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Overview

Synopsis

Spanning from the 1880s to the 1920s, Show Boat is an American epic that tells the story of three generations of performers travelling from the Mississippi River to Chicago, and ultimately, Broadway. Join Cap’n Andy and the family of performers on board the Cotton Blossom show boat as they navigate love, heartbreak, ambition, racism, and integration. With beloved songs like “Ol’ Man River” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”, Show Boat is an American classic that is sure to captivate the hearts of audiences of any age.

This guide reflects the Harold Prince 1994 version of Show Boat. Both the original script and the Harold Prince revised script are available for licensing through Concord Theatricals.

Show Information

Music
Jerome Kern
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Based on the novel "Show Boat" by Edna Ferber
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1927
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Multiple Settings, Spectacle, Period
Time & Place
1880 - 1927, A boat on the Mississippi and Chicago, Illinois
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Professional Opera, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Child, Elderly Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Julie LaVerne

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Cap'n Andy Hawks

Lead

Male

Baritone

Parthy Anne Hawks

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Gaylord Ravenal

Lead

Male

Baritone

Magnolia Hawks

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Steve Baker

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Pete

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Joe

Supporting

Male

Bass-Baritone

Queenie

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Frank Schultz

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Young Kim, Kim Ravenal (2)

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Ellie May Chipley

Supporting

Female

Alto, Mezzo-Soprano

Sheriff Vallon

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mrs. O'Brien

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Jeb

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Windy

Featured

Male

Baritone

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

ACT ONE

  • Cotton Blossom - Stevedores, Gals, and Townspeople
  • Cap’n Andy’s Ballyhoo - Cap’n Andy, Parthy, the Show Boat Troupe, Stevedores, Gals and Townspeople
  • Where’s the Mate for Me? - Ravenal
  • Make Believe - Ravenal and Magnolia
  • Ol’ Man River - Joe and Stevedores
  • * Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man - Julie, Queenie, Joe, Magnolia, Stevedores and Gals
  • Till Good Luck Comes My Way - Ravenal, Pete, Frank and Townsmen
  • Mis’ry’s Comin’ Aroun’ - Queenie, Stevedores and Gals
  • I Have the Room Above Her - Ravenal and Magnolia
  • Life Upon the Wicked Stage - Ellie and Townswomen
  • * Queenie’s Ballyhoo - Queenie, Stevedores and Gals
  • You Are Love - Ravenal and Magnolia
  • Act 1 Finale - The Wedding Celebration - Company

ACT TWO

  • Why Do I Love You - Ravenal, Magnolia and Ensemble
  • Dandies on Parade - City Folk
  • Alma Redemptoris Mater/Ol’ Man River (Reprise) - Nun’s Choir, Joe
  • Make Believe (Reprise) - Ravenal
  • Bill - Julie
  • Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man ( Reprise) - Magnolia
  • * Good-bye, My Lady Love - Frank and Ellie
  • After the Ball - Magnolia, Andy and Ensemble
  • Ol’ Man River (Reprise) - Joe
  • Dance Away the Night - Magnolia
  • You Are Love (Reprise) - Ravenal
  • * Why Do I Love You (Reprise)/Kim’s Charleston - Kim, Parthy and Ensemble
  • Act 2 Finale - Joe and Company

A few songs were written or collaborated on by composers and lyricists other than Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern. “Bill” has lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse, revised by Oscar Hammerstein II; “Good-bye, My Lady Love” is by Joseph E. Howard; and “After the Ball” is by Charles K. Harris.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.