Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN  Carousel

Your Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents one of the most beloved American musicals of all time, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. This iconic work celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025.  Featuring unforgettable songs including “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” this timeless Broadway classic has been praised for its poignant storyline, memorable characters, and unforgettable score. Rarely heard in its original full-scale orchestration, SCSO’s concert production, with limited theatrical elements, showcases the music above all else. Set in a seaside town in Maine, Carousel follows the love story of Billy Bigelow, a handsome but troubled carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a young mill worker. It is the enduring tale of love, redemption, and the struggle to find our place in the world.

Laura Hodos is a three-time Carbonell Award nominee for her work in Ruthless! at the Hollywood Playhouse, She Loves Me with the Caldwell Theatre Company and Bombshells at Actors’ Playhouse. Recently, Laura was seen in the new Frank Wildhorn musical, Bonnie and Clyde at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, FL and in the premiere production of Jolson at the Winter Garden at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, FL and the remount in Los Angeles at the historic El Portal Theatre. She has performed all 27 songs as the title character in Always, Patsy Cline at the Penobscot Theatre in Bangor Maine and the Titusville Playhouse in FL. Laura has also been seen haunting American Stage Theatre in their production of Noël Coward’s brilliant comedy, Blithe Spirit, as Elvira, and returned to St. Pete as Sheila in Hair (winner of a “Best of the Bay” award) and Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with American Stage in the Park.

Laura is a frequent performer with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, first as Marian (the Librarian) in The Music Man (a role she reprised with the Jacksonville Symphony), then with talented Michael Andrew in Fly Me To The Moon. She was also the Beggar Woman in OPO’s production of Sweeney Todd, co-starring Faith Prince and Davis Gaines.  Regionally, Laura has performed with Seaside Music Theater’s productions of Nine as the wronged wife Luisa, and as the noisy upstairs neighbor Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire. She went to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre to collaborate with Martin Charnin, Andrea McArdle and Shelly Burch on Charnin’s new show, Love Is Love.

Laura has created seven solo cabaret shows: Noël & Cole, Mad For Menken, Life Upon the Wicked Stage: The Music of Jerome Kern, Hero Worship and Hero Worship II: Songs I’ve Only Attempted in My Shower, and most recently, Never Gonna Get It: Songs From the Roles I’ll Never Play, the Parts I Didn’t Get, and the Shows That Passed Me By! These (along with other duo and group cabaret shows) have been performed at the Winter Park Playhouse, the Orlando Cabaret Festival, freeFall Theatre Company, Orlando Theatre Project, Jester Theatre Company, don’t tell mama (NYC), the Citrus Club of Orlando, as well as benefits and private parties from Maine to Miami!  Laura was also thrilled to be first performer to create a solo cabaret show for Walt Disney World as a part of the Disney Event Group and Disney Institute.

A New Jersey native, Laura spent just over a year singing in Tokyo, Japan, has performed at Lincoln Center with Donna Murphy, and at Radio City with Maureen McGovern. A graduate of Dickinson College, where she was the recipient of the Gould Memorial Drama Prize (PA) and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she received the Florence Bower Vocal Prize (NYC).

Laura makes her home in Orlando, FL with her husband George Hamrah and cats, Oscar and Percy. Laura is proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

Charles Stevens' career has spanned both New York City and Central Florida, with highlights including working with the band Air Supply on their musical Lost in Love, workshopping the new Adam Guettel and Bob Martin musical Millions, and performing as a solo artist on various NYC cabaret stages. In Central Florida, Charles has worked extensively in both theatre and theme park entertainment.  At the parks, he appeared in the Voices of Liberty Candlelight Processional, as Bruce the Shark in Finding Nemo: The Musical, and in the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular. On stage, he has been seen as Billy in Once: The Musical, Dan in Snapshots, and Sheriff Green in Desperate Measures. Charles currently serves as the bandleader for The Taylor Swift Tribute Band and as music director for Universal Epic Universe. Many thanks to his wife and kids who support him from home everyday; and to his mom who instilled a love of music in him from a young age. As always, every performance is dedicated to the memory of his father, Raymond Stevens.

