Oct. 29--The Broadway actor Steven Pasquale, recently a star of "Bridges of Madison County," is to play the role of the carnival barker Billy Bigelow in Rob Ashford's upcoming Lyric Opera of Chicago production of "Carousel," the Lyric announced Wednesday.Pasquale also is known for his work on the TV series "Rescue Me" on FX.
Part of the Lyric's ongoing series of expansive productions of musicals by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, "Carousel" will open in Chicago in April of next year. The role of Billy Bigelow is best known for its famously demanding "Soliloquy," among the most daring and famous of the great duo's compositions.The Lyric previously announced that Denyce Graves would play Nettie Fowler; further casting is yet to come. "Carousel" will be conducted by David Chase. Sets are to be by Paolo Ventura, costumes by Catherine Zuber and lights by Neil Austin.