NBC's "Today Show" Airs Feature on Broadway's New Big River, July 10

From: Playbill.com, NY - Jul 7, 2003

By Ernio Hernandez

Deaf West Theatre's revival of Big River, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , a unique production using deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors, will be featured on NBC's "Today Show," July 10.

The "Today Show" feature will include footage of the rehearsal process, performance footage as well as interviews with members of the creative team and cast.

The Roundabout Theatre and Deaf West presentation of the American Sign Language adaptation in association with the Mark Taper Forum began previews on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre, July 1. The limited engagement will open July 24 for a run through Sept. 14.

Jeff Calhoun ( Bells Are Ringing, Grease ) directs and choreographs the musical — with music and lyrics by Roger Miller and book by William Hauptman — based on the novel by Mark Twain. The staging incorporates deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors in the cast.

Tyrone Giordano makes his Broadway debut in the role he originated at the Deaf West Theatre and reprised for the Mark Taper Forum run. Voicing the role of Huck and playing Mark Twain is Dan Jenkins — who was Tony nominated for his turn as Huck in the original 1985 production of the musical.

Tickets for Big River, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn at the AA Theatre, 227 West 42 Street, are available through (212) 719-1300. For more information, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org.

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