World Premiere Concert Adaptation of “Show Boat” is Marquee Event of Bucks County Playhouse’s Annual Oscar Hammerstein Festival

When:
Saturday, Jun 23, 2018 7:00p -
10:00p

Where:
Bucks County Playhouse
70 South Main Street
New Hope, Pennsylvania 18938

EventScheduled OfflineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
$75-100

Categories:
Date Idea, Festivals & Fairs, Music, Nightlife, Performing Arts

Event website:
http://buckscountyplayhouse.org

Bucks County Playhouse audiences will have the opportunity to revisit one of America’s most storied musicals when it presents a world-premiere concert adaptation of Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern’s legendary musical, “Show Boat,” Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m.


Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler recently announced details of the benefit concert, which is part of the Playhouse’s fourth Oscar Hammerstein Festival. The event, which features an all-new adaptation by Rob Ruggiero, includes a cast of top Broadway talent performing Hammerstein and Kern’s score with narration by Ted Chapin, President and Chief Creative Officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, and direction by Josh Rhodes (BCP’s Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show and Encore’s “Grand Hotel”). Andy Einhorn (Broadway’s “Carousel” and “Hello, Dolly!”) is musical director.


Considered by many historians to be the first modern musical, “Show Boat” was groundbreaking when it first premiered in 1927. The timelessly romantic musical tale follows the lives of three generations born on the Cotton Blossom as it sails the Mississippi River from the 1880s to the 1920s.


“I first fell in love with Show Boat when I saw the remarkable 1936 film with Irene Dunne, Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan. We are thrilled to present our first Hammerstein musical at the Playhouse, and continue our study of how Hammerstein’s legacy can inform future generations of musical writers,” said Producing Director Alexander Fraser.


“Ever since we first arrived in Bucks County — the home of Oscar Hammerstein II during perhaps his most prolific writing period — we have dreamed of presenting “Show Boat,”” says Executive Producer Robyn Goodman. “We are very excited and proud to present Rob Ruggiero’s concert adaptation with this extraordinary Broadway cast.”


Two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes (Broadway’s “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”) leads the cast as Magnolia alongside James Snyder (Broadway’s “Cry-Baby,” Encore’s “Grand Hotel”) as Gaylord Ravenal. Emmy-award winner, Jessica Walter (BCP’s “Steel Magnolias” and TV’s “Arrested Development”) returns to the Playhouse as Parthy. The cast also includes Clyde Alves (Broadway’s “On the Town” and BCP’s “The New World”) as Frank, Natasha Yvette Williams (Broadway’s “Waitress”) as Queenie and Stephanie Gibson (Broadway’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and BCP’s “The Rocky Horror Show”) as Ellie. Tony winner Michael McGrath (“Nice Work If You Can Get It”) will play Captain Andy. Michel Bell will also reprise his Tony-nominated role of Joe, the soulful singer of “Ol’ Man River,” from the 1994 Broadway Revival. Additional casting will be announced shortly.


The “Show Boat” benefit concert will be the culmination of Bucks County Playhouse’s Fourth Oscar Hammerstein Festival. Named in honor of the master writer Oscar Hammerstein II whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career have included mentoring a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Highland Farm in Bucks County – the Festival is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists.


This year, Bucks County Playhouse is partnering with Roundabout Theatre Company’s Space Jam Program by offering two teams of composers and lyricists an artistic retreat in Bucks County. Space Jam is a playwright-support initiative designed to give writers the time and space to work through various types of solo and group writing retreats.

“Bucks County Playhouse is thrilled to partner with Roundabout Theatre Company and its Space Jam program to offer this artistic retreat during our Oscar Hammerstein Festival,” says Producer Josh Fiedler. “We look forward to welcoming these songwriters as guests of honor at the benefit concert and to hearing their own work performed as part the weekend’s activities.”


Tickets to the benefit concert of “Show Boat” are on sale now and range from $75 - $100. Sponsorships, which include the concert as well as additional events during the weekend, are also available. For complete details, and to purchase tickets, please visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA. For sponsorships, contact Mary Dina at 267-740-2090.

Share this event

Add to:

Reddit
06/23/2018 19:00:00 06/23/2018 22:00:00 America/New_York World Premiere Concert Adaptation of “Show Boat” is Marquee Event of Bucks County Playhouse’s Annual Oscar Hammerstein Festival Bucks County Playhouse audiences will have the opportunity to revisit one of America’s most storied musicals when it presents a world-premiere concert adaptation of Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome ... Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pennsylvania 18938 false MM/DD/YYYY

Sponsored events