Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest creations in American fiction. This tale of adventure and self-discovery begins on a raft on the Mississippi River in the 1840s, where Huck, escaping from his drunken father, meets up with Jim, a runaway slave. The story of their journey downstream is an American classic that captures the rhythms, sounds and spirit of life on the big river. The musical numbers include "Do You Want to Go To Heaven," "Waiting for the Light To Shine," "Hand for the Hog," "Muddy Water," "When the Sun Goes Down in the South" and "Worlds Apart." Big River includes deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors performing with both spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL), interweaving music, voice, sign language, dance and storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures into a unique theatrical event.
Yale Repertory Theatre opens its 2015-16 season with the world premiere of INDECENT, a new play with music, written by Paula Vogel, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, and directed by Rebecca Taichman, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), tonight, October 2, through October 24. Opening Night is Thursday, October 8. The world premiere of INDECENT is a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, where it will play November 13-December 10.
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened on Sunday night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out a close-captioned version of interviews with the company after the curtain went down below!
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out red carpet interviews with the celebrity guests, including: Jonathan Groff, Jason Robert Brown, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Peter Gallagher and more!
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out red carpet coverage below!
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out after party coverage below!
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out interviews with the company after the curtain went down below!
Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out curtain call coverage below!
Yale Repertory Theatre opens its 2015-16 season with the world premiere of INDECENT, a new play with music, written by Paula Vogel, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, and directed by Rebecca Taichman, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), October 2-24. Opening Night is Thursday, October 8. The world premiere of INDECENT is a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, where it will play November 13-December 10.
LAUGH IT UP, STARE IT DOWN, a new play written by Alan Hruska (The Man on Her Mind, New House under Construction, Reunion), is directed by Chris Eigeman (known as a filmmaker for Turn The River and as an actor for roles in television's Gilmore Girls and the films Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco), and premieres at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) tonight, September 9th, 2015.
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) announced Zachary Levi (Georg) will star alongside Laura Benanti (Amalia), Rene? Auberjonois (Maraczek), Gavin Creel (Kodaly), Michael McGrath (Sipos) and Jane Krakowski (Ilona) in a new Broadway production of SHE LOVES ME, directed by Scott Ellis, choreographed by Warren Carlyle with musical direction by Paul Gemignani. This classic musical comedy features a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock.
Deaf West's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, began rehearsals earlier this month for its big Broadway transfer. Earlier this week, the company invited the press inside their rehearsal room for a sneak peek of what they've been working on. Since the production aims to bridge a gap between hearing and deaf audiences, we are bringing you a special close-captioned version of the festivities below!
CLICK HERE to watch the footage without captions.
Deaf West's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed byMichael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, began rehearsals earlier this month for its big Broadway transfer. The company invited BroadwayWorld inside the rehearsal room today for a special sneak peek of 'Mama Who Bore Me,' 'The Bitch of Living,' and 'The Song of Purple Summer'. Check out performance previews and interviews with the whole team below!
Deaf West's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed byMichael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, began rehearsals earlier this month for its big Broadway transfer. The company invited BroadwayWorld inside the rehearsal room today for a sepcial sneak peek of 'Mama Who Bore Me,' 'The Bitch of Living,' and 'The Song of Purple Summer'. Check out photos from the special day below!
Deaf West's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, began rehearsals earlier this month for its big Broadway transfer. The company invited BroadwayWorld inside the rehearsal room today for a sepcial sneak peek of 'Mama Who Bore Me,' 'The Bitch of Living,' and 'The Song of Purple Summer', and you can check it out below!
'Theatre for the deaf? On Broadway?' It's a question that many theatre fans have asked since July 7, when official word came that Deaf West Theatre's production of Spring Awakening would land on Broadway this fall. The upcoming production, which will run September 8 through January 9 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, will sound the same to fans of the 2006 Tony-winning musical, but it will be performed simultaneously in American Sign Language by a cast of 27.
Wait...what? That's right- this production, which marks the first Broadway revival of the show since it closed in 2009, comes complete with ASL, and though the concept seems revolutionary, this is far from the first time that it has been done (and has worked). Let's review:
Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold and Deaf West Theatre (Artistic Director David J. Kurs) have announced that the rebellious students from the acclaimed Deaf West production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, will transfer with the musical to Broadway. Four new swings join the Broadway company.
Fullcasting has been announced for Laugh It Up, Stare It Down, a new play written by Alan Hruska (The Man on Her Mind, New House under Construction, Reunion) and directed by Chris Eigeman (known as a filmmaker for Turn The River and as an actor for roles in television's Gilmore Girls and the films Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco). Laugh It Up, Stare It Down will premiere at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) beginning a limited engagement on August 26th with opening night set for September 9th.
BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Academy and Golden Globe Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God, 'The West Wing,' 'Switched at Birth') will make her Broadway debut in the upcoming production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Arden.
Join one-of-a-kind mother, Rose, and her two talented daughters as they search for fame in Pittsburgh CLO's production of GYPSY, tonight, July 10, through July 19 at the Benedum Center. This entertaining musical is complete with memorable performances, mother-daughter struggles and the hardships of show business life, all while set during the infamous vaudeville era.
Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold and Deaf West Theatre (Artistic Director David J. Kurs) announced today that Spring Awakening, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2007, will play a strictly limited Broadway engagement at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) with previews beginning on Tuesday, September 8 and opening night set for Sunday, September 27. The show will run 18 weeks only, through Saturday, January 9, with no extension possible. It will be performed simultaneously in American Sign Language and spoken English by a cast of 27. Deaf West was last represented on Broadway with the triumphant production of Big River in 2003.
Join one-of-a-kind mother, Rose, and her two talented daughters as they search for fame in Pittsburgh CLO's production of GYPSY, July 10-19 at the Benedum Center. This entertaining musical is complete with memorable performances, mother-daughter struggles and the hardships of show business life, all while set during the infamous vaudeville era.
BroadwayWorld.com has learned that the highly-acclaimed production of SPRING AWAKENING currently running through June 14 at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is in active talks for a transfer to New York City after the show's West Coast run.
The 69th Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 7th at 8/9c hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long award season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize.
Renaissance Hotels will unveil the much buzzed about transformation of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel with The Happiest Hour block party on June 11 as part of the lifestyle brand's fourth annual GlobalDay of Discovery, where all 160 Renaissance hotels around the globe will host events to help guests and locals experience new discoveries within the city. Headlining the Chicago event will be live, outdoor performances lining the Chicago River by Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, R & B newcomer Natalie La Rose, and HXLT.
A larger than life, show-stopping Broadway production arrives at First Stage this May. In Milwaukee's Todd Wehr Theater. Big Fishdelivers big theatrical energy because John Whiting, who worked as Associate Director for the 2013 Broadway show, now directs and choreographs this World Premiere for Young Audiences and a one act version adapted from the original musical.
| 1985 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 1986 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
| 1987 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
| 1997 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
| 2003 | Broadway |
Roundabout Revival Broadway |
| 2004 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Big River |
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