Tonight the School of Theatre will take a trip back in time and down the Ohio River as it presents Big River, a musical based on Mark Twain's late 19th century work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Beginning at 8 p.m., 18 actors will take on the roles of 54 different characters to portray the story of Huck Finn through music and dialogue, said Cary Libkin, the director of Big River.
"The musical score is composed by Roger Miller, the famous country-western song writer," Libkin said. "It adds a real authentic quality to the musical."
He said that except for the characters of Huck and Jim, the cast is a mix of gender and race and it will make for a "very interesting attack of the piece."
"This means that men play women, women play men, white play black and black play white. It's an interesting concept with a show that has a large focus on race and equality," said Matthew Schmidt (senior-musical theatre), who will play Huck.
Schmidt added that he is excited to play the role of Huck because he gets to narrate the story to the audience.
Schmidt said portraying Twain's creation of Huckleberry Finn to the audience allows him to show Huck's development from a young, naïve boy to one who eventually finds his identity.
"A lot of the story had to be cut out," Schmidt said. "Otherwise it would be three days long."
Even with the cuts, the musical follows the novel accurately, he added.
"Big River was a mammoth production of Broadway," Libkin said. "This is a very cut-down, simplified production. It really relies on the actors to tell the story, and they've done a terrific job."
Shelby Smith (sophomore-engineering) said the play sounds appealing and added that she believes students will enjoy the performance since it is "a piece of classical literature."
Libkin and Schmidt both agreed that since the play is based on an important, well-known work, it will interest many -- especially college students.
Schmidt said he is eagerly awaiting opening night and the production's run "for that moment when you have the audience in the palm of your hand, waiting for your next move ... it's what I strive for in a performance."
Libkin added that, as a director, he too finds importance in the audience's reaction.
He said the crew and cast are excited to "entertain, stimulate and provoke the audience."
Tickets are $8.50 for students and $14 for the general public. They can be ordered by phone or purchased at various locations, including the Penn State Downtown Theatre, the HUB-Robeson Center, Eisenhower Auditorium or the Bryce Jordan Center.
"Come into the show open-minded, and enjoy yourself," Schmidt said. "It's a roller coaster of a performance."
