UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage will present "Caroline, or Change," with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and score by Jeanine Tesori, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 1 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre. This rarely performed, groundbreaking musical is an inspiring and brave examination of the untold stories of those in our society who defy all odds by surviving against unthinkable circumstances.
The musical focuses on Caroline, an African-American maid working for a Jewish family in Louisiana in 1963 and struggling to keep herself above water. As a divorced mother of four, she carries the weight of her family's survival on her shoulders. When a series of unexpected events push Caroline to her breaking point, she realizes she must find a new path in order to survive in the world around her.
Director Phillip Fazio stated, "Over the past decade, I have thought a lot about what I would do if I was ever fortunate enough to have the opportunity to direct this show. Throughout that time, the country has gone through many changes. We saw the election of the first African-American [U.S.] President, the rise of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, and (on the very night we were holding auditions for this production) the toppling of a Confederate statue at the University of North Carolina. If 2018 is screaming out for a show to be performed, this is it."