A whirl of brightly painted horses and a handsome barker calling to the pretty factory girls will usher Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical masterpiece, Carousel, into the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, August 31 - October 6, 2001. Based on Ferenc Molnar's play Liliom, the l994 revival won 5 Tony and three Drama Desk Awards. Sue Ellen Nelsen directs this Diablo Light Opera production, based on the revival. David Woods is the choreographer and the musical director, Alexander Katsman will conduct such beguiling favorites as "If I Loved You", "June is Bustin' Out All Over", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Soliloquy".

The timeless story set in the late 19th century in a small New England town, recounts the anguished love a factory girl, Julie Jordan (Elizabeth Hunter), has for a roughneck, carousing Billy Bigelow (David Sattler). Julie's best friends include her cousin, Nettie Fowler (Ardith Bertorello) and cut-up Carrie Pipperidge (Sharon Sprecher) who marries the pragmatic Enoch Snow (Robin Taylor). Billy 's boss, Mrs. Mullins (Karen Dye) fires him when he and Julie are married. When Julie tells him she is expecting a baby, Billy, desperate to make some money, teams up with Jigger (Ray Christensen) in a failed attempt to rob Julie's employer, Mr. Bascombe (John D. Tiedemann). Billy and Julie's daughter Louise (Emily Vartanian) is born and grows up in the shadow of the Snow children. But years later, Billy is finally able to find redemption through his 15-year-old daughter as she searches for her father's love.

Rodgers and Hammerstein reinvented the musical with Carousel as they fused stark drama with music and dancing into a single emotional experience, prompting Time Magazine to call Carousel, "The Best Musical of the 20th Century".

Regular ticket prices are $28.00, $25.00 for seniors and students, and $24.00 for groups of 15 or more. Student rush tickets are $11.00, subject to availability, 10 minutes before showtime. For tickets, Call the Regional Center Box Office (925) 943-7469.