Patrick Waller Stars in BIG RIVER for Tennessee Rep's 25th Anniversary Season

Tennessee Repertory Theatre presents Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with music and lyrics by Nashville legend Roger Miller and book by William Hauptman, running March 20-April 10 at the Andrew Johnson Theatre at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

The musical version of Mark Twain's classic tale sweeps audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, which provides a theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

"When we did Sweeney Todd in the fall of 2009, we got such artistic satisfaction in accomplishing that show in our own way - utilizing our space in an exciting way, making it compelling and resonant with the great talent we have for musicals," says Rene Dunshee Copeland, producing artistic director of Tennessee Repertory Theatre.

"Naturally, I was open to the idea of finding another musical that would lend itself to our 'stamp.' Big River came up as an idea both because it was such a popular show from Tennessee Rep's history, and because I was looking for a way for us to participate with the Nashville Public Library's Twain and Twang celebration of Mark Twain. This show satisfied both and is one that our wonderful designer Gary Hoff and I thought could be another exciting project for us to mount in the Johnson Theater and make it uniquely our own."

Further, she explains, "This show celebrates our history while giving us an opportunity to bring a wonderful American musical to life in a fresh way. And the music, by Nashville's Roger Miller, is as beautiful as any you'll ever hear. The melodies will send you humming out of the theatre."

Patrick Waller stars as Huckleberry Finn. Last fall, Waller played another classic Twain character when he played Tom Sawyer in Nashville Children's Theatre's production of Tom Sawyer.

Asked about having played the role of Tom Sawyer and now having the chance to play Huckleberry Finn, Waller says, "I was that kid. Times have changed, but that country, barefoot, salt-of-the earth feeling is still around and was definitely around when I was growing up.

"I worked a lot as a kid but it helped make me the person I am today. There wasn't a lot of time for play, but when we played, we played hard. Refrigerator boxes, 50 gallon drums that would fill up with water after it rained, trash bags full of water - these were the toys I remember most. I remember playing in the hay loft, building straw forts, and shooting off bottle rockets. I guess you could say the roles of Tom and Huck both take me back to my own childhood."

In addition to Waller, Tennessee Rep's production features an all-star cast including Jeff Boyet, Rona Carter, Henry Haggard, Bakari King, Aleta Myles, Carrie Tillis, Larry Tobias, Peter Vann, Samuel Whited and Bobby Wyckoff.

Tickets, starting at $41.50 (starting at $11.50 for students with valid ID, some restrictions apply), are on sale at the TPAC Box Offices (at 505 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville and at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in the Mall at Green Hills). Tickets are available by phone at (615) 782-4040 or online at www.tennesseerep.org.

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