Big River
Musical - Original
Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Data not verified
- First Preview: April 5, 1985
- Opening Date: April 25, 1985
- Closing Date: September 20, 1987
- Previews: 22
- Performances: 1005
Lyrics: Roger Miller
Music: Roger Miller
Book: William Hauptman
Synopsis
In Roger Miller and William Hauptman’s musical adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, rebellious teenager Huck takes off on a raft with runaway slave Jim, encountering conmen, an orphaned family and bigotry along the way.
Opening Night Cast
| Daniel Jenkins | Huckleberry Finn | |
| Ron Richardson | Jim | |
| René Auberjonois | The Duke | |
| Evalyn Baron | Harmonia Player Woman in Shanty Miss Watson |
|
| Susan Browning | Widow Douglas Sally Phelps |
Opening Night Production Credits
| William Hauptman | Book | |
| Roger Miller | Music | |
| Roger Miller | Lyrics | |
| Des McAnuff | Production Staged | |
| Janet Watson | Choreographer | |
| Heidi Ettinger | Scenic Design |
Awards
Drama Desk Award
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Daniel Jenkins | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Ron Richardson | Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Costume Design | Patricia McGourty | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Short | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Bob Gunton | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Goodman | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | René Auberjonois | Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Patti Cohenour | Nominee |
| 1985 | Outstanding Lighting Design | Richard Riddell | Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Lyrics | Roger Miller | Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Music | Roger Miller | Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Orchestrations | Steve Margoshes
Daniel Troob |
Winner |
| 1985 | Outstanding Set Design | Heidi Ettinger | Winner |
Theatre World
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Theatre World Award | Patti Cohenour | Winner |
Tony Award
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Book of a Musical | William Hauptman | Winner |
| 1985 | Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Patricia McGourty | Nominee |
| 1985 | Direction of a Musical | Des McAnuff | Winner |
| 1985 | Featured Actor in a Musical | Daniel Jenkins | Nominee |
| 1985 | Featured Actor in a Musical | René Auberjonois | Nominee |
| 1985 | Featured Actor in a Musical | Ron Richardson | Winner |
| 1985 | Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Richard Riddell | Winner |
| 1985 | Musical | Winner | |
| 1985 | Original Score | Roger Miller | Winner |
| 1985 | Scenic Design (Play or Musical) | Heidi Ettinger | Winner |
Grosses
| Week Ending | Week # | This Week Gross Potential Gross | Diff $ | Avg Ticket Top Ticket | Seats Sold Seats in Theatre | Perfs (Prev) | % Cap This Week | Diff % Cap |
| Sep. 20, 1987 | 16 | $150,224 - |
$0 | $25.13 - |
5979 1018 |
8 0 |
73.42% | 0.00% |
| Sep. 13, 1987 | 15 | $150,224 - |
-$12,243 | $25.13 - |
5979 1018 |
8 0 |
73.42% | 2.37% |
| Sep. 6, 1987 | 14 | $162,467 - |
-$25,426 | $28.08 - |
5786 1018 |
8 0 |
71.05% | -7.35% |
| Aug. 30, 1987 | 13 | $187,893 - |
- | $29.43 - |
6385 1018 |
8 0 |
78.40% | - |
| See All Grosses | ||||||||
Totals |
||||||||
| Last 4 Weeks |
$650,808 - |
$26.94 | 24129 32576 |
32 0 |
74.07 % | |||
| Cumulative |
$25,918,125 - |
$32.81 $0.00 |
783628 977280 |
960 0 |
80.18 % | |||
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