On Our Stages

Starring Janis Stinson as Caroline
Photo by Kirk R. Tuck
Illustration by Rona Ebert

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Check out the talented cast

American-Statesman Review
A high-water mark of the
fall theater season.

Soulciti.com Review:
First review for Caroline

Austinist.com Review:
Caroline receives a rave!

Warren & Derrick Review:
An emotional response to Caroline

*This project has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces:
Three Centuries of Artistic Genius.

Tony Award Winner!

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Book by Tony Kushner
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Dave Steakley

September 18-November 9, 2008
Wilde Party October 2, 2008
Kleberg Stage
Thursday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2:30pm

It’s 1963 in Lake Charles, Louisiana and the nation is reeling from the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement and the Kennedy assassination.  Caroline, working as a maid for a southern Jewish family, is struggling to keep afloat emotionally and financially, while Noah, the young son of her employer, seeks solace in the company of Caroline following the death of his mother.  When Noah’s step-mother tells Caroline that she can keep the change she finds in Noah’s pockets when doing laundry, she ignites a combustible powder keg that will forever change everyone in the household.  Filled with stirring music that pulses with the beat of the 1960’s, this groundbreaking musical has been hailed as a major milestone in American musical theatre.

Starring ZACH favorites Janis Stinson, who stopped the show in Crowns, Smokey Joe’s Café and Jelly’s Last Jam, and Meredith McCall, award-winning star of Urinetown and Present Laughter, and introducing Matthew Moore from ZACH’s Performing Arts School.

The experience of producing Tony Kushner's epic play Angels In America forever changed our work at ZACH.  It is our highest attended play  and marked a true turning point for us.  Now Kushner has created an innovative new musical set during a seismic period of change in America that I believe will resonate powerfully as we select our next President.
Dave Steakley, ZACH's Artistic Director, on Caroline, or Change

Video: Tony Kushner interview on the The Charlie Rose Show

Video: CAROLINE, OR CHANGE scene on 58th The Tony Awards

Video: Tony Kushner, Jeanine Tesori & Tanya Pinkins talk about the development of the musical Caroline, or Change

About the Playwright
Tony Kushner’s childhood in Lake Charles, Louisiana served as the inspiration for this musical.  He is best known for Angels in America, which won the Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into an award-winning HBO film.  Kushner also co-authored the feature film Munich and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

About the Composer
Jeanine Tesori composed the score for the hit Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, as well as the forthcoming musical Shrek, based on the DreamWorks film.  She also wrote the dance arrangements for The Secret Garden on Broadway.

** Please note herbal cigarettes are used twice in this production.