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Sweeney Todd
music and lyrics by Roger Miller
book by William Hauptman
based on the classic novel by Mark Twain
March 20–April 10, 2010
Johnson Theater, TPAC
Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain’s timeless classic sweeps us 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 hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life favorite characters from the novel-the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey examines friendship at its deepest and provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana.
Copeland Says
“When we did Sweeney Todd last fall, 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. And our audience enjoyed it so much. 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 ‘One City, One Author’ celebration of Mark Twain next season. 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 Theatre and make it uniquely our own. 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.”