Show Boat

Music by Jerome Kern
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the novel Show Boat by Edna Ferber

Musical in 2 acts
Sung in English

San Francisco Opera
Recorded June 2014

Running Time: 2h 24 min
Act 1: 1h 24 min | Act 2: 1h

CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor John DeMain
Director Francesca Zambella
Sets Peter Davison
Costumes Paul Tazewell
Lighting Mark McCullough
Sound Tod Nixon
Chorus Director Ian Robertson
Choreographer Michele Lynch
Fight Director Dave Maier
Orchestra San Francisco Orchestra

ARTISTIC TEAMMagnolia Hawks Heidi Stober
Gaylord Ravenal Michael Todd Simpson
Cap’n Andy Hawks Bill Irwin
Julie La Verne Patricia Racette
Queenie Angela Renée Simpson
Parthy Ann Hawks Harriet Harris
Ellie Mae Chipley Kirsten Wyatt
Joe Morris Robinson
Frank Schultz John Bolton

With: Sharon McNight, James Asher, Kevin Blackton, Patrick Cummings, Matthew Piatt, Carmen Steele, Tracy Camp, Kathleen Bayler, Sally Mouzon, Mary Finch, Samantha McElhaney, Erin Neff, Simone Paulwell, Rachelle Perry, Christopher Jackson, Anthony McGlaun, Phillip Pickens

Presentation

A true classic of American musical theater, this tale of life on the Mississippi from the 1880s to the 1920s is both a poignant love story and a powerful reminder of the bitter legacy of racism. Director Francesca Zambello’s grand-scale production is "a triumph—a stylish, fast-paced and colorful show that had the capacity audience on its feet, cheering loud and long" (Chicago Classical Review). The magnificent Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II score, which includes such classic songs as "Ol’ Man River," "Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man," "Make Believe" and "You Are Love," will sound glorious "under the authoritative baton of music-theater maestro John DeMain" (Chicago Tribune). "No one should miss it" (Chicago Sun-Times).

According to General Director David Gockley, "Show Boat will be done in grand opera fashion in the way the creators conceived. The Opera House is—I believe—the appropriate venue for these great classic musicals that require full-voiced, 'legit' singing."

"One memorable song follows another, each an enduring thread in the fabric of American popular culture." –Chicago Tribune

REVIEWS
"Peter J. Davison's grand sets and Paul Tazewell's period costumes are a bonanza of color and effect." – SJ Mercury News

"In 'Make Believe,' Michael Todd Simpson's first duet with Heidi Stober, he gives the show a sudden, expansive stillness. Time stops and the skies seem to open up." – SF Classical Voice

"A shatteringly great...unforgettable performance by bass Morris Robinson" as Joe and "a radiant and witty performance by Angela Renée Simpson" as Queenie. – SF Chronicle

Bill Irwin (Cap'n Andy) "is all fluid motion and spark-plug energy.... He is pure expression and heart." – SJ Mercury News

Harriet Harris (Parthy Ann) is "comically fierce." – SF Bay Guardian

"To hear 'You Are Love' sung by Heidi Stober and Michael Todd Simpson is to hear a classic operatic duet, as fragrant as Puccini." – SJ Mercury News

"The choruses are on fire. The dancers are off the charts." – SJ Mercury News

"'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man,' as ignited by Patricia Racette and chorus, will ring in your ears long after the curtain falls." – SJ Mercury News

"It's a grand, operatically scaled piece of storytelling...with magnificent melodies and big themes." – SF Classical Voice

Francesca Zambello's Show Boat offers "rollicking dance numbers and big crowd scenes, balanced by intimate emotion and sheer romance." – SF Chronicle

"It only took a few minutes of the overture, gleefully led by conductor John DeMain, for the audience to know that we were in for something both wonderful and fitting." – SF Chronicle

Soprano Heidi Stober, "singing with vivid, bright-toned charm, is an ingénue straight from the world of operetta." – SF Chronicle

"Kristen Wyatt and John Bolton provided a burst of music-hall pizzazz as the Cotton Blossom's second-banana team.” – SF Chronicle