Signature Reinvents Sprawling Show Boat for a Smaller Stage; Previews Begin

By Kenneth Jones
November 10, 2009

Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, launches a new production of the musical Show Boat — traditionally known for its large scenic design, matching its big emotions — on Nov. 10. Director Eric Schaeffer is keeping the emotional heft, but is placing the ambitious musical drama, which covers 40 years of history, in a 276-seat theatre.

Signature artistic director Schaeffer, with the permission of the writers' estates, draws from three different versions of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein musical to create a hybrid. The onetime spectacle (last revived on Broadway in 1994) will play the intimate MAX Theatre in Signature's Arlington home, and will feature a cast of 25. The Tony Award-winning Signature got acclaim for physically reducing Les Miserables in a similar way.

Broadway's Jonathan Tunick has created new orchestrations for this revival. Performances will play Nov. 10-Jan. 17, 2010. Opening is Nov. 17.

Helen Hayes Award winner Will Gartshore is riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal; Stephanie Waters is his wife Magnolia; Terry Burrell is tragic Julie; and VaShawn McIlwain will be Joe in Signature Theatre's new reinvention of the American classic Show Boat.

In the tale that spans from 1887 to 1927 in the life of people connected to a show boat on the Mississippi River, Harry Winter will play Cap'n Andy; Kimberly Schraf will be his wife, Parthy; Broadway's Burrell (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dreamgirls, Into the Woods) will play leading lady Julie, whose secret propels her away from her home and into the world; Jim Newman will be Julie's husband Steve; McIlwain, a Duke Ellington High School graduate and Washingtonian, will play stevedore Joe, who sings "Old Man River"; Delores King Williams will be Queenie, his wife.

Bobby Smith and Sandy Bainum will play comic song and dance partners Frank and Ellie. The role of Young Kim will be played by Rachel Boyd and Anna Nowalk at alternating performances.

Schaeffer previously told Playbill.com, "When set designer Jim Kronzer and I began working on the design of the show, the first two words out of my mouth were 'No Boat!' …This was going to be a show about the people, their world and the river." There will be no boat steaming in from the wings, then?

"The first thing I thought about when looking at the show was the environment itself," Schaeffer explained. "What would it be like to do Show Boat with no boat? …This production was going to be about a river: how a river changed people's lives forever. The river is what connects all of these people…every one of these characters is touched by the river. There was no need for a literal boat to create this world onstage. That's one of the wonderful things about Signature and what we can do with the intimacy of our space. …The audience becomes part of painting the picture and seeing the world through the characters' eyes."

And don't expect projections of illustrations or vintage photos of American show boats, either. Of course, there is a set in the Signature revival, but Schaeffer is taking a cue from "Cotton Bottom" impresario Capt. Andy, who would be the first to say, "Use your imagination, folks."

Schaeffer, whose troupe is known for imaginative revivals of classic musicals, said, "Perhaps one of the last musicals that anyone thought Signature Theatre would tackle would be Show Boat. With its sweeping story, large cast and orchestra as well as huge set requirements it would be hard to fit into our 276-seat Max Theatre. But for the 100th production of this [Tony Award-winning] company, we wanted it to be something special and I thought, 'what better way than to go back to the musical that started it all?'"

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With the approval of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Signature "is creating a new performing version, keeping what is best in three performing editions: the original 1927 version, the 1946 revival, and the 2005 Berlin Opera version," according to production notes.

As has been done with other revivals, Schaeffer is restoring the song "Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun," which was cut after the first performance in 1927.

The score is by composer Kern and lyricist Hammerstein. The libretto is by Hammerstein, based on the novel by Edna Ferber. The score includes "Ol' Man River, "Life Upon the Wicked Stage," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe" and "Bill," among others, plus interpolations of period songs.

According to Signature, "Show Boat is a sweeping tale of enduring love and devastating hatred, illuminating through unforgettable music the cruelty of prejudice — and the beauty of romance."

Members of the ensemble are Mardee Bennett, Yolanda Denise Bryant, Matt Conner, Susan Derry, Helen Hedman, Sam Ludwig, Sean Maurice Lynch, Kevin McAllister, Aaron Reeder, J. Fred Shiffman, Chris Sizemore, Tiffany Wharton and Hannah Willman.

The Show Boat creative team includes director Schaeffer, choreographer Karma Camp, set designer James Kronzer, costume designer Kathleen Geldard, lighting designer Mark Lanks, sound designer Matt Rowe and music director Jon Kalbfleisch.

Schaeffer stated, "The first great American musical is probably the last musical anyone would think Signature would explore in our 20th anniversary season, but there is no better tribute than presenting a new production of Show Boat as our 100th production. Signature is known for reinventing some of the greatest musicals of all time from Les Miz to Allegro and this important musical deserves to be rediscovered."

Schaeffer added, "The themes in Show Boat are still alive today and the theatre is one place where they can be boldly examined. Show Boat is not about a boat — but about the sense of change in America among the social classes and, more than that, how race influences our lives and music. The wonderful thing is that the river keeps flowing and the show is about change and growing through good and bad, which is more relevant than ever today. The production will be a new beginning for audiences in discovering the great world of Show Boat and, though it may be the granddaddy of musical theatre, it will feel like it was written yesterday."

For tickets, call Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT (7328) or visit www.signature-theatre.org.