Sarah Purser, mezzo-soprano, earned her Master of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from the University of Central Florida, where she studied vocal performance and conducting. She currently serves as Opera Orlando’s Education Director.  A familiar voice in the Central Florida music scene since 2001, Ms. Purser began her professional singing career with the Orlando Opera Company and has since appeared as a soloist with the Orlando Philharmonic, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles throughout the region. She is a regular member of The Solaria Singers and the Basilica Choir of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. She is also a founding member of The Helena Collective, an all-women vocal ensemble dedicated to amplifying the female voice through dynamic, narrative-driven programming.  Recent performance highlights include the roles of Abby Borden in Lizbeth, Marcelina in The Marriage of Figaro, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, and Jane Seymour in 6/VIII: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, an original production by Opera Orlando and The Helena Collective that won the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. She also recently performed Dominick Argento’s From the Diary of Virginia Woolf in recital, continuing her exploration of repertoire that gives voice to complex female narratives.

Andrew LeJeune (Billy Bigelow) is excited to be back onstage with the Space Coast Symphony, having performed in “Best of Broadway” (2019), “The Best of Country Music” (2024), and “Broadway’s Leading Men” (2025).   Andrew grew up in North Carolina, and studied Voice with Dr. Joseph Amaya at Appalachian State University.  Since moving to Central Florida, some of his favorite theatrical roles have included Curly (Oklahoma, The Athens, 2018), Radames (Aida, Cocoa Village Playhouse, 2017), Frederick Barrett (Titanic, Theatre Winter Haven, 2019), Skip Henderson (Life Could Be a Dream, Winter Park Playhouse, 2017), and Edward Rutledge (1776!, The Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Jacksonville, 2018), and he performed in Mountain Home Christmas (Singer/Actor, Guitar, Percussion) at the Greenbriar Valley Theatre, Lewisburg, WV (2022).

Andrew has performed in a number of Theme park shows as well, including The Untrainable Dragon, Epic Universe (Vocalist), The Blues Brothers, Universal Studios (Elwood Blues), Carolina Roots, Carowinds, Charlotte, NC (singer/guitarist), and as the Singing/Guitar-playing Dinoland Intern at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Additionally, he has sung with a number of Accapella groups, such as The Ragtime Gals and Sing-It, both at Universal Studios, and The Conductors and The Bayside Carolers, both at Seaworld.

Andrew lives in Orlando with his wonderful, incredibly supportive wife Elizabeth, and their amazing daughter Sophie (with whom he hopes to get to perform one day)!  Andrew is delighted to be sharing the stage with such an awe-inspiring group of performers! He couldn’t be more excited to play Billy Bigelow, a role he’s wanted to play for many years, and truly hopes you enjoy the show!

Andrew Heidorn is a professional singer, performer, composer, and lyricist based in Central Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Arizona where he sang in the top vocal ensemble, Symphonic Choir. You can find Andrew performing in various parades and shows across the Walt Disney World Resort, singing in The Untrainable Dragon show at Universal’s EPIC Universe, and you can see his TYA musicals at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, NY

Brandon Martin is a performer, composer-lyricist, and musical director based in Orlando. As a director, Martin has staged 42nd Street, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida; Memphis; Sweet Charity; and Sweeney Todd.  As a performer, Martin has starred in various musicals including Route 66, Five Guys Named Moe, Ragtime, Carmen, and West Side Story.  Brandon has served as Artistic Director for Florida Theatrical Association’s The FREEDOM Project, which shed a light on Florida’s lesser-known Black History.  His show Lenox Ave won “Best Show of the Festival” at 2025 Orlando Fringe.  Brandon currently performs at the Walt Disney World Resort with the Voices of Liberty and the Dapper Dans, and at Festival of the Lion King.

Mandi Jo is an actor and singer trained at the UCF Conservatory of Theatre who has traveled the world performing. Mandi Jo was a youth artist at the Bangkok Opera and the Winner of the Grady-Rayam Prize in sacred music. Notable credits include the Asia Premiere of The Secret Silk (Schwartz) and the World Premiere of the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World. Mandi Jo is also the executive director of Black Theatre Girl Magic, a non profit on a mission to create a more just and equitable Theatre industry for Black and Brown women. Learn more about inclusion in the arts at www.BlackTheatreGirlMagic.org

Bryan Hayes is a vocalist, songwriter, arranger and composer, with a background ranging many genres including Classical, Jazz, Blues, Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop and more. In 2013 he received bachelor’s degrees from the University of North Florida in the studies of Classical voice and in Jazz Studies, primary instrument voice.  He has performed and continues to perform in countless concerts, he has performed major roles in numerous operas, oratorios and theatrical productions, and has toured with different groups in many different countries, including but not limited to; the University of North Florida and University of British Columbia Opera ensembles in two separate productions in the Czech Republic, the University of North Florida Chorale 2010 tour of Italy, the St. John’s Cathedral Choir of Jacksonville 2014 tour of Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral, a contract with Carnival Cruise Lines in 2014, and numerous shows with the Orlando Philharmonic and Opera Orlando.  He has performed onstage with such noted artists and ensembles, including but not limited to; The Royal Symphony of England, Reggie Wooten, Coolio, Ben Folds and Andrea Bocelli.  In 2015 Bryan released his first original album entitled “This Is Me”.  Bryan aspires to continue a career of performance and composition.

