Big River 1985

Opened: April 25, 1985
Closing: September 20, 1987

Big River - 1985 - Broadway History , Info & More

Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway)
230 West 49th St. New York, NY

Based on the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The production is based on the 2003 Broadway staging by the Roundabout Theatre Company and the American Deaf West Theatre. Huckleberry Finn narrates the story of Huck, a young man who takes a long journey to accompany an escaped slave named Jim on his quest for freedom. In the process, Huck learns a great deal about himself and about the developing country around him.



The show blends American Sign Language (ASL) with traditional choreography and staging, affording a unique opportunity for deaf and hearing actors to work collaboratively and provide accessibility to a wider audience. In this adaptation, every line and lyric is simultaneously performed in spoken (or sung) English and ASL, and interwoven with music, dance, and storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures.


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John Cameron Mitchell Will Play Joe Exotic in New NBC Series
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Apr 19, 2021


In 1998, Mitchell wrote (along with composer Stephen Trask) and starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, an Obie Award-winning off-Broadway rock musical about a genderqueer East German rock musician chasing after an ex-lover who plagiarized her songs.

Counting Off the Tony Awards Already Won by the 2019 Nominees!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 8, 2019


The 2019 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or nine) - amongst them, they've gathered a total of 69 awards!

WATCH NOW! Zooming in on the Tony Nominees: Des McAnuff
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 2, 2019


Des McAnuff is the caption of the ship at the Imperial Theatre, where Ain't Too Proud currently plays. He's telling us why he's so happy that the show got so much Tonys love!

Jared Zirilli Joins SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL at La Jolla Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Sep 5, 2017


BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Jared Zirilli will star as Summer's husband and bassist 'Bruce Sudano' in the show, which runs November 7 - December 17, 2017.

FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY Brings Happy Thoughts Off-Broadway Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Aug 18, 2017


Previews begin tonight, August 18, for the Playwrights Horizons New York premiere production of For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday, a new play by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Stage Kiss, Dead Man's Cell Phone at Playwrights; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; The Clean House).

FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY Brings Happy Thoughts Off-Broadway This Week
by BWW News Desk - Aug 14, 2017


A friendly reminder! Previews begin this Friday, August 18 at 7:30 PM for the Playwrights Horizons New York premiere production of For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday, a new play by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Stage Kiss, Dead Man's Cell Phone at Playwrights; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; The Clean House). 

Playwrights Horizons Opens Online Lottery for First Preview of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY
by BWW News Desk - Aug 7, 2017


Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) begins accepting entries today, Monday, August 7 at 12 Noon, for the LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to the New York premiere production of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY

Sarah Ruhl's FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY, Starring Kathleen Chalfant, Begins Rehearsals Next Week Off-Broadway
by BWW News Desk - Jul 21, 2017


Rehearsals are set to begin on Tuesday, July 25 for the Playwrights Horizons New York premiere production of For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday, a new play by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Stage Kiss, Dead Man's Cell Phone at Playwrights; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; The Clean House).

New Donna Summer Musical, Leigh Silverman-Helmed WILD GOOSE DREAMS and More Round Out La Jolla Playhouse's 2017-18 Season
by BWW News Desk - Nov 18, 2016


La Jolla Playhouse, nationally-renowned for the development of new work, announces four world-premiere productions for the 2017/2018 season, including the previously-announced Escape to Margaritaville (May/June), featuring the songs of legendary singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett and an original story by co-book writers Greg Garcia ('My Name Is Earl') and Mike O'Malley ('Survivor's Remorse,' 'Shameless'), directed by La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Come From Away, Memphis).

Jennifer Ehle, Jefferson Mays and More to Lead Lincoln Center Theater's OSLO
by BWW News Desk - Apr 21, 2016


Lincoln Center Theater will welcome Michael Aronov, Adam Dannheisser, Jennifer Ehle, Daniel Jenkins, Dariush Kashani, Jefferson Mays, Daniel Oreskes, Henny Russell, Joseph Siravo, and T. Ryder Smith in the cast of its upcoming production of OSLO, a new play by J.T. Rogers, directed by Bartlett Sher.

BWW Feature: April Showers Show Tunes Bring Young Love
by Matt Tamanini - Apr 19, 2015


"April showers may come your way, they bring flowers that bloom in May!" So go the words of the old Tin Pan Alley song. When the days begin to get longer, and the daffodils work to pop up through the dirt, we know that spring is just around the corner. April is that gateway to birds singing, grass growing, and romance blooming. This month we look at spring and the season's sweet rains that give life to young love.

Broadway Veteran Michael McCarty Dies at 68
by Sally Henry Fuller - Sep 28, 2014


Stage and screen actor Michael McCarty, 68, died on Friday of heart failure after collapsing and becoming unconscious a few days earlier. The original Broadway cast member of AMADEUS was set to appear in a Santa Barbara production of the show in October.

STAGE TUBE: Christopher Plummer, Des McAnuff Talk CTG's A WORD OR TWO on Opening Night
by Stage Tube - Jan 27, 2014


Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer takes the stage for 16 performances only in a Center Theatre Group special event, "A Word or Two," which opened at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, "A Word or Two" is presented in association with the Stratford Festival of Canada and continues through February 9, 2014. Click below to watch interviews with Plummer and McAnuff on opening night!

Christopher Plummer to Bring A WORD OR TWO to Ahmanson Theatre; Opens 1/22
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 21, 2014


Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer takes the stage for 16 performances only in a Center Theatre Group special event, 'A Word or Two,' which opens at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, 'A Word or Two' is presented in association with the Stratford Festival of Canada and continues through February 9, 2014.

Christopher Plummer to Premiere One-Man Show A WORD OR TWO at Ahmanson Theatre, Begin. Jan. 19, 2014
by Tyler Peterson - Aug 20, 2013


Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer will star in a Center Theatre Group special event, 'A Word or Two,' written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre.

