'Carousel' opens to rave reviews in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Lyric Opera of Chicago's outstanding new production of "Carousel" just opened to rave reviews.

The cast is warming up in a studio backstage, but the rich and rousing wonder of "Carousel" will play out in the majestic footlights of the Civic Opera House. Charlotte D'Amboise moves from being a Fosse Broadway baby to the role of Mrs. Mullin.

"It's so grand and other worldly to me. I've never performed actually on an opera stage ever so this is a first. These grand Rogers Hammerstein musicals you can do here and it's operatic. It is operatic and it's epic stories so it holds. I did the original Chicago that came here that was a long time ago that was a blast I got to stay the whole summer I got to stay right by the beach. Thank God for Chicago it has given me a paycheck for 15 years," D'Ambroise said.

Tony Roberts is the star keeper. He credits a teacher he studied with in Evanston, Alvina Krause, with teaching him how to act.

"I fell in love with this little woman who'd been teaching at Northwestern University for 35 years and taught Charlton Heston and Jeffrey Hunter and Patricia Neal and an endless list of people who went on to have success in the business," Roberts said.

Roberts co-starred with Julie Andrews in the pre-Broadway run of "Victor, Victoria" here in chicago.

"She's a magnificent person and that was a big thrill to be in that show," Roberts said.

Woody Allen has cast Tony in his movies and plays.

"Gradually we became very warm friends and he began casting me in movies. I did 6 films for him including Annie Hall, of course, and now we go to basketball games," Roberts said.

"Carousel" will be at the Civic Opera House through May 3.