Filmed Caroline or Change Musical to Make Its Public Debut April 27

Part of this year's Performance Festival, the musical was recorded live at the Playhouse Theatre by the V&A in January 2019. The festival celebrates, explores, and deconstructs musical theatre, with a wide range of special events taking place throughout the museum.

Written by Tony Kushner with music by Jeanine Tesori, "Caroline or Change" tells the story of Caroline Thibodeaux, a maid working for a Jewish family in Louisiana in the 1960s. The musical explores themes of race, class, and change in America during that time period, and features a score that blends blues, gospel, and traditional Jewish melodies.

The original Broadway production, directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Hope Clarke, received critical acclaim and was nominated for six Tony Awards. It also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London's West End.

The V&A screening will be a filmed capture of the 2019 West End production, directed by Michael Longhurst and starring Sharon D. Clarke in the titular role. The screening will take place in the Hochhauser Auditorium, Learning Centre for the Arts on April 27th at 1:45PM and will be free to the public.

The production received widespread critical acclaim for its powerful performances and stunning visuals. The screening will run for 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute interval. This will be the first time the filmed capture will be made available for public viewing.

The V&A's National Video Archive of Performance (NVAP) archive, established in 1992, now holds over 450 high-quality archival multi-camera recordings of live performances in Britain and continues to record and preserve productions for the national collection. The archive features a vast range of stage performances with work by notable playwrights, directors, set designers, lighting designers, and actors.

Interested theatergoers are encouraged to arrive early to secure their seats as the screening is expected to be a popular event. While this is currently the only screening scheduled, the V&A is committed to making their archives available to the public, so future screenings of "Caroline or Change" may be possible in the future.