BIG RIVER Comes to Old Sturbridge Village
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 20, 2017
This summer Old Sturbridge Village - in partnership with Brian Clowdus Experiences - brings Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to the shores of the Quinebaug River, from June 14 - July 9, 2017. Brian Clowdus, acclaimed director of the sold-out The Sleepy Hollow Experience will direct this epic outdoor musical adaptation of Mark Twain's timeless tale of Huckleberry Finn. Tickets go on sale to the public Thursday, April 20 at www.bigriverosv.org.
"I am over the moon to return to Old Sturbridge Village after the smash success of The Sleepy Hollow Experience!" said Clowdus. "Producing Big River on an actual river in this site-specific outdoor setting is going to breathe new life into the staging of this beloved classic story. We are creating an incredible ensemble driven cast of singers and musicians who will become the voices of Mark Twain. We are exposing the the theatricality with visible scene and costume changes illuminating the power of imagination and good old fashioned story telling! This will be an evening at the theatre unlike any other!"
The Tony Award-winning musical Big River - first performed at Cambridge's American Repertory Theater in 1984 - will sweep audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a runaway slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel - the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family.
Big River is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals (www.rnh.com).
Show dates and times for Big River at Old Sturbridge Village are June 14-July 9, with performances at 7:30 pm from Wednesday through Sunday, and a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $55 for performances only; evening performances have the option of a dinner add-on for $13. An optional rain insurance may be purchased for $2.50 per ticket, which allows the ticket holder a refund if the performance is moved into the Stephen M. Brewer Theater due to heavy rains or thunderstorms, or a seat at a future performance if available.
Before each evening performance, the Village invites guests to purchase a barbecue chicken dinner that includes a half of chicken, homemade potato salad, New England baked beans, applesauce, and a dinner roll. A variety of beverages, including draft beers, iced tea, lemonade, and other summer libations will be available for sale.
Asked about bringing the production to the Village, James Donahue, President/CEO of Old Sturbridge Village said, "We believe this outdoor, musical adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will offer New Englanders an entirely new and unexpected way of experiencing both the museum and theater. Old Sturbridge Village's historic buildings, landscapes and waterways - including the Quinebaug River, are the perfect setting for bringing great American musicals and stories to life, especially those with historical context."
The 18-member cast includes Austin Tijerina appearing as Huckleberry Finn, Tijerina portrayed Ichabod Crane in last year's Sleepy Hollow Experience. Other noted performers include J.T. Turner, Kayla Cheyenne Coleman, Sophia DeLeo, and Jake Blakeslee. All photos are credited to BreeAnne Clowdus. The media sponsor for the event is Worcester Magazine.
For more information about Big River at Old Sturbridge Village and to purchase tickets, visit www.bigriverosv.org.
About Old Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village, the largest living history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s. Each year, more than 250,000 visitors interact with costumed historians, experience up-close demonstrations of early American trades, and meet heritage breed farm animals. Situated on 200 scenic acres, the Village is a collection of more than 40 historic buildings - including homes, meetinghouses, trade shops, working farms and three water-powered mills - restaurants, shops and the Old Sturbridge Inn and Reeder Family Lodges.
Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., Old Sturbridge Village is open year-round, but days and hours vary seasonally. Daily admission is: $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, $14 for children ages 3-17, and children 2 and under are admitted free. Each admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. For details, visit www.osv.org.
About Brian Clowdus Experiences
Launching with Old Sturbridge Village's inaugural production of The Sleepy Hollow Experience, Brian Clowdus Experiences is an entertainment company dedicated to providing one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences. Brian Clowdus also serves as Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Serenbe Playhouse in Serenbe, Georgia. After being recognized nationally for his accomplishments as a theatre director and producer, Brian will collaborate with corporations, non-profits and individuals to create innovative, immersive experiences - both outdoors and indoors - that stir the imagination, senses and emotions of audience members. In a market saturated with traditional event companies, Brian Clowdus Experiences differentiates itself by breaking down the walls and redefining the rules of event production - the same way in which Brian redefined the rules of theatre at Serenbe Playhouse.
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