1945 Original Broadway Production
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1945 Original Broadway Production
Produced by The Theater Guild, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s triumphant return to Broadway was their second musical collaboration, Carousel, which opened April 19, 1945 at the Majestic Theatre. John Raitt and Jan Clayton were cast as the leads. The reviews were enthusiastic across the board, and the new collaborators celebrated another box office smash that, once again, raised the standard for American musical theater. In its review, The New York Times referred to Rodgers & Hammerstein as those “who can do no wrong.” Carousel’s original Broadway production would run at the Majestic Theatre for 890 performances, over two years, followed by an impressive national tour, a West End premiere, a celebrated motion picture adaptation and countless international revivals.
LISTEN
Following Carousel‘s Broadway premiere in April 1945, the Original Broadway Cast album was recorded and released on Decca in the form of five 12″ 78 rpm records, packaged in a book-like “album,” which included a lyrics booklet and synopsis. This inaugural recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s second musical collaboration includes such standards as “If I Loved You,” “Mr. Snow” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Under the musical direction of Joseph Littau, with orchestrations by Don Walker, the recording features the talents of Jan Clayton, John Raitt, Jean Darling, Connie Baxter and more.