Carousel

Perhaps the best musical of the 20th century!
Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, music by Richard Rodgers
July 22 – September 7

Purchase Your Tickets Here
A Note from the Director
The Cast
Scenes and Musical Numbers
Technical and Artistic Staff
Cast Biographies
Theme Buffet Menu
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Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorite musical, Carousel, is one of the few musicals fitting to follow the opening two shows of the 2008 season, Time magazine named it the “Best Musical of the Twentieth Century.” It came on the heels of Oklahoma! and announced to the world that the musical stage was changed forever. The love story of Billy Bigelow, who is Jennifer Jackson stars in Carousel allowed to return to earth for one day after taking his own life, and the sense of hope and dignity that he instills in his wifeJulie Jordan and their child is perhaps Oscar Hammerstein’s greatest literary feat. Combined with the music by Richard Rodgers and original dances by Agnes de Mille, the adaptation of Ferenc Molnar’s play Liliom, is a seamless piece of American Broadway musical theatre at the height of its Golden Era. “If I Loved You,” “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” are simply perfect pieces of musical theatre.

A Note from the Director

Welcome to one of the greatest musicals of all time! Carousel hasbeen a passion of mine for many years. I’m thrilled to finally have the opportunity to work on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorite piece!

From start to finish, it is clear that this is a musical that blazed new trails for musical theatre. In most modern day musicals we are able to see how this particular piece inspired authors like Stephen Sondheim, Kander and Ebb and Frank Wildhorn to blaze trails of their own. The complexities of its plot, unconventional subject matter and anti-hero made it a difficult sell to the famous writing duo in the beginning, but in the end this magnificent story of tragic love and redemption won their hearts. Thus they set out to forge what Time magazine would later describe as the best musical of the 20th century.

There have been many productions of this piece over the years with many different interpretations of the characters and yet the concepts that it deals with remain topical and poignant today. I hope that you will allow this heart wrenching tale to become a part of your soul so that as we grow and mature we will always keep the ideals that it preaches close to our hearts. If we hold fast to what we treasure, brave each storm that life brings us with our chins held high we will truly, as Nettie sings, “Never walk alone.” Peace!

Jeremy Littlejohn

The Cast

Carrie Pipperidge...............................Amber Burgess
Julie Jordan.......................................Jennifer Jackson
Mrs. Mullin.........................................Emily Baer / Pat Berardi
Billy Bigelow......................................Brian Kaisen
Policeman.........................................J.D. Simper
David Bascombe................................Jeffery Funaro
Nettie Fowler.....................................Rachel Black
Enoch Snow.......................................Jeremy William Hilgert
Jigger Craigin....................................Sam Brown
Arminy..............................................Karen Courliss
Captain.............................................David Smith
1st Heavenly Friend (Brother Joshua)...Ryan Yoder
2nd Heavenly Friend...........................J.D. Simper
Starkeeper / Dr. Seldon......................Jeremy Littlejohn
Louise...............................................Emma Jane Hostetler
Carnival Boy.....................................Jeffery Funaro
Enoch Snow Jr...................................Lance Mullins
Snow Children...................................Bay Cope
........................................................Danny Fattorusso
........................................................Molly Hill
Principal............................................David Smith

Scenes and Musical Numbers

Act I

Scene 1: An Amusement Park on the New England Coast in May
Prologue (The Carousel Waltz) - Company

Scene 2: A Tree-Lined Path along the Shore, a few minutes later
Mister Snow - Carrie and Julie
If I Loved You - Billy and Julie

Scene 3: Nettie Fowler’s Spa on the Oceanfront in June
June Is Bustin’ Out All Over - Nettie, Carrie, Company
Encore: June Is Bustin’ Out All Over - Nettie, Company
Reprise: Mister Snow - Carrie, Enoch, Girls
When the Children Are Asleep - Enoch and Carrie
Blow High, Blow Low - Jigger, Billy, Men
Soliloquy - Billy
Finale Act 1 - Nettie, Company

Act II

Scene 1: On an Island across the Bay, that night
A Real Nice Clambake - Company
Geraniums in the Winder - Enoch
Stonecutters Cut It on Stone - Jigger, Company
What’s the Use of Wond’rin - Julie, Girls

