Theater News

Norm Lewis, Alli Mauzey, Fred Willard, and More Join New York Philharmonic Show Boat

The production will also star Vanessa Williams and Julian Ovenden.

Fred Willard will play Cap'n Andy in the upcoming New York Philharmonic production of Show Boat.
Fred Willard will play Cap'n Andy in the upcoming New York Philharmonic production of Show Boat.
(© Joseph Marzullo / Retna)

Further casting has been announced for the upcoming New York Philharmonic presentation of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat, to be directed by Ted Sperling. The production will run from November 5-8 at Avery Fisher Hall.

Joining the previously reported Vanessa Williams (as Julie), Julian Ovenden (as Gaylord Ravenal), and Lauren Worsham (as Magnolia) are Broadway veterans Norm Lewis as Joe, Alli Mauzey as Ellie, Edward Watts as Steve, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Queenie, Christopher Fitzgerald as Frank, and screen favorite Fred Willard as Cap'n Andy.

Sperling will conduct the New York Philharmonic during the performances, with Randy Skinner serving as choreographer. The show will be nationally telecast on the PBS series Live From Lincoln Center at a later date.

The Philharmonic production will take the original 1927 score as a basis and feature the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett. Several rarely heard songs, including "Let's Start the New Year," "Mis'ry's Comin' Round," "It's Getting Hotter in the North," and "Ah Still Suits Me," will also make their way into the concert. Book scenes in the concert will be those that include music behind the dialogue; scenes without underscoring will be included only as needed to tell the story.

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