arts & entertainment

Time magazine named it the best musical of the 20th century. Composer Richard Rodgers declared it his favorite of all the musicals he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein. Now, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of Carousel to the Treasure Coast, when they present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 PM, at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Avenue in Vero Beach, 32960.

Ten professional singers from Central Florida theaters, repertory companies and theme parks will perform some of the most cherished songs ever written for the stage — including “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” In addition to the soloists, 15 members of Brevard’s acclaimed Indialantic Chamber Singers will lend their voices to “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “This Was a Real Nice Clambake” and several other ensemble pieces. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is a powerful tale of love, redemption, and second chances in a full symphonic concert production. Set in a seaside town in Maine, the unstaged program follows the story of passionate but troubled carousel barker Billy Bigelow (Andrew LeJeune) and the gentle mill worker Julie Jordan (Kate Stenzel-Whitworth), whose love endures beyond hardship, regret, and even death. At its heart, Carousel is a moving exploration of hope, forgiveness, and the belief that it’s never too late to change. $35 tickets for the concert are available through the orchestra website at www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at Marine Bank & Trust, beachside and mainland branches. Tickets at the door are $40. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org. 

Carousel was an immediate hit on Broadway for Rodgers & Hammerstein in 1945, following the hugely successful Oklahoma. It was turned into a film in 1956, starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae. To create Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins brought together passionate singers and musical organizations for a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

“We are beyond thrilled to perform a symphonic concert version of this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical,” said Collins. “All the singers are incredibly talented and just pour their hearts into every song. I don’t think the sets will be missed at all. The music and the voices tell the whole story.”    

The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about the Space Coast Symphony 2025-26 season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call (855) 252-7276.