Fiddlehead Theatre Company's Show Boat Sets Sail Today
An American classic, SHOW BOAT unveils the glittering façade of the show boats that traveled the Mississippi River at the dawn of the 20th century while revealing the harsh realities of racism, alcoholism and gambling upon their decks. A groundbreaking show when it debuted in 1927, SHOW BOAT continues to touch audiences with timeless themes and unforgettable music.
SHOW BOAT will be directed by Meg Fofonoff and Stacey Stephens, choreographed by Wendy Hall, music direction by Charles Peltz. SHOW BOAT will run for twelve performances over 2 weeks, Wednesday-Sunday, evenings and matinees available. To purchase tickets visit citicenter.org, call (866) 348-9738, or visit the Citi Center Box Office, open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 - 6 pm.
"We are thrilled to present SHOW BOAT as our first production at the magnificent Shubert Theatre in the heart of Boston's theater district," said Meg Fofonoff, Founding Producing Artistic Director. "SHOW BOAT is a grand show, perfectly fit for such a grand venue. SHOW BOAT was groundbreaking theater for its time, introducing real people on stage and humanizing their struggles underneath an idealized vision of life on the Mississippi River. It was the first stage show to dramatize issues of racism, a reality of life on the Mississippi River that we are still struggling with in the modern world. In the end, SHOW BOAT is about the River which - like real life - "Keeps rollin' along" through hardships and love. It's only through strength and determination that we can learn to navigate our course."
SHOW BOAT, with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is based on Edna Gerber's bestselling novel. SHOW BOAT follows the story of three generations of the Hawks family on The Cotton Blossom river boat, spanning forty years from 1887-1927. The musical follows the fortunes of naïve Captain's daughter Magnolia Hawks and her troubled, gambling husband Gaylord Ravenal, and the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock workers that keep the Cotton Blossom afloat. SHOW BOAT is one of the most influential musicals of the 20th century, tackling issues of unhappy marriage, miscegenation and racial prejudice. SHOW BOAT includes classic songs such as "Ol'Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and "Bill." Music by Jerome Kern. Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the novel "SHOW BOAT" by Edna Ferber. SHOW BOAT is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.
Single tickets range from $53-$75. Student rush tickets are available for $20 in person, cash only at the box office one hour prior to show time. To purchase tickets visit citicenter.org, call (866) 348-9738, or visit the Citi Center Box Office, open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 - 6 pm.
Fiddlehead Theatre Company has been dedicated to producing professional theater experiences for the greater Boston community since 1993. Fiddlehead's unconventional takes on contemporary and classic Broadway musicals have earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, as well as the company's "out of the box" marketing style ranging from highway billboards to offering a free theater trolley for patrons. Fiddlehead's productions have earned multiple IRNE awards and a reputation for bold, high-level concept and design. Named after the fantastical fiddlehead fern found in fairy-tales and symbolic of imagination, Fiddlehead Theatre Company is committed to producing theater that uplifts the spirit while engaging audiences in provocative social issues and energizing their audiences into a renewed sense of community. Visit fiddleheadtheatre.com for more information. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/FiddleheadTheatreCompany and on Twitter @FiddleheadTC.
Citi Performing Arts Center, which includes the Wang and Shubert Theatres, is one of the nation's foremost nonprofit performing arts institutions. As New England's largest cultural venue, it honors all aspects of the performing arts offering theatre, opera, classical and popular music, comedy, dance, and Broadway musicals. Its education/public programming initiatives present the City Spotlights Leadership Program and ArtWeek Boston.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Boston's historic Theatre District, Citi Performing Arts Center offers a diverse mix of educational workshops and community activities; collaborates with artists and local performing arts organizations; and, acts as a champion for the arts in the Greater Boston community by aggressively helping to make the arts an integral part of the community's collective, daily experience. For more information, please visit www.citicenter.org.