Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein III
Timothy Myers
Anne Bogart
Shura Baryshnikov
Sara Brown
Brian Scott
Haydee Zelideth
Bill Mester
Charismatic but roguish barker Billy Bigelow knows trouble all too well; it's only when he meets the resilient Julie Jordan that he has a change of heart. Their unwavering romance leads to marriage, but after struggling to provide for his soon-to-be family, Billy falls back into his past behavior—ending in devastating consequences.
This timeless American musical and stunning new production is brought to life by a cast of top-tier vocalists and the Austin Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Step right up and take your seat for this enduring story of the power of love and redemption and the unforgettable songs “Soliloquy,” “If I Loved You,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Sung in English with projected English titles.
Based on Ferenc Molnar’s Play “Liliom”
As adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer
Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille
This production of Carousel is created in partnership with Boston Lyric Opera.
Carousel is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
Individual tickets for these performances will be on sale Monday, August 4, 2025.
The swaggering, carefree carnival barker Billy Bigelow captivates a gentle, if determined, millworker, Julie Jordan. They marry, but Billy loses his job and Julie becomes pregnant. In the famous “Soliloquy,” he expresses his excitement and concern about the responsibilities of fatherhood. Intent upon providing a decent life for his family, Billy aids in a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent “up there.” Allowed to return to earth for one day fifteen years later, he encounters the daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless teenager, haunted by her father’s reputation as a thief and bully. Selflessly, Billy restores a sense of hope and dignity to both the child and her mother, in a dramatic testimony to the power of love.
Julie Jordan
Billy Bigelow
Nettie Fowler
Enoch Snow
Starkeeper
Director
Noche de Ópera is where Austin’s international community comes together to share their love of Opera! Enjoy intimate performances, mingle with fellow arts lovers, and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres in an elegant space all while celebrating Austin Opera’s upcoming production.
Attend our Sarah & Ernest Butler Masterclass Series for college-aged and chorus singers, in collaboration with UT’s Butler School of Music. All classes are taught by Austin Opera principal artists, and singers are students from The Butler School of Music or Austin Opera choristers. This is a wonderful opportunity for students who are interested in studying music in college to get a taste of the process.
Conductor Cues is an engaging, exploratory program curated and hosted by Sarah and Ernest Butler Music Director Timothy Myers, featuring special guest stars, live performances, and insights inspired by one of Austin Opera’s upcoming productions.
Come and test your opera knowledge with our pre-show Trivia & Toasts Thursday, February 5 ,2026 at 6:30 P.M. in the Kodosky Lounge. Hosted by our quizmaster and Director of Education & Community Impact, Andréa Ochoa. You can compete to win a prize basket from ROXOR Gin and some serious bragging rights! Attendance is free for all ticket holders and includes a complimentary cocktail sponsored by ROXOR Gin (while supplies last), a cash bar, and a happy-hour vibe.
Join us in the theater at 6:30 P.M. before the opera on Saturday, February 7, 2026 for a special talk by Scholar-In-Residence Dr. Charles Carson. Opera Overtures is free to all ticket holders andwill be a fascinating pre-show addition to the evening for both opera aficionados and first-time operagoers alike. This lecture will be held at the Dell Hall Orchestra level.
Come along before the Sunday, February 8, 2026 matinee for some Coffee & Conversations with General Director & CEO, Annie Burridge, and a special guest. There’ll be complimentary pastries along with coffee at this free pre-show presentation in Dell Hall, Orchestra level at 1:00 P.M.
