Kushner musical arrives in Syracuse ‘Caroline, or Change’ a lesson on inequality in ’60s
TIMES STAFF WRITER
The producers of the latest Syracuse Stage production are warning audiences not to be surprised when the washing machine starts to sing.
It’s part of the unconventional and creative musical “Caroline, or Change” that opened this week and runs through Feb. 26 at Syracuse Stage’s Archbold Theatre, 820 East Genesee St.
“Caroline, or Change” was on Broadway for 136 shows in 2004, where it received six Tony Award nominations. In 2007 in London it received the Olivier Award for Best Musical. The musical was written by Pulitzer-prize winner Tony Kushner (book and lyrics) and Tony nominee Jeanine Tesori (music).
It is set in 1963 at the Gellman household in Lake Charles, La. Eight-year-old Noah struggles with the loss of his mother, while Caroline, the family’s African-American maid, struggles as a single mother of four children. Through Caroline and Noah’s friendship, Mr. Kushner and Ms. Tesori explore thoughts on economic hardship and racial inequity that remain relevant today.
The production’s music ranges from blues and gospel to traditional Jewish melodies.
Musically directing the Syracuse Stage production is Christopher Drobny, whose credits include “Antony and Cleopatra” directed by Vanessa Redgrave, “The Entertainer” with Brian Murray and “The Threepenny Opera” with Betty Buckley.
The title role in “Caroline, or Change” is portrayed by Greta Oglesby, winner of an Ivey Award for her portrayal of Caroline in the acclaimed Guthrie Theatre production in Minneapolis, Minn. Including Oglesby, the 17-member cast includes 14 professional Equity actors.
Mr. Kushner received the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for his play “Angels in America,” which he later adapted into a screenplay for HBO. Ms. Tesori has written three other Tony-nominated scores for Broadway: “Twelfth Night,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Shrek the Musical.”
During the run of “Caroline, or Change,” an exhibit provided by the Onondaga Historical Association will be displayed in the Coyne Lobby at Syracuse Stage. The exhibit will depict life in Syracuse in the 1960s, offering a local perspective on the many changes taking place throughout the country. With images of a bustling downtown Syracuse, including JFK’s visit to Clinton Square, organizers say the OHA exhibit offers insight into a turbulent decade that forever changed our country’s civil rights, job opportunities, and urban landscapes.
Presenting sponsors for the production are the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation and Arts Engage at Syracuse University. Sponsors are the National Endowment for the Arts, M&T Bank, Lockheed Martin MS2, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group and Carrier Corporation.
