Here are the current schedules for the three national tours of Show Boat :

The first Show Boat touring company stars Dean Jones, who took over for Len Cariou in mid-October. The show is currently in Cincinnati (Oct. 17-Nov. 15), then it's on to Toronto, Canada (Nov. 22-Jan. 4, 1998). After another stop, Tampa will also be on the horizon (Feb. 15-March 21, 1998), then Fort Lauderdale (starting March 28, 1998).

Jones is best known in theatre circles for opening on Broadway in the 1970 musical Company (and singing on the show's legendary cast album), though he left the show a month later. His next Broadway appearance was in the short-lived 1986 musical, Into The Light, about the sacred Shroud of Turin. Jones' film work includes The Love Bug and That Darn Cat.

The Show Boat I Company also features Cloris Leachman as Parthy. Other cast members include Michel Bell (Joe), Anita Berry (Queenie), Teri Hansen (Magnolia), Stephen Bogardus (Ravenal), Karen Angela Bishop (Julie), Keith Savage (Frank), Kerri Clarke (Ellie).

The Show Boat Comany II comes to Philadelphia, PA (Nov. 12-Jan. 3, 1998), then to Hartford, CT (Jan. 13-Feb. 14, 1998). Tom Bosley & Karen Morrow are Cap'n Andy & Parthy; Gretha Boston (Queenie), Andre Solomon Glover (Joe), Sarah Pfisterer (Magnolia), John Ruess (Ravenal), Debbie DeCoudreaux (Julie), and Kirby & Beverly Ward (Frank & Ellie).

Company III of Show Boat will remain in Seattle's Paramount Theatre to Oct. 24. After Seattle it's on to Calgary (Nov. 7-Dec. 6) and to Atlanta (Dec. 16-Jan. 11, 1998) for its final engagement.

Starring in this company are Pat Harrington (Cap'n Andy) & Anita Gillette (Parthy); Gay Willis (Magnolia), Keith Butterbaugh (Ravenal), Terry Burrell (Julie), Ken Nichols (Joe), JoAnn Hawkins White (Queenie), Eddie Korbich (Frank) and Ann Van Cleave (Ellie).

Livent's $10 million, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat opened at Broadway's Gershwin's Theatre Oct. 2, 1994 and starred John McMartin, Elaine Stritch, Rebecca Luker and Lonette McKee. Show Boat, based on a novel by Edna Ferber, was composed by Kern & Hammerstein in 1927.

Livent spokesperson Rob Sheridan told Playbill On-Line (Nov. 12) that one of the two remaining companies would be coming to San Francisco beginning April 11, 1998. Tickets for that engagement go on sale Nov. 14 at (415) 776-1999 or at the Orpheum Theatre box office on Market Street.

-- By David Lefkowitz