Big River
American Airlines Theatre
Previews Began: July 1, 2003
Opening Night: July 24, 2003
Closing Night: September 21, 2003
Music: Roger Miller
Lyrics: Roger Miller
Book: William Hauptman
Though trying to stay “respectable,” Huckleberry Finn, runs into trouble when his father, Pap, returns to town. Huck is forced to fake his own death to escape and joins up with another on the run – Jim, a slave in the search for freedom. As they head down the river, they get sucked into scams involving two “aristocrats,” one of which lands Jim in chains once again and Huck and Tom Sawyer join together to free him.
Musical Numbers
ACT ONE
Overture………………………………………………..Orchestra
Do You Wanna Go to Heaven……………………Company
We Are the Boys…………………..Tom Sawyer, The Boys
Waitin’ for the Light to Shine………………………….Huck
Guv’ment………………………………………………….Pap Finn
Hand For the Hog……………………………….Tom Sawyer
I, Huckleberry, Me…………………………………………Huck
Muddy Water………………………………………….Jim, Huck
The Crossing………………………………………………..Slaves
River in the Rain……………………………………..Huck, Jim
When the Sun Goes Down in the South………….Duke,
Huck,
King,
Jim
ACT TWO
Ent’racte………………………………………………..Orchestra
The Royal Nonesuch……………………….Duke, Company
Worlds Apart…………………………………………..Jim, Huck
Arkansas……………………………………………….Young Fool
How Blest We Are……………….Alice, Alice’s Daughter,
Company
You Oughta Be Here With Me…….Mary Jane Wilkes,
Susan Wilkes,
Joanna Wilkes
How Blest We Are (Reprise)……………………………Alice,
Alice’s Daughter
Leavin’s Not the Only Way to Go…………….Jim, Huck,
Mary Jane Wilkes
Waitin’ for the Light to Shine (Reprise)…………..Huck,
Slaves
Free At Last…………………………………………..Jim, Slaves
Muddy Water (Reprise)…………………………….Company
Other Productions
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Michael Arden Tom Sawyer
Ensemble
Scott Barnhardt Ben Rogers
Andy
Ronald Robinson Voice of Young Fool
Voice of Sheriff Bell
Ensemble
Walter Charles Preacher
Doctor
Voice of Judge
Voice of Duke
Voice of First Man
Ensemble
Christina Ellison Dunams Alice’s Daughter
Slave
Ensemble
Gina Ferrall Widow Douglas
Voice of Sally
Ensemble
Phyllis Frelich Miss Watson
Sally Phelps
Ensemble
Tyrone Giordano Huckleberry Finn
Daniel H. Jenkins Mark Twain
Voice of Huck
Lyle Kanouse Pap
King
Voice of Silas
Ensemble
Rod Keller Jo Harper
Lafe
Donald Robinson
Ensemble
Troy Kotsur Pap
Duke
Ensemble
Michael McElroy Jim
Drew McVety Voice of Dick Simon
Voice of Harvey Wilkes
Voice of Hank
Second Man
Ensemble
Ryan Schlect Dick Simon
Hank
Young Fool
Sheriff Bell
Ensemble
Iosif Schneiderman Judge Thatcher
Harvey Wilkes
Silas Phelps
First Man
Ensemble
Gwen Stewart Alice
Voice of Alice’s Daughter
Slave
Ensemble
Melissa Van Der Schyff Mary Jane Wilkes
Voice of Miss Watson
Voice of Joanna Wilkes
Ensemble
Alexandria Wailes Joanna Wilkes
Ensemble
Understudies: Catherine Brunell (Widow Douglas, Mary Jane Wilkes, Joanna Wilkes), David Aron Damane (Jim, Slave), Kevin Massey (Ben Rogers, Jo Harper, Andy, Lafe, Donald Robinson, Ronald Robinson), George McDaniel (Pap Finn, Second Man, King, Doctor), Guthrie Nutter (Huckleberry Finn, Dick Simon, Judge Thatcher, First Man, Hank, Young Fool, Sheriff Bell, Harvey Wilkes, Silas Phelps)