Bandon Jovanovich, Christiane Noll and Eddie Bracken star in the Paper Mill production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel beginning previews on May 30. The show opens June 1 at New Jersey's State Theatre.

Jovanovich starred in Paper Mill's The Student Prince alongside Christiane Noll last season. While stuck in a traffic jam enroute to an orchestra rehearsal for Student Prince, the two actors checklisted other shows they might like to do at the theatre and, when they had the ear of Paper Mill head Angelo Del Rossi, they suggested Carousel.

Paper Mill spokesperson Charlie Seidenberg said he overheard the Carousel pitch and chimed in, suggesting stage veteran Eddie Bracken as the Starkeeper. Bracken will celebrate his 15,000th career stage performance with the June 1 opening of the musical.

Paper Mill plans a gala clam bake in its courtyard to celebrate the opening with a "June is bustin' out all over" theme.

The show will run through July 15. The creative team for Carousel comprises director Robert Johanson, choreographer Robert La Fosse and musical director Tom Helm.

Tickets are available by calling (973) 376-4343 or by visiting www.papermill.org.

—By Robert Simonson