Scene 2: Mainland Waterfront, an hour later
You’ll Never Walk Alone - Julie and Nettie

Scene 3: Up There

Scene 4: Down Here on a Beach, fifteen years later
Ballet - Louise, Carnival Boy, Company

Scene 5: Outside Julie’s Cottage
Reprise: If I Loved You - Billy

Scene 6: Outside a Schoolhouse, the same day
Finale Ultimo - Company

Technical and Artistic Staff

Executive Producer: Richard Pletcher

Artistic Director: Jeremy Littlejohn

Director: Jeremy Littlejohn

Music Director: Phil Rittner

Choreographer: Derek Martin

Technical Director: Erin Ramer

Production Stage Manager: Regina Warren

Props Master / House Mgr.: Lance Mullins

Set Designer: Richard Pletcher

Costume Design: Jasen & Akron Design and Costume Co

Lighting Designer: David Castaneda

Sound Designer: Paul Dodds

Master Carpenter: Alvin Yoder

Scenic Artist: Erin Ramer

Box Office Manager: Jennifer Scheffer

Marketing: The Village Group, LLC

Read the Technical and Artistic Staff Biographies

Cast Biographies

Emily Baer (Mrs. Mullin) is originally from Goshen and is making her second appearance at Amish Acres after being seen in 2007’s Thoroughly Modern Millie. She is a Musical Theatre Major at Millikin University.

Rachel Black (Nettie Fowler) holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Vanderbilt University and The University of Kentucky. Before making the switch to musical theater, Miss Blackperformed the role of MegPage in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Emma Jones in Street Scene, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and was the alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. She also toured internationally with the American Spiritual Ensemble. Favorite musical theater credits include Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Martha in White Christmas, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Thanks to supportive family and friends. To God be the Glory!

Sam Brown (Jigger) A Nappanee native, Sam has been performing on stage in church, school and Community Theater since elementary school. His first professional work was for a local company, Playhouse Productions which performed dinner theater for various groups and businesses. Sam has been performing at the Round Barn Theater since 1997 and has held many posts here including House Manager, Props Master and Stage Manager. This will be his ninth season on the Joseph Stein Stage. Audiences may remember Sam in such roles as Jeff Douglas in Brigadoon, Charles Thompson in 1776, Dan King in Plain and Fancy, Schroeder in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Reverend Ogelthorpe in Smoke on the Mountain, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and King Pellinore in Camelot. He also played the lead role of David Kolowitz in the Second Stage Production of Enter Laughing and recently played Uncle Louie in Lost in Yonkers. Sam enjoys writing as well as acting. He has written two plays and is currently working on a third.

Amber Burgess (Carrie) is thrilled to be returning to The Round Barn Theatre for the 2008 season. A current resident of Chicago, she is originally from Jamestown, ND and has been traveling the U.S. for the past five years working in regional theatre and cabaret. Most recently she has been seen in her cabaret at the Bailiwick Theatre and in Smoke on the Mountain with the Provision Theatre Company both in Chicago. Amber has been playing stringed instruments since the age of nine and has been working in the theatre since she was eight. Her largest career goal is to perform in all 50 states. Thus far she has performed in AK, OH, KY, IN, MI, ND, SD, MN, VA, and IL. She has sung solo in every major cathedral in France, and in her spare time enjoys running, writing, reading, knitting, and dreaming about polishing her future Tony Award for Best Actress. Visit http://www.amberburgess.com.

Bay Shawnah Cope (Snow Child) was most recently seen in The Music Man at The Round Barn Theatre. She participates in 4-H Dog Obedience and sang a solo piece for Purdue University. She enjoys singing in the church youth band and has played violin at local festival and churches. Bay’s introduction to theatre was a live performance of Plain and Fancy and is also of Amish descent.

Karen Courliss (Arminy) is happy to be making her Round Barn debut! Karen graduated from Bethel College in 2007 with a degree in Vocal Performance. Some of her favorite roles include Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls under the direction of Jeremy Littlejohn, Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan, Antonia in Man of La Mancha and several comedic operas at Bethel. She was also seen at Elkhart Civic Theatre as Liesl in The Sound of Music. Karen currently resides in Mishawaka with her amazing husband Tim.

“Thank you Mom, Dad, Kevin, Kelli and Tim for always believing in me!”

