Encores! will present Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Tony-winning musical based on Mark Twain’s classic American novel, in concert at New York City Center February 8–12. But, before you catch it next month, watch the musical’s first trailer from the 1980s above.
Big River will star Nicholas Barasch, Patrice Covington, Andrew Cristi, Wayne Duvall, Mike Evariste, Charlie Franklin, Annie Golden, Katherine A. Guy, Megan Masako Haley, Adrianna Hicks, Zachary Infante, Gizel Jimenez, Andrew Kruep, John-Michael Lyles, Cass Morgan, Tom Nelis, Tom Alan Robbins, Horace V. Rogers, Kyle Scatliffe, Tony Sheldon, Christopher Sieber, and Lauren Worsham.
Click here to read more about the production, directed by Lear deBessonet with musical direction by Encores! music director Rob Berman and choreography by Josh Rhodes.
Adapted from Twain’s celebrated novel, Big River features a book by William Hauptman, and a bluegrass, gospel, and honky tonk score by Roger Miller. The original production starred Daniel Jenkins as Huckleberry Finn. It opened on Broadway April 25, 1985, running for 1,005 official performances.
The musical won seven 1985 Tony Awards, including Best Book (Hauptman), Best Direction of a Musical (Des McAnuff), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ron Richardson), Best Lighting Design (Richard Riddell), Best Original Score (Miller), Best Scenic Design (Heidi Ettinger), and Best Musical.