Danny Burstein, Yvonne Strahovski, Tony Shalhoub Set to Lead LCT's GOLDEN BOY- Opening Set for 12/6 at the Belasco Theatre
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 8, 2012


Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Michael Aronov, Danny Burstein, Bill Camp, Sean Cullen, Dagmara Dominczyk, Ned Eisenberg, Brad Fleischer, Karl Glusman, Jonathan Hadary, Daniel Jenkins, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dion Mucciacito, Seth Numrich, Lucas Caleb Rooney, Tony Shalhoub, Yvonne Strahovski and David Wohl will be featured in the 19 member cast of its 75th Anniversary production of the Clifford Odets classic GOLDEN BOY, to be directed by Bartlett Sher, beginning performances Thursday, November 8 and opening Thursday, December 6 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street), the same theatre where the play premiered in 1937. Additional casting for GOLDEN BOY will be announced at a later date.

Second Stage Premieres SEX LIVES OF OUR PARENTS
by BWW News Desk - Jun 22, 2011


Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) kicks off this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Sex Lives of Our Parents, written by Michael Mitnick. Directed by Davis McCallum, Sex Lives of Our Parents will feature Teddy Bergmann (Peter and the Starcatcher), Lisa Emery (Far East), Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins), Virginia Kull (Dividing the Estate), Ben Rappaport (NBC's 'Outsourced') and Mark Zeisler (Second Stage Theatre's Eurydice). Previews begin on June 7th and opening night is Wednesday, June 22

Bergman, Emery et al. Lead SEX LIVES OF OUR PARENTS at Second Stage
by Gabrielle Sierra - May 5, 2011


Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) kicks off this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Sex Lives of Our Parents, written by Michael Mitnick. Directed by Davis McCallum, Sex Lives of Our Parents will feature Teddy Bergman (Peter and the Starcatcher), Lisa Emery (Far East), Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins), Virginia Kull (Dividing the Estate), Ben Rappaport (NBC's 'Outsourced') and Mark Zeisler (Second Stage Theatre's Eurydice). Previews begin on June 7th and opening night is Wednesday, June 22.

Secnd Stage to Premiere SEX LIVES OF OUR PARENTS, 6/22
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2011


Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) kicks off this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Sex Lives of Our Parents, written by Michael Mitnick. Directed by Davis McCallum, Sex Lives of Our Parents will feature Teddy Bergmann (Peter and the Starcatcher), Lisa Emery (Far East), Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins), Virginia Kull (Dividing the Estate), Ben Rappaport (NBC's 'Outsourced') and Mark Zeisler (Second Stage Theatre's Eurydice). Previews begin on June 7th and opening night is Wednesday, June 22

Winston-Salem Arts Council Announces All-Star Line-up for Town Hall Meeting
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 23, 2010


The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County today announced an all-star line-up for its upcoming Town Hall Meeting titled, 'Art Works: The Impact of Arts and Culture on Communities,' with the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman.

Billy Crystal's 700 SUNDAYS Comes To The Cobb Center 12/16-20, Tickets On Sale 9/25
by BWW News Desk - Dec 20, 2009


As a 2009-2010 season special for Atlanta Broadway Series, Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre December 16-20, 2009. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Billy Crystal's 700 SUNDAYS Comes To The Cobb Center 12/16-20, Tickets On Sale 9/25
by BWW News Desk - Dec 16, 2009


As a 2009-2010 season special for Atlanta Broadway Series, Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre December 16-20, 2009. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Billy Crystal's 700 SUNDAYS Comes To The Cobb Center 12/16-20, Tickets On Sale 9/25
by Gabrielle Sierra - Sep 24, 2009


As a 2009-2010 season special for Atlanta Broadway Series, Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre December 16-20, 2009. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Billy Crystal Brings His Tony Winning 700 SUNDAYS To Selected Cities This Fall
by BWW News Desk - Sep 8, 2009


It was announced today that Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to six cities for limited engagements this fall, launching at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre September 8 - 17. The tour will also play Philadelphia, Dallas, Palm Beach, Miami and Atlanta. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Billy Crystal Brings His Tony Winning 700 SUNDAYS To Selected Cities This Fall
by Eddie Varley - Jun 24, 2009


It was announced today that Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to six cities for limited engagements this fall, launching at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre September 8 - 17. The tour will also play Philadelphia, Dallas, Palm Beach, Miami and Atlanta. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Other Productions of Big River

1985   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1986   US Tour 1st National Tour
US Tour
1987   US Tour 2nd National Tour
US Tour
1997   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
2003   Broadway Roundabout Revival
Broadway
2004   US Tour National Tour
US Tour

Big River - 1985 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Ron Richardson
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Daniel H. Jenkins
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Costume Design Patricia McGourty
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Rene Auberjonois
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical John Short
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Bob Gunton
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical John Goodman
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Patti Cohenour
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lighting Design Richard Riddell
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lyrics Roger Miller
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Roger Miller
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Orchestrations Danny Troob
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Orchestrations Steven Margoshes
1985 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Set Design Heidi Landesman
1985 The Hewes Awards Costume Design Patricia McGourty
1985 The Hewes Awards Lighting Design Richard Riddell
1985 The Hewes Awards Scenic Design Heidi Landesman-Ettinger
1985 Tony Awards Best Book of a Musical Big River
1985 Tony Awards Best Costume Design Patricia McGourty
1985 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Musical Des McAnuff
1985 Tony Awards Best Lighting Design Richard Riddell
1985 Tony Awards Best Musical Dodger Theatricals
1985 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Roger Miller
1985 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Ron Richardson
1985 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Daniel H. Jenkins
1985 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Rene Auberjonois

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