Lohgan Talbert, of Youngstown, Ohio, is a recent graduate of Seminole State College, where she studied Voice.  Talbert will be attending The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2026 to study Acting. Currently Lohgan is performing as a Vocalist in the Untrainable Dragon stage show at Orlando’s newest theme park Epic Universe.  Lohgan has spent most of her life on stage; some of her favorite credits include Anya/Anastasia(Anastasia), Rizzo (Grease), Anna (Frozen), Paulette (Legally Blonde), Esmeralda (Hunchback), Florika (Hunchback), Chicago (Feat. Ensemble), Lily st Regis (Annie), Madame de la Grande Bouche (Beauty and the Beast) and many more. Lohgan was the 2019 recipient of the Broadway World "Best Actress" Award. Lohgan sends love and thanks to the company and the audience.

Clementine McCard has built a versatile career spanning musical theater, cruise ship entertainment, and theme park performances. The Georgia native began her theatrical journey at Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she graduated in 2017. Continuing her training, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from East Carolina University.  After college, McCard brought her talents to Skagway, Alaska, where she performed in "The Days of '98 Show". During her time there, she also acted as a "Madam" at the Red Onion Saloon, an establishment famous for its historical and theatrical entertainment. Her vocal skills landed her a position as a lead band vocalist on the luxury Seabourn Ovation cruise line in 2023, where she performed for guests while traveling the world.  As of late 2025, McCard is now part of the creative team at Universal Studios' Epic Universe, demonstrating her ongoing adaptability in the entertainment industry. Throughout her career, she has maintained an online presence, sharing vocal covers and demo reels on platforms like YouTube and staying connected with her audience on social media. Her journey from high school chorale to theme park performer showcases a professional dedication to her craft and a willingness to explore different avenues in the world of entertainment.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Carousel (1945)

A swaggering carnival barker, a hopeful millworker, and the brutal reality of their choices. Forget everything you thought you knew about golden-age musicals. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s 1945 masterpiece, Carousel, is not a lighthearted romp, but a sweeping, emotionally resonant story of life, death, and the hard-won path to redemption. Named by Time magazine as the best musical of the 20th century, its lush score and soaring orchestrations only deepen the tragic truths of its narrative.

More than a love story ~ Carousel explores the tumultuous relationship between the charismatic but deeply flawed Billy Bigelow and the naive, quietly devoted Julie Jordan. After they marry and both lose their jobs, Billy’s inability to cope with his situation leads to violence and a life of despair. Unlike other musicals that romanticize troubled relationships, Carousel grapples with the painful realities of domestic abuse, financial desperation, and social ostracism. The show does not offer easy answers, but instead challenges the audience to find empathy for its complex, difficult characters.

A revolutionary work ~  In 1945, at the peak of World War II, Rodgers and Hammerstein took a huge risk by adapting Ferenc Molnár’s dark 1909 play, Liliom. The original play, with its tragic ending and cynical tone, was not typical musical theater material. However, Rodgers and Hammerstein softened the ending, infusing the work with a message of hope and redemption that was deeply resonant with a war-weary audience.

The musical broke new ground in several ways:
The opening: The show opens with "The Carousel Waltz"—a 12-minute pantomime introducing the main characters and setting the scene without words.
The "bench scene": The "If I Loved You" sequence, in which Billy and Julie circle around their unacknowledged love, is considered a masterclass in musical drama. It features an extended, conversational duet where the unspoken emotions are more powerful than the words themselves.
Billy's "Soliloquy": This piece allows the audience to enter Billy's mind as he grapples with the discovery that he is going to be a father. The solo shows Billy's transformation from a selfish barker dreaming of a son to a man determined to do right by his daughter, whatever the cost.
The integrated score: The songs and story are so deeply intertwined that they form a cohesive, operatic-style drama, a key evolution from earlier musicals.

A Final Turn

The musical's narrative takes a supernatural turn in its second act, as Billy returns from the afterlife for one day to redeem himself. The ending sees Billy invisibly attending his daughter Louise's graduation. The final scene is anchored by the triumphant anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone," a song that carries a message of unwavering optimism in the face of despair.  Carousel is a challenging but ultimately life-affirming work. Its themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love—even in the darkest of times—continue to resonate, making it one of the most moving and enduring musicals of all time.