The Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori musical Caroline, or Change began previews on the National Theatre’s Lyttelton stage Oct. 11. The musical will officially open Oct. 19.

George. C Wolfe’s production stars Tonya Pinkins, who created the role in the original Off-Broadway production, which divided the critics, but went on to receive six Tony nominations, winning Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Anika Noni Rose.

With book and lyrics by the Tony and Pulitzer-winning Kushner (Angels in America, Homebody Kabul) and music by Tony Award winner Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Caroline, or Change is set in Louisiana 1963 and follows the friendship between a black maid and the Jewish son of her employers.

Tonya Pinkins as Caroline Thibodeaux	Anna Francolini as Rose Stopnick Gellman and Greg Bernstein as Noah	Clive Rowe as The Bus	Nora Cole as Dotty Moffett and Tonya Pinkins as Caroline
Anna Francolini as Rose Stopnick Gellman, Ian Lavender as Grandpa Gellman, Perry Milward as Noah, Hilton McRae as Mr Stopnick, Valda Avicks as Grandma Gellman, Richard Henders as Stuart Gellman. Tonya Pinkins (foreground) as Caroline, with - left to right - Malinda Parris as The Washing Machine, and Ramona Keller, Nataylia Roni and Joy Malcolm as The Radio.