Big River Had an Innovative Scathing Satire Against Racism and Other Broadway Revival in 2003 in Collabora- Prevailing Social Norms of the Time

1 Noteworthy Entertainment South Bay Musical Theatre presents From the Director Saratoga Civic Theater rnest Hemingway once wrote, “All ig River won seven Tony Awards 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga modern American literature comes in 1985, with ten nominations. Efrom one book by Mark Twain called BIt ran for over 1,000 performances, Huckleberry Finn.” First came The Ad- originally featuring Dan Jenkins and ventures of Tom Sawyer, which featured Ron Richardson as Huck and Jim, with a title character self-modeled after John Goodman as Pap Finn, and René Twain, and Huck in a supporting role. Auberjonois as the Duke. Its eventual After several years of Twain struggling replacement actors were a who’s who to complete it, he released The Adven- of Broadway talent, including a long tures of Huckleberry Finn. Published in run by Marin Mazzie as Mary Jane 1884 but set forty years earlier, it’s a Wilkes. Big River had an innovative scathing satire against racism and other Broadway revival in 2003 in collabora- prevailing social norms of the time. tion with Deaf West Theatre, which re- turned Jenkins as Mark Twain in a very wain had a long, nomadic career expanded role, and had a nationwide of writing novels, short stories, tour including a stay in San Francisco. Tessays, short stories, plays, and non- fiction. Whether writing about jumping wain revived Huck to narrate two May 18-June 8, 2019 frogs of Calaveras County, Connecti- more Tom Sawyer novels, demon- cut Yankees in King Arthur’s court, Tstrating that Huck’s journey did indeed The winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie was the 2002 or “explaining” the Bible, he used wit continue after our staged tale ends. Af- season’s most-awarded new show on Broadway! Based on the 1967 Academy Award-winning film, and folly to rail against societal ills. He ter all, viewing the foibles and flaws of this show takes you back to the height of the 1920s Jazz Age in New York City, when “moderns” was an abolitionist, decrier of preju- the world through the unfiltered eyes were bobbing their hair, raising their hemlines, entering the workforce, and rewriting the rules dice against other nationalities, anti- of youth is, for better and for worse, a of love. Millie Dillmount has carefully calculated romantic plans to find the perfect successful hus- imperialist, and advocate for women’s need that never ends. band, but an unexpected meeting with penniless Jimmy Smith might just change all that. Filled rights. Some of those sentiments come with dancing flappers, dashing leading men, and a dragon lady of a villainess that you’ll love to through in Huck Finn, and through sev- —Doug Brook hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie is madcap merriment. The score includes favorites like “Forget eral of Big River’s songs by the King of About the Boy”; “I Turned the Corner”; “Gimme, Gimme”; and, of course, the toe-tapping title tune. the Road himself, Roger Miller. UP NEXT: a special one-night-only concert event! BROADWAY BY THE DECADE: THE MUSICALS OF THE 1990s Featuring songs from American musicals like Aida, The Will Rogers A big “thank you” to our foundation donors! Follies, Rent, Once on This Island, The Secret Garden, Ragtime, The Revenue from ticket sales covers only Goodbye Girl, Big, and Kiss of the Spiderwoman; as well as British a portion of SBMT’s annual operating imports such as Sunset Boulevard and Miss Saigon. budget. We depend upon the generous Feb. 10, 2019 support of corporations to bridge the gap between ticket revenue and our operating costs. Your support keeps our Saratoga Rotary doors open and ticket costs affordable. Buy your tickets for both shows today! Visit the SBMT box office during MORE DONORS ON PAGES 21-24. intermission, or call 408-266-4734. 