National Tour of the
critically acclaimed
Deaf West Theatre production of
BIG RIVER
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Kicks off a 12 month tour in San Francisco’s Curran Theater
Jeff Calhoun returns to direct tour starring
Tyrone Giordano, Daniel Jenkins, and Michael McElroy
Performances Begin June 11
Atlanta, GA – Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars, in association with Dallas
Summer Musicals, Houston’s Theater of the Stars, and Boston’s Wang
Center for the Performing Arts, is delighted to announce the mounting of
a touring production of the Deaf West Theatre production of BIG RIVER,
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, music and lyrics by Roger Miller,
Book by William Hauptman, adapted from the novel by Mark Twain. This
exciting new production, which was co-developed by Deaf West Theatre and
Jeff Calhoun, won rave reviews during its extended run on Broadway
during the summer/fall of 2003 following its critically acclaimed
engagement at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Calhoun will recreate
his direction and choreography and Tyrone Giordano, Daniel Jenkins, and
Michael McElroy return to play the leading roles that each originated in
the recent Broadway production.
Five weeks of performances will begin June 11th in San Francisco’s
Curran Theater. Subsequent bookings in Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta
proceed the show’s Asian premiere in Tokyo’s Aoyama Theater this fall.
The tour is currently booked through June 2005, including engagements in
Green Bay, Boston, Philadelphia, Tucson, Los Angeles, Sacramento,
Columbus, Wilmington, New Haven, Hershey and an extended run in
Washington, DC.
The Deaf West Theatre Production of BIG RIVER, The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn includes deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors in a
synchronized performance utilizing speaking, signing, gesture, song and
dance. Spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) are interwoven
with music, dance, and storytelling techniques from both hearing and
deaf cultures into a “third language” creating a unique and
groundbreaking theatrical experience.
The award winning production, comprised of a cast of both hearing and
deaf performers, was originally developed at Deaf West Theater in North
Hollywood in the fall of 2001. After winning numerous awards, it
transferred and was further developed during its first full Equity
contract at the Mark Taper Forum in 2002. Subsequently, BIG RIVER played
on Broadway in the 2003-04 season at the Roundabout Theatre Company in a
co-production between Deaf West and Roundabout in association with the
Mark Taper Forum.
The original production of BIG RIVER opened on Broadway on April 25,
1985 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre and was the winner of seven TONY
awards including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score. Musical numbers
include, “Do You Wanna Go To Heaven?” “Waiting for the Light to Shine,”
“Muddy Water,” “When the Sun Goes Down in the South,” “You Oughta Be
Here With Me” and “Worlds Apart.”
The show is based on one of the greatest creations in American Fiction,
Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This tale of
adventure and self-discovery begins on a raft on the Mississippi River
in the 1840’s, where Huck, escaping from his drunken father, meets up
with Jim, a runaway slave. The story of their journey downstream is an
American classic that captures the rhythms, sounds and spirits of life
on the big river.
The production will enlist the same principle creative team that had
been assembled for the Broadway production, including helmer Jeff
Calhoun. Tyrone Giordano, Daniel Jenkins, and Michael McElroy will
recreate the roles of Huck, Mark Twain, and Jim respectively. Calhoun
indicated that he is looking forward to continuing his work on the
production, stating: “I’m delighted that I will be able to continue
working on a project that has been one of the most artistically
gratifying experiences of my life. I’m also excited for other cities and
countries to experience a world that they can hear with their eyes.”
During its initial staging at Deaf West, the production won six Theatre
L.A. Ovation Awards, five Los Angeles, Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, and
five Back Stage West Garland Awards – including “Best Musical” nods from
each.
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