Caroline, or Change, Amid Talk of a Transfer, Extends to Jan. 4

By Robert Simonson
05 Dec 2003

Chandra Wilson and Tonya Pinkins in Caroline, or Change
Chandra Wilson and Tonya Pinkins in Caroline, or Change

Caroline, or Change, a new musical by playwright-librettist Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori, which opened at the Public Theater on Nov. 30, has extended its run by two weeks to Jan. 4. 2004.

The extension comes amid talk of a commercial transfer. The show opened to mixed reviews, but has won solid audience response and praise for lead actress Tonya Pinkins' strong performance in the title role. The Times reported Dec. 5 that producer Carole Shorenstein Hays was mulling over the possibility of a commercial run for the project and speculated that the show's new home may be Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre, currently home to Nine, which is due to close on Dec. 14.

At present, there are no plans to record the score, a Public Theater spokesperson told Playbill On-Line—an unusual circumstance given the high profile of the musical's authors.

The show, which began previews Oct. 29, marks the first collaboration between Tesori and Kushner, as well as Kushner's first musical. George C. Wolfe directs.

The cast also features 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, Alice Playten, Anika Noni Rose, Kevin Tate and Chandra Wilson.

Caroline is the black maid of the Gellmans, a Southern 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 family and a family argument surrounding the spare change perpetually found in the boy's pants pockets.