If you go
› What: “Carousel.”› When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 24-25; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26.› Where: Tennessee Valley Theatre, 184 W. Jackson Ave., Spring City, Tenn.› Admission: $12.› Phone: 423-365-PLAY.› Website: tennesseevalleytheatre.com.
Tennessee Valley Theatre in Spring City, Tenn., will present its final performances of “Carousel” this weekend.
Named the best musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine, “Carousel” was the second musical, following “Oklahoma,” by the team of Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein (book and lyrics). The 1945 work was adapted from Ferenc Molnár’s 1909 play “Liliom,” transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline and making its ending more hopeful.
The story revolves around carousel barker Billy Bigelow, whose romance with millworker Julie Jordan comes at the price of both their jobs. He attempts a robbery to provide for Julie and their unborn child; after it goes wrong, he is given a chance to make things right. A secondary plot line deals with millworker Carrie Pipperidge and her romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow. Its themes revolve around recklessness, regret and redemption.
The show includes the well-known songs “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Rodgers later wrote that “Carousel” was his favorite of all his musicals.
Thomas Rodgers is directing the TVT production. Performances are scheduled Friday through Sunday, June 24-26.