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Big River

Twain's timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi. Propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 19th Century
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Smoking
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

  • Performance Group:
  • Elementary School / Primary, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Church / Religious Groups

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical (1985)
    Winner! Seven Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Music and Lyrics (1985)
    Nominee! Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (2004)
    Nominee! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical (2004)
Twain's timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel-the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family.

Propelled by an award winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana.
REVIEWS:

"The story is a fun one including lots of social and historical relevance, and a moral conscience...the score is one that audiences will likely go home humming. "

Matthew Murray TalkinBroadway.com

"A rousing, high spirited show that sets your hands to clapping, your feet to stomping and your heart to rise within you!"

WCBS-TV

"A classic American musical with the most fetching score of the decade."

Time Magazine
Premiere Production: Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn premiered on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on April 25, 1985. Directed by Des McAnuff and featuring Daniel H. Jenkins and Ron Richardson, the production earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for over 1,000 performances. On July 24, 2003, Big River returned to Broadway for a limited run. Directed by Jeff Calhoun, this Deaf West Theatre production incorporated American Sign Language and earned two Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Characters

  • Casting: 6M, 6F
  • Casting Attributes: Roles for Multicultural Casting, Role(s) for Black Actor(s), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle), Roles for Children
  • Casting Notes: There are 3 Onstage Musicians: a Fiddle Player, Guitar Player, and a Harmonica Player.
    The Broadway production used a cast of 7 Women and 14 Men: 9 of whom doubled in various roles.
    Jim, Alice, Alice's Daughter, and appropriate ensemble roles should be cast with African American actors.
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • MARK TWAIN
    TOM SAWYER
    PAP FINN
    HUCKLEBERRY FINN
    BEN ROGERS
    JUDGE THATCHER
    WIDOW DOUGLAS
    JO HARPER
    STRANGE WOMAN
    MISS WATSON
    SIMON
    JIM
    DICK
    THE KING
    THE DUKE
    A POSSE
    HANK
    ANDY
    LAFE
    A YOUNG FOOL
    A SERVANT
    SHERIFF BELL
    MARY JANE WILKES
    COUNSELOR ROBINSON
    HARVEY WILKES
    SUSAN WILKES
    JOANNA WILKES
    ALICE
    ALICE'S DAUGHTER
    SALLY PHELPS
    SILAS PHELPS
    DOCTOR
    FIDDLE PLAYER
    GUITAR PLAYER
    HARMONICA PLAYER
    SLAVES, TOWNSPEOPLE, TARTS, MOURNERS, MOVERS, PATIENTS, HIRED HANDS, et al.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    1 x Piano Conductor (Piano, Harmonium, DX7, Organ)

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Conductor (Piano, Harmonium, DX7, Organ)

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Woodwind (Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Sax, Optional English Horn, Bass Clarinet)
    1 x Piano Conductor (Piano, Harmonium, DX&, Organ)
    1 x Trumpet (Doubles Flugelhorn)
    1 x Trombone (Doubles Baritone Horn)
    1 x Drums (Trap Set, Bells, Bell Tree and Triangle)
    1 x Bass
    1 x Guitar I (Banjo, Mandolin, 6 and 12 String Acoustic)
    1 x Guitar II (Banjo and 6 String Acoustic)
    1 x Violin
    1 x Harmonica (Doubles Jew's Harp, Tamb, Bass Harmonica)

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto/Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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