in the title role of Chicago's Court Theatre production of Caroline, or Change, will again step into the shoes of a maid struggling with job, family and a changing world for Baltimore audiences.

The Tony-nominated musical will play Baltimore's Centerstage Dec. 10, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009. Librettist-lyricist Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori's musical drama set in 1963 Louisiana will be directed by David Schweizer.

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Caroline, or Change, according to Centerstage, is described as such: "Can the promises of the Civil Rights Movement reach as deep as the overheated basement domain of Caroline Thibodeaux, a maid who works for the well-meaning Gellmans and struggles to keep her bitterness in check?"

E. Faye Butler recently starred in Ain't Misbehavin' at The Goodman and played the title role in Northlight Theatre's hit Ella, for which she won a Jeff Award.

Caroline, or Change was first workshopped in May 1999 at The Public Theater, where it opened in 2003. After an Off-Broadway run it transferred to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and ran for a total of 136 performances, starring Tonya Pinkins in the title role. It was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Score and Best Book. The musical won the Olivier Award in 2007, for Best New Musical.

For tickets visit www.centerstage.org or call (410) 332-0033.