Rockville Musical Theatre’s staging of Caroline, or Change at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre arrives against a backdrop of the midterm elections, as we look toward the 2028 presidential elections, which already promise to be momentous, capturing the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy and the rumblings of the Civil Rights Movement through Jeanine Tesori’s score and Tony Kushner’s book.
Set in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the production follows Caroline Thibodeaux, an underpaid and overworked Black maid played by Brenda Parker, whose daily life unfolds in a basement alongside anthropomorphized household objects including a washing machine, dryer, and radio.
What Audiences Need to Know About the Production
- Brenda Parker leads the cast as Caroline Thibodeaux, anchoring the operatic score with vocals that handle the demanding emotional weight of Kushner and Tesori's work.
- The staging runs at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre through November 15, 2026, with tickets priced at $26 and $23 for students and seniors.
- Directed by Rikki Howie Lacewell and produced by Jacqueline Rocco Williams, the show features choreography by Alexis Hooks and an 11-piece band led by music director LeVar Betts.
The Musical Landscape of Lake Charles in 1963
The narrative opens with the death of President John F. Kennedy and closes with the destruction of a local Confederate statue, framing personal domestic struggles within sweeping historical fractures. Caroline labors in the Gellmans’ basement for a Jewish family. Eight-year-old Noah Gellman, played by Jules Kanarek, develops an uneasy bond with Caroline against the backdrop of an uneven economic and social hierarchy.
Rose Gellman, portrayed by Marnie Kanarek, encourages Caroline to keep loose change found in Noah’s pockets to teach the boy a lesson about responsibility. That well-intentioned backfiring dynamic shifts when a Hanukkah gift from Noah’s grandfather introduces a twenty-dollar bill into the equation, fracturing the fragile peace in the household.
Vocal Performances and Surreal Staging Elements
Parker’s performance anchors the production, highlighted by the closing number “Lot’s Wife.” Her interactions are supported by a strong ensemble, including Paula J. Gibbs as Dotty in her adult musical debut. Jasmine Jones commands the stage as the Washing Machine, while MarQuis Fair brings a deep-voiced jazz cadence to the Dryer.
The musical atmosphere shifts between blues and Motown via the Radio singers, played by Eren S. Brooks-LeGrande, Rowan Campbell, Rachel Johnson, and Taylor Mitchell, outfitted in early 1960s costumes designed by Linda Swann. Meanwhile, Caroline’s children—played by Sophia Rose Cichetti as Emmie, Josiah Burrs as Joe, and Hosea Diaz as Jackie—portray the generational shift toward the Civil Rights Movement.
Staging the Gellmans’ Hanukkah Celebration
While Alexis Hooks’ choreography successfully weaves through varying musical styles, the second act’s Hanukkah scene introduces tonal ambiguity. Bob Bryant delivers a strong monologue on equality as Rose’s visiting father from New York City, yet the transition into the family celebration blurs the line between serious reflection and the comedic, overwrought klezmer clarinet stylings of Stuart, played by Jim Adams.
The production holds a total running time of two hours and 15 minutes, which includes a single 15-minute intermission. Performances continue at the Rockville Civic Center Park through November 15, 2026, with tickets available online or through the Rockville Box Office.
