Freshman Ellawyn Ketch, of Clarkesville is among the cast with the Piedmont College Conservatory of Music and Department of Theatre presenting “Carousel” live this weekend.
The musical is one of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s more challenging pieces because the cast has to find a balance between the beautiful operatic music and the dark storyline.
Ketch, who plays the role of Nettie Fowler, graduated from Habersham Central High School last year. During her last semester there, she wowed the Board of Education with the tremendous range of her voice at an informal performance at one of their work sessions. One of her accomplishments includes being named best supporting actress in a state competition. This is her first college show.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” she said. “I never thought that I would be able to have this kind of experience as a freshman and it’s surpassed all of my expectations and hopes. I’ve had the most fun playing Nettie and being in this show with all of these amazing cast members and with such an amazing director like Bill [Gabelhausen].”
“Carousel” opened on Broadway in April 1945 and was adapted as a major motion picture. It also had Broadway revivals in 1994 and 2018. The script takes the audience to a small town in Maine and follows anti-hero Billy Bigelow, played by Jordan Hicks, who tackles relationship issues rarely discussed in the mid-1940s.
Fowler is Julie Jordan’s big-hearted, older cousin. In the musical, Jordan, played by Chandler Allen, is married to Bigelow. When the show debuted on Broadway in 1945, Christine Johnson Smith, who portrayed Fowler then, became the first singer to deliver the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” According to an article in TheaterMania, it is said that Rodgers wrote the song with her voice in mind.
“Specifically in having the role of Nettie, she’s such a grown and mature role that has to give out so much wisdom and strength that I ended up being able to kind of take some of her own words and her wisdom for myself as well,” Ketch said.
Many claim that the score is the most operatic of all the team's musicals. Furthermore, with elements of redemption and forgiveness, Piedmont’s production hopes to highlight that the destination is only half as powerful as the journey.
Gabelhausen said they try to do a musical every year, but that this year was their “Golden Age.” Therefore, they tried to keep the show as true as possible to its original Broadway format by using several backdrops.
“We try to find something that works well with students, is appropriate, and challenges them in acting, singing and dancing,” Gabelhausen said. “This I thought was a great choice and it’s not one that’s done often, so it’s something new even though it’s old.”
Music Director Wallace Hinson said the show also offers students a great opportunity to work with a live orchestra. While there’s no room to have a full orchestra, especially to allow for social distancing, Hinson said they hired 12 musicians to be a part of the show, one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorites, he added.
“This show meant a lot to them,” he said. “There’s a lot of music in it that people will recognize. They may not recognize the title, but they’ll recognize the tune. The big songs like ‘June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,’ particularly if they’re over 40. ‘If I Loved You,’ is another and ’You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ And we were able, because of our friends in the arts, to hire professional players to come in and play those.”
This will truly be a show unlike any other. To allow for social distancing, Hinson will be with the orchestra in the Black Box Theater watching the cast from a TV and there will also be a TV in the back of the mainstage so the cast can watch him.
“It’s going to be totally different for us, but, knock on wood, everything is coming together,” Gabelhausen said. “It’s a true undertaking, but in a magnificent way so we’re very excited.”
Ketch, a music performance major, said being a part of this production has been one of her favorite experiences of college so far. Her parents are planning to come to both the opening and closing performances.
“My end goal is to be able to do something in the theater world, preferably opera and so just by taking lessons and working on my repertoire and building up with as many experiences like ‘Carousel’ as possible is how I see my future hopefully going,” Ketch said. “It’s been an honor to be able to be a part of ‘Carousel.’”
Performances will take place at the Swanson Mainstage Theatre, starting Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday show will start at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Piedmont students, staff and faculty are admitted free. To reserve a ticket, call the box office at 706-778-8500, ext. 1355.
