Reynolds, Brown, Dixon, Bolton to Navigate Goodspeed's Big River This Fall
By Kenneth Jones
28 Aug 2008
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Will Reynolds
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Goodspeed Musicals' fall revival of Big River, the Roger Miller musical inspired by Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," will feature Will Reynolds as Huck and Russell Joel Brown as Jim, Sept. 26-Nov. 30 at Goodspeed Opera House.
Reynolds, a graduate of the drama school at Carnegie Mellon University, appeared as Curly in Oklahoma! at Chicago's Light Opera Works, and played in the North American tour of Mamma Mia!
Brown toured the world in Smokey Joe's Café (first national and Japanese tours), and appeared in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Disney's The Lion King and Ain't Misbehavin'.
Big River has book by William Hauptman, and music and lyrics by Roger Miller.
"Join Huck Finn and runaway slave Jim on a musical trip down the Mississippi River in Mark Twain's classic tale," Goodspeed invites. "Along the way you'll meet a rascally pair of river grifters, a grieving heiress, and of course, Tom Sawyer. A slice of pure Americana — adventurous, humorous, perilous and mythic."
The late Miller's score "draws from an eclectic collection of musical styles including Cajun, gospel, blues and country." The 1985 Broadway production garnered seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Director Rob Ruggiero's cast includes John Bolton (Broadway's Curtains) as The Duke; Ed Dixon (Broadway's How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as The King, Kenneth Cavett (Pap), Steve French, Robin Haynes, Nancy Johnston (Miss Watson), Jeremy Jordan (Tom Sawyer), Jill Kerley, Daniel Kwiatkowski, David Lutken, Christine Lyons, Danny Marr, Mary Jo McConnell (Widow Douglas), Marissa McGowan (Mary Jane), A'Lisa D. Miles, Ty Robinson, Adam Shonkwiler, Barbara Brown, Kanova Latrice Johnson and Rob Morrison.
Director Ruggiero returns to Goodspeed where he directed last season's 1776. His Off-Broadway and tour credits include All Under Heaven and the world premieres of Ella and Make Me a Song, all of which he both conceived and directed.
Choreographer John MacInnis is a veteran director-choreographer of the Radio City "Christmas Spectacular" starring the Rockettes.
The creative team includes scenic designer Michael Schweikardt, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer John Lasiter, music director Michael O'Flaherty, assistant music director William J. Thomas and orchestrator Dan DeLange. Big River is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.
Opening night is Oct. 22. Goodspeed Opera House is located at 6 Main Street in East Haddam, CT. Tickets are on sale now through the Goodspeed box office at (860) 873-8668 or at www.goodspeed.org.
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Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, and additional musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals.
Goodspeed is the only regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater.
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In 2009, the 125th anniversary of the publishing of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" will be celebrated. Goodspeed Musicals has partnered with The Mark Twain House & Museum to broaden the scope of Twain beyond the page to the stage. To enhance the audience's experience of Big River, Goodspeed has planned several one-night-only free events:
Goodspeed Conversations
Join a discussion with Mark Twain experts and members of the Big River creative team for Goodspeed Conversations. On Sept. 7 at 6 PM visit The Mark Twain House & Museum Auditorium where the program will feature readings from Mark Twain's works by special guest, WFSB Channel 3's reporter Dan Kain. Take an inside look at the creative process involved with producing the upcoming musical Big River hosted by Goodspeed Musicals' education director Will Rhys with Big River director Rob Ruggiero.
On Oct. 11 at 6:30 PM, participate in a special program at the Goodspeed Opera House highlighted by readings from Mark Twain's works by special guest, Award-winning author Wally Lamb. Learn first-hand about the creative process behind making musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House hosted by Will Rhys with Big River director Rob Ruggiero. Goodspeed Conversations are free and open to the public.
Backstage at Goodspeed
Take part in a lively post-show audience discussion with the cast and a special guest from The Mark Twain House & Museum on Thursdays, Oct. 23, Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.
The Backstage at Goodspeed series featuring Big River cast members will highlight various themes from Big River, Mark Twain's writings, and the Goodspeed Musicals production. On Oct. 23, "Twain in Connecticut: Yesterday & Today" is planned. On Nov. 6, Michael O'Flaherty, Goodspeed Musicals' resident music director, will be on hand to discuss "Music of the River, The Styles That Inspired Big River." On Nov. 20, join Teen Night at the Opera House. After the show, learn first hand from our Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and others about their experiences as youth in theatre and "The Challenges of Portraying an Iconic Character." Backstage at Goodspeed events are free with a ticket to that evening's performance.
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