Danny Fattorusso (Snow Child) is thrilled to be back at the Round Barn Theatre after appearing in Fiddler on the Roof, The Will Rogers Follies and most recently as Winthrop in The Music Man. Danny is originally from New York but moved to Nappanee when he was two. He loves to perform and create as well as play baseball, soccer, golf and tennis. Nappanee patrons may remember Danny as Studebaker in The Elves & the Shoemaker with Nappanee Civic Theatre.

Jeffrey Funaro (David) has performed at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (NY), Mac-Haydn Theatre (NY) and Carousel Music Theatre (ME). Favorite shows include The Music Man (Quartet), White Christmas (Ezekiel Foster), Violet (Preacher), and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. He has also Music Directed Seussical and Gilligan’s Island the Musical. Jeff has a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School, CAP21 Program, and an MA in Music Composition from CUNY Queens College.

Jeremy William Hilgert (Enoch) hails from Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. Jeremy comes fresh from a revival of his critically acclaimed performance as Mr. Bullard in A Midnight Cry at the Growing Stage Theater in Netcong, New Jersey. Some of Jeremy's favorite roles include Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense A-men, Horton in Seussical, and Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad. Jeremy studied voice and opera at Temple University and received a B.A. in Political Science from Centenary College. "A very special thank you to my amazing family and friends!" Check Jeremy out on the web at www.jeremywilliamhilgert.com.

Molly Hill (Snow Child) is 9 years old and just finished 4th grade at St. John’s school in Goshen, Indiana. She is no stranger to RBT audiences having been seen in 2006 as Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof and Martha Cratchet in A Christmas Carol and most recently as Amaryllis in The Music Man.

Emma Jane Hostetler (Louise) is so happy to be back at the barn! She was last seen at Amish Acres in White Christmas as Susan Waverly. Emma recently completed runs of The Shallow End and Nunsense. She will be attending Pace University in New York in the fall and could not be more excited.

“Lots of love and thanks to the best of family and friends. Let's dance it out!”

Jennifer Jackson (Julie) A West Coast girl, Jennifer has primarily worked the Southern California scene where she was seen in such roles as Corrie Bratler in Barefoot in the Park, Treasure, The Swashbuckling Pirate Queen at the Pirate Dinner Adventure Theatre and the title role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. A recent MFA Acting graduate from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, her latest performance was as Cinderella in Into the Woods.

“Many thanks to Derek Martin, my family and to The Master Artist…this one’s for you, Dad!”

Brian Kaisen (Billy Bigelow) is so pleased to return to the Joseph Stein Stage for Carousel! You may remember Brian from such roles as Will Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies, LM in Pump Boys and Dinettes, and Dan King in Plain and Fancy during the 2007 season. Brian is originally from Davenport, IA and currently lives a big apple on the east coast.

“Many thanks to Jeremy for this wonderful opportunity and to Phil for his unwavering patience and guidance. Kisses to family and friends for their support! May number 34 run forever!”

Lance Mullins (Enoch Snow, Jr) is 19 years old and recently graduated from Northwood High School. Favorite roles include Mereb in Aida at Northwood, Lefou in Beauty and the Beast with Elkhart Civic Theatre, Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Nappanee Civic Theatre and High School Musical with The Round Barn Theatre in 2007. He was also recently seen in the RBT’s Second Stage Production of Lost in Yonkers as Jay. He can be seen back on the Joseph Stein Stage this summer in Willy Wonka. Some of his favorite hobbies include photography and writing music.

J.D. Simper (Policeman) is very excited to be in his first full season with the company. Recent Round Barn productions include Fred in A Christmas Carol, a member of the Cowboy Quartet in The Will Rogers Follies and Bee Doyle in Floyd Collins. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice, Music and Theatre from Bethel College. He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support. Love you all.

David Smith (Captian) recently completed his education at Indiana Wesleyan University with a BS in Elementary Education. This is his second “go round,” at The Round Barn and he is extremely excited to be back. He would like to thank his family, the Fiebigs and above all…God!

Ryan Yoder (Brother Joshua) is originally from Shipshewana and is currently a senior at Bethel College. Some of his favorite roles at Bethel include John in Peter Pan, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He is thrilled to be making his professional debut here at the Round Barn in Carousel.