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Carousel

Come to Chicago for the Lyric Opera production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, “Carousel,” April 10-May 3, and stay at the nearby and affordable Chicago Lake Shore Hotel!

The Lyric Opera’s big voices take on the Broadway musical “Carousel” and will no doubt raise the rafters with the unforgettable hits, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “If I Loved You” and “My Boy Bill.” The great mezzo soprano Denyce Graves stars as Nettie Fowler, with Stephen Pasquale as Billy Bigelow and Laura Osnes as Julie Jordan. Also starring is film and Broadway star Tony Roberts (he of Woody Allan fame, costarring in many Allan films). Directed by Broadway veteran and Tony winner Rob Ashford (Broadway revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf), the plot seems corny by modern standards but the music is timeless.

Bad boy carousel operator Billy meets good girl Julie, to the consternation of a little town in Maine. Julie gets pregnant, Billy vows to reform himself, the town sings, Nettie Fowler sings better, Billy dies and comes back from heaven to do good. BUT: the music is stunning. They Lyric Opera is stunning. Come be stunned!

Denyce Graves alone is worth the price of admission. Ms. Graves, most noted for her “Carmen,” made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1995. She sang “America the Beautiful” and “The Lord’s Prayer” at the Washington DC ceremony honoring the victims of 9/11.

Lyric Opera is located at 20 North Wacker Drive in Chicago’s Loop. For tickets go to www.lyricopera.org. Phone reservations are not accepted.

Make your Lyric Opera “Carousel” experience more enjoyable by staying at the Chicago Lake Shore Hotel, in historic Hyde Park. Chicago Lake Shore offers free shuttle bus service to and from the Loop area and is close to bus and train services. The Lake Shore Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. AND Jazz and seafood buffet, Friday nights.