HKUST's Community Musical 2026—Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel Celebrates 35 Years of Artistic Expression

This March, the immensely talented cast and production team behind this year’s community musical, Carousel, shone a spotlight on HKUST’s dedication to fostering a vibrant arts culture on campus.

Presented by the Shaw Auditorium Unit and co-directed by Dr. Isaac DROSCHA, Senior Lecturer in the Division of Humanities, and Ms. Mandy PETTY, a renowned choreographer, the show represents a cultural blend of classic Broadway musical staged at HKUST. 

“We selected this special musical particularly for the University’s 35th anniversary,” said Dr. Droscha about the show, which took place at the Shaw Auditorium on campus from March 20 to 22. “With its large cast and rich musical numbers, it allowed us to involve more HKUST and community members,” he said.

Embracing Human Complexity 

The production on campus proved to be more than a stunning cross-cultural visual and aural feast; it was a heartfelt celebration of the power of art and the triumph of the human spirit. 

Carousel tells the story of a man called Billy Bigelow, whose life ends in troubled life marked by hardship and missteps – ends in tragedy. Granted a chance for redemption in the afterlife, Billy is allowed to return to his hometown where he must help his daughter, Louise, find hope and strength, and in doing so, seek redemption for himself. 

The role of Billy is widely regarded as one of most demanding in musicals. It requires not only exceptional vocal strength but also profound emotional depth.

“The most challenging part of playing Billy is that he sees himself as a tough, unshakable man in his own mind, while deep down, he is vulnerable, just like everyone else,” said Mr. LEUNG Ho-Sing, a Computer Engineering undergraduate student, who took on the role of Billy. “So, I had to reveal more of Billy’s hidden self during the solo scenes.”

To prepare for the role, Mr. Leung immersed himself in the understanding the psychology of a violent character. “It is difficult to imagine someone behaving in such an abusive way, as this is less commonly seen these days,” explained Mr. Leung. As part of his preparation, he studied how TV actors convincingly express a wide range of emotions, including aggression, to bring authenticity to the character.

Building Community

Individual efforts come together to create a thriving community of creatives involved in these projects. Several of those involved in this year’s production are, in fact, veteran performers who had previous taken part in HKUST community theater initiatives.

One such contributor was Dr. ZHANG Rong, Senior Lecturer in the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas, who embraced his multiple roles — from a hard-working fisherman to the more prominent Carnival Boy in the second act — as a cherished opportunity to return to the stage.

A familiar face in the past HKUST community musicals, Dr Zhang hoped to continue refining his performance skills and to further explore his potential as an evolving performer.

“Mandy and Isaac provided the cast with invaluable practical tips that have significantly improved our performance skills,” said Dr. Zhang, adding that researching his part had been a time-consuming but hugely enriching experience.

“To fully embrace the character, I researched the history of the whaling industry and even created a journal for the role,” he said, explaining that the musical is set in a whaling town on the northeast coast of the United States.

Touching Hearts

The melodious score and bittersweet storytelling captivated more than 2,000 audience members during the three-day run. As the final curtain fell after each performance, the Main Hall of the Shaw Auditorium resounded with enthusiastic applause, affirming that the HKUST Community Musical had once again cast its spell. Audience members left profoundly impressed and cheered. Post-show comments included:

•    “The cast, orchestra, stage crew, and supporting staff all did an excellent job. The production improves every year!”
•    “Exquisite set design with a real carousel brought on stage.”
•    “Highly impressive, especially the singing.”
•    “Inspiring passion and seamless collaboration.”
•    “The spirit of community truly stood out.”

Reflecting on the show’s success, Ms. Petty said she hoped this performance would inspire members of the HKUST community to reflect on their life values and to cherish the performing arts.

“The show featured fun, lively songs, but also quiet, reflective moments. Like in our own lives, there are always opportunities for redemption and starting over. Never give up on changing your life!”

Moving forward, HKUST will continue to provide a platform for enthusiastic artists who infuse campus life with vibrant, heartfelt cultural connections. For more details, please visit HKUST Community Musical.