Big River

Music and lyrics by
Roger Miller
Book by William Hauptman

Presented at
Theatre Wit
1229 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
Sept 10 — Oct 10, 2010

Directed by
Peter Marston Sullivan

Music Directed by
Nicholas Davio

Produced by Peter Blair

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. The two ride a raft down the Big River and all goes well until they pick up The King and The Duke, two scalliwags one step ahead of the law. Good-hearted Huck insists on helping them out and only discovers his mistake when they try to rob a trusting Southern family and sell Jim. Huck struggles with his feelings over Jim's plan to steal back his wife and children. On one hand, he sympathizes with Jim. On the other, he perceives it as stealing someone else's "property." Twain uses the reflections of an uneducated 12-year-old boy in 1876 as a pointed shaft at American racism.

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, a master of country music, Big River's jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana. The late Miller's score draws from an eclectic collection of musical styles including Cajun, gospel, blues and country. The 1985 Broadway production garnered seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Join us as we tell a tale both familiar and, in many ways, brand new. With the always-unique BoHo spin on this classic musical, you are bound to find yet another reason to love Big River.