Caroline or Change

Opened: 02 May 2004
Book by: Tony Kusher
Music by:Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics by:Tony Kusher
Choreography by:Hope Clarke
Cast: Tonya Pinkins, Reathel Bean, Harrison Chad, Tracy Nicole Chapman, David Costabile, Veanne Cox, Aisha de Haas, Marcus Carl Franklin, Marva Hicks, Capathia Jenkins, Larry Keith, Ramona Keller, Alice Playten, Anika Noni Rose, Leon Thomas III, Chandra Wilson, Chuck Cooper
Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Synopsis: takes place in Louisiana in 1963, just before President Kennedy's assassination and during the Civil Rights movement. Caroline is the black maid of a Southern family, made up of a father, his new wife and the man's young son. The son's birth mother has recently died, and the stepmother is trying to establish a relationship with the child, who already has a close connection with Caroline. The title has a double meaning, referring to the myriad social changes swirling around the family and a family argument surrounding the spare change perpetually found in the boy's pants pockets. .

What the critics had to say.....

BEN BRENTLEY of the NEW YORK TIMES says �Solemn singing show with a social conscience.� CLIVE BARNES of the NEW YORK POST says "Unnecessarily pretentious and emotionally chilly." HOWARD KISSEL of NEW YORK DAILY NEWS says "Long, tedious evening." ELYSA GARDNER of USA TODAY says �Bold and winning.� LINDA WINER of NEWSDAY says "Shockingly ordinary, middle- of-the-road work " MICHAEL SOMMERS of Star-Ledger says "Somewhat dispiriting experience." MICHAEL KUCHWARA of Associated Press says "Small, message-laden musical filled with big, fitfully realized ambitions."

External links to full reviews from newspapers

New York Times
New York Post
New York Daily News
USA Today
Newsday
Associated Press