Show Boat will receive a San Francisco Opera company premiere under the guidance of director Zambello (The Little Mermaid, The Trip to Bountiful) in her sweeping production previously mounted at the Houston Grand and Washington National Operas. Show Boat will run in rep with Verdi's La Traviata and Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the War Memorial Opera House June 1-July 2. 

Tony winner Irwin (Waiting for Godot, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf) will lead the cast as owner Cap'n Andy Hawks, Tony winner Harris ("Frasier," Thoroughly Modern Millie) plays his wife Parthy Ann Hawks, Tony nominee Bolton plays Frank Schultz and Broadway veteran Kirsten Wyatt (Annie, Elf) is cast as Ellie Mae Chipley.

Supporting cast includes Sharon McNight as Mrs. O'Brien, Patricia Racette as Julie Verne, Heidi Stober as Magnolia Hawks, Michael Todd Simpson as Gaylord Ravenal, Angela Renee Simpson as Queenie and Morris Robinson as Joe. John DeMain will lead the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Show Boat will feature choreography by Michele Lynch, sets by Peter Davison, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Mark McCullough and sound design by Tod Nixon. This San Francisco Opera co-production premiered at Lyric Opera of Chicago in February 2012 and has subsequently been produced at Houston Grand Opera and Washington National Opera; these performances will reunite the original creative team.

Tickets are available at sfopera.com or at (415) 864-3330.