Big River Keeps Rollin' Along, Extending to Sept. 21

By Kenneth Jones
August 18, 2003

The unique Broadway revival of Big River that is inviting audiences to look at theatre in a whole new way, will extend an extra week at the American Airlines Theatre.

Performances of the co-production between Roundabout Theatre Company and Deaf West Theatre now continue to Sept. 21. The entire production is told with spoken word and American Sign Language, with all performers signing — and some of them singing — the adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The staging of the William Hauptman-Roger Miller show is directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, adapted from the novel by Mark Twain. It opened July 24.

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Big River "includes deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors performing each role in a synchronized ballet of speaking and signing. Spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) are interwoven with music, dance and storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures into a 'third language' creating a unique theatrical event."

For information, call (212) 719-1300 or visit American Airlines Theatre at 227 West 42nd Street. Visit www.roundabouttheatre.org.