Overview
Synopsis
Mark Twain’s beloved classic takes us back to old “Muddy Waters” as Huck Finn and the runaway Jim escape down the mighty Mississippi River in search of freedom. Huckleberry Finn is a wild child in 1840’s Missouri. He roams freely in his small town of St. Petersburg, mostly able to do what he pleases. Trouble arises, however, when his alcoholic and violent father suddenly demands custody over the boy (in order to get at his trust fund).
Fearing for his life, Huck takes off on a raft down the Mississippi River. Along the way, he meets up with a runaway slave, Jim, who is trying to find his wife and children up North. Soon, Huck and Jim gain two new compatriots, the Duke and the King (who are really escaped convicts).
After a series of adventures and a brief reunion with his best friend, Tom Sawyer, Huck discovers that Jim's owner died and freed Jim in her will: thus Jim is free at last to find his wife and children. For his part, Huck decides to move out West, where no one can civilize him. Featuring a score from country music legend Roger Miller, Big River is certain to become a fan favorite!
Production Note:
Big River typically features 3 Onstage Musicians: a Fiddle Player, Guitar Player, and a Harmonica Player. The original Broadway production used a cast of 7 Women and 14 Men, 9 of whom doubled in various roles.
Show Information
- Book
- William Hauptman
- Music
- Roger Miller
- Lyrics
- Roger Miller
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1985
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- mississippi river, late 1840's, pre-civil war
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Early Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Big River opened on Broadway in the spring of 1895 at the Eugene O’Neill theater. It did extremely well and took home the Tony Award for Best Musical that summer. Before it closed, Big River played over 1,000 performances-- featuring future film and television star John Goodman as Pap Finn, Huck’s drunken and abusive father.
In 2003, Jeff Calhoun directed and choreographed a revival production that featured several deaf actors in leading roles (including that of Huckleberry Finn). It was a
to read the context for Big River and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The story begins with Huckleberry Finn introducing himself to the audience and referencing his past adventures with his best friend, Tom Sawyer. He tells us that he has become rich as a result of he and Tom’s discovery of treasure in Injun Joe’s Cave, and that since then he has been living at the home of the Widow Douglas. She is a strict but kindly woman who shares her home with her sister Miss Watson, and together the two of them have resolved to raise Huck as a decent young
to read the plot for Big River and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
Act One
- "Overture" — Big River Orchestra
- "Do You Wanna Go to Heaven" — Company
- "The Boys" — Tom Sawyer and The Boys
- "Waitin' for the Light to Shine" — Huck
- "Guv'ment" — Pap
- "Hand for the Hog" — Tom Sawyer (this number was cut for the revival)
- "I, Huckleberry, Me" — Huck
- "Muddy Water" — Jim and Huck
- "The Crossing" — Slaves
- "River in the Rain" — Huck and Jim
- "When the Sun Goes Down in the South" — Duke, King, Huck and Jim
Act Two
- "Ent'racte" — Big River Orchestra
- "The Royal Nonesuch" — Duke and the Company
- "Worlds Apart" — Jim and Huck
- "Arkansas/How Blest We Are" — Fool, Alice's Daughter and the Company
- "You Oughta Be Here With Me" — Mary Jane Wilkes, Susan Wilkes and Joanna Wilkes
- "How Blest We Are (Reprise)" — Company
- "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go" — Mary Jane Wilkes, Jim and Huck
- "Waitin' for the Light to Shine (Reprise)" — Huck
- "Free At Last" — Jim and the Slaves
- "River in the Rain (Reprise)" — Huck and Jim
- "Muddy Water (Reprise)" — Company
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
Scenes
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