2 Noteworthy Entertainment 3 Cast of Big River Scenes & Musical Numbers in order of appearance ACT ONE Mark Twain / Doctor ........................................................... Allen Siverson Overture ��Orchestra Huckleberry Finn ....................................................................... Ben Hatch Scene 1: St� Petersburg, Missouri Widow Douglas ...............................................................Barbara Heninger Do You Wanna Go To Heaven? ��The Company Miss Watson / Mary Jane Wilkes ..........................................Cami Jackson Scene 2: Indian Joe’s cave Judge Thatcher / Counselor Robinson / Silas Phelps ..........Michael Rhone The Boys ��Tom Sawyer and the Boys Tom Sawyer / Andy .......................................................... Derek DeMarco Waitin’ For The Light To Shine��Huck Scene 3: Widow Douglas’s home, Judge Thatcher’s chambers Schoolmaster / Hank / Harvey Wilkes ................................Michael Cuddy Scene 4: Pap Finn’s log cabin in the woods Preacher ................................................................................. Doug Hughes Guv’ment ��Pap Finn Jim ....................................................................................Anthone Jackson Scene 5: Jackson’s Island Ben Rogers .............................................................................Andy Gipson Hand For The Hog ��Tom Sawyer I, Huckleberry, Me ��Huck Jo Harper / Sheriff Bell .........................................................Michael Stahl Scene 6: Missouri shore Simon / Young Fool .................................................................Steve Roma Muddy Water ��Jim and Huck Dick / Lafe ............................................................................. Dallas Carter Scene 7: On the river, south of St� Louis, Missouri, heading to Cairo Pap Finn ........................................................................... Michael Johnson The Crossing ��Slaves Strange Woman ...................................................................... Julie Moylan River In The Rain ��Huck and Jim Scene 8: Past Cairo, Missouri and on down into Kentucky Overseer ...................................................................................... Jeff Tuttle When The Sun Goes Down In The South ��Duke, King, and Huck The King ............................................................................... Walter Mayes The Duke .............................................................................Michael Hirsch ACT TWO Susan Wilkes ................................................................Brennah Kemmerly Joanna Wilkes ....................................................................Clara Takahashi Entr’Acte ��Orchestra Alice ......................................................................................... Raiña Parks Scene 1: On the river, near Tennessee Alice’s Daughter ...................................................................Sidney Kenny Scene 2: In Bricktown, Arkansas The Royal Nonesuch ��Duke and the Company Sally Phelps ................................................................ Becky W. Brownson Worlds Apart��Jim and Huck Scene 3: On the river Other Members of the Ensemble (Slaves, Townspeople, Posse, Tarts, Scene 4: On a farm near Hillsboro, Arkansas Servants, Pallbearers, Mourners, Movers, Hired Hands, Patients) .......... Arkansas ��A Young Fool How Blest We Are ��Alice and the Company Bonnie Cullen, Jason Herrera, Robin Holbrook, Brenda Jackson, You Oughta Be Here With Me��Mary Jane, Susan, and Joanna Janet Miller, Libby Moore Schroeder, Sheraj Ragoobeer Scene 5: Funeral, the following day How Blest We Are, reprise ��The Company Leavin’s Not The Only Way To Go ��Huck, Mary Jane, and Jim South Bay Musical Theatre’s Mission Scene 6: The Wilkes Farm, morning Scene 7: On the Road South Bay Musical Theatre strives to provide Waitin’ For The Light To Shine (reprise) ��Huck high-quality entertainment by bringing together Scene 8: Interior of the Phelps home a diverse group of participants in an inclusive, Free At Last ��Jim and Slaves collaborative, and nurturing environment. Scene 9: The shed, at night As we share our passion for Theatre Arts, Scene 10: Interior of the Phelps home River In The Rain (reprise) ��Huck and Jim we endeavor to leave a lasting, positive Muddy Water (reprise) ��The Company impression upon our community. 4 5 Not sure about Dance Captain? I believe Lisa Rozman plans to do Costume Maintenance Production Staff and Crew Properties Designer ........................................................................ Jacqueline Law Props Run Crew .................................................. Laura Carlsen, Barbara Goetz I need to check with Mike regarding Rocco Props Team .............................................................Michael Johnson, Jay Steele ADD: Orchestra Coordinator: D. Asa

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