The Don Schlitz-Ken Ludwig musical, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer starts previews March 27 at the Minskoff Theatre. The show opens April 26. What began as an inspiration by the late director Mike Ockrent became a stage reality from Feb. 27- March 11 during the show’s pre-Broadway tryout in New Haven at the Shubert Theatre. The show opens on Broadway with a separate and slightly larger set.

A few years ago, Ockrent put a few theatre veterans together with country songwriter and Broadway newcomer Don Schlitz. Schlitz embraced the new challenge on Broadway, even though he is an entertainment veteran: Honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years (1989-1991), Schlitz has written fifty Top Ten hits and twenty four Number One songs including the Grammy winning classic, "The Gambler."

Ken Ludwig (Crazy for You, Lend Me a Tenor) wrote the book for Tom Sawyer. Directed by Scott Ellis (1776, She Loves Me, Company), the creative team comprises choreographer David Marques, set designer Heidi Ettinger, costume designer Anthony Powell, lighting designer Kenneth Posner, sound designer Lew Mead, fight direction by Rick Sordelet, hair by David Brian Brown, dance and incidental music by David Krane, with music direction by Paul Gemignani and orchestrations by Michael Starobin.

Tom Sawyer is billed as an “adventure” and based on the Mark Twain novel.

The cast for the show includes: Tom Sawyer: Joshua Park
Huck Finn: Jim Poulos
Aunt Polly: Linda Purl
Dobbins: John Christopher Jones
Sprague: Tommy Hollis
Sid Sawyer: Marshall Pailet
Becky Thatcher: Kristen Bell
Injun Joe: Kevin Serge Durand
Muff Potter: Tom Aldredge
Judge Thatcher: John Dossett
Pap/Doc: Stephen Lee Anderson
Widow Douglas: Jane Connell
Bellamy: Richard Poe
The Girls: Ann Whitlow Brown, Elan, Nikki M. James, Kate Reinders, Mekenzie Rosen-Stone

The Boys: Michael Burton, Pierce Cravens, Joe Gallagher, Blake Hackler, Eric J. McCormack, Tommar Wilson

The Townsfolk: Patrick Boll, Stacia Fernandez, John Herrera, Tommy Hollis, Donna Lee Marshall, Amy Jo Phillips, Richard Poe, Sally Wilfert, Ric Stoneback, Elise Santora,

Tickets range from $35-$85 and are being sold through Sept. 2. (The April 5 show has been canceled and refunds are available a point of purchase.) The Minskoff Theatre is located at 200 W. 45 St. For information call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com.