Caroline, or Change

Musical by Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner

Caroline, or Change is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics and book by Tony Kushner. The score combines spirituals, blues, Motown, classical music, and Jewish klezmer and folk music. The show ran both Off Broadway and on Broadway as well as in London.

The musical was first workshopped in 1999 at New York's Off Broadway Public Theater. Director George C. Wolfe continued to workshop the musical at the Public Theater, where it opened on November 30, 2003, and closed on February 1, 2004.

It transferred to Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on May 2, 2004, and closed on August 29, 2004, after 136 performances and 22 previews. The musical starred Tonya Pinkins in the title role, Anika Noni Rose as Emmie Thibodeaux, Harrison Chad as Noah Gellman, Veanne Cox as Rose Stopnick Gellman and Chandra Wilson as Dotty Moffett (all both off and on Broadway). The choreographer was Hope Clarke; scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez; costume design by Paul Tazewell; and lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer. Despite its relatively short run, it was critically acclaimed and nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Opening in October 2006, a London production at the National Theatre on the Lyttelton stage, also directed by Wolfe, ran in repertory with Marianne Elliot's production of Thérèse Raquin to January 2007. The production did not transfer to the West End but did win the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The opening night cast in London starred Tonya Pinkins as Caroline. Other cast members included Pippa Bennett Warner as Emmie Thibodeaux, Anna Francolini as Rose Stopnick Gellman, Hilton McRae as Mr. Stopnick, Perry Millward, Jonny Weldon and Greg Bernstein alternating as Noah, Clive Rowe as the dryer/bus Joy Malcolm, Ramona Keller, and Nataylia Roni, as the Radio.

A revival was produced at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester as part of Daniel Evans' inaugural season as artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre, running from 6 May to 3 June 2017. The production was directed by Michael Longhurst, starred Sharon D. Clarke as Caroline and received critical acclaim earning five star reviews. The production transferred with Clarke to the Hampstead Theatre, London from 12 March to 21 April 2018. The production transferred to the West End at the Playhouse Theatre, where it began playing on 20 November 2018, and ran until 2 March 2019, once again starring Clarke.

A Broadway revival by Roundabout Theatre Company based on the Chichester production initially was announced to start previews on March 13, 2020 and open on April 7, 2020, at Studio 54. On March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Rescheduled previews began October 8, 2021 and it officially opened on October 27 and ran through January 9, 2022. Direction was by Michael Longhurst with choreography by Ann Yee. The revival starred Sharon D. Clarke and Samantha Williams (Emmie).

Pinkins and Anika Noni Rose (Emmie Thibodeaux) reprised their roles in late 2004 at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California and in January to February 2005 at the Curran Theatre, San Francisco, California. Its premiere in The Washington, D. C., area at The Studio Theatre in 2006, starring Julia Nixon and Max Talisman, received rave reviews, and won The Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical (Nixon), and Outstanding Resident Musical. The Chicago premiere at the Court Theatre in fall 2008 earned four Jeff awards for director Charles Newell, Musical Director Doug Peck, star E. Faye Butler, and best production of a musical at a large scale theater. Other regional productions have included Center Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, in December 2008 to January 2009 with E. Faye Butler; the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April to June 2009, the Gallery Players, Brooklyn, N. Y., January to February 2010, The Human Race Theatre Company, Dayton, Ohio November 4–20, 2011, and Syracuse Stage (Syracuse, New York) February 1 February 26, 2012. In 2017, the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland staged it as part of a season with a focus on Tony Kushner plays. Its Colorado regional premiere took place April 5 to May 5, 2019, at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, directed by Kenny Moten and starring Mary Louise Lee as Caroline. A 2012 production by Acting Up Stage Company in Toronto, Ontario, garnered Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Production of a Musical, Sterling Jarvis (principal actor), Arlene Duncan (principal actress) and Outstanding Musical Direction (Reza Jacobs). A new production by Acting Up Stage Company, now called The Musical Stage Company, in Toronto, Ontario played January 31 to February 16, 2020, starring Jully Black as Caroline and Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman as The Moon at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres.

Year Award Category Nominee Result 2004 Tony Award Best Musical Best Book of a Musical Tony Kushner Best Original Score Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Tonya Pinkins Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Anika Noni Rose Best Direction of a Musical George C. Wolfe Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Outstanding Book of a Musical Tony Kushner Outstanding Actress in a Musical Tonya Pinkins Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Anika Noni Rose Outstanding Director of a Musical George C. Wolfe Outstanding Music Jeanine Tesori

Year Award Category Nominee Result2017UK Theatre AwardBest Musical ProductionBest Performance in a MusicalSharon D. ClarkeBroadwayWorld UK AwardBest New Production of a Musical2018Evening Standard Theatre AwardBest MusicalBest Musical PerformanceSharon D. Clarke 2019Laurence Olivier AwardBest Musical Revival Best Actress in a MusicalSharon D. Clarke Best Costume Design Fly Davis Black British Theatre AwardBest Female Actor in a MusicalSharon D. ClarkeStage Debut AwardChild Performer of the YearJack Meredith

Year Award Category Nominee Result 2022 Drama League Awards Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off Broadway Play Distinguished Performance Sharon D. Clarke Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Musical Outstanding Actress in a Musical Sharon D. Clarke Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off Broadway) Outstanding Actress in a Musical Sharon D. Clarke Theatre World Award Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Best Actress in a Musical Sharon D. Clarke Best Costume Design in a Musical Fly Davis 2023 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Princiipal soloists, album producers, composer and lyricist.