The Pennington Players are set to present an adaption of Big River using both spoken English and American Sign Language.
Big River, a Tony Award-winning musical by Roger Miller and William Hauptman, is an adaptation of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
The production is based on the 2003 Broadway staging by the Roundabout Theatre Company and the American Deaf West Theatre, which blended American Sign Language with traditional choreography and staging. In this adaptation, every line and lyric is simultaneously performed in spoken English and ASL.
This is accomplished in a number of ways throughout the production. In some cases, single characters are played jointly and simultaneously by two separate actors (one speaking, one signing). In other cases, actors both sign and speak, or characters interpret for one another. These techniques are combined with traditional interpreting methods.
The performance allows the opportunity for deaf and hearing actors to work in collaboration and provide accessibility to a wide range of audiences.
In Big River, Huckleberry Finn tells the story of Huck, a young man who takes a long journey to accompany an escaped slave named Jim on the latter’s quest for freedom. In the process, he learns a great deal about himself and about the developing country around him.
Deaf actor J.W. Guido of New York, NY, is set to play Huck. Trenton resident Gary Wellbrock serves as the voice of Huck and the narrator. Associate Director Lynn Baskin of Lambertville, who is also a professional ASL interpreter, is set to play Jim.
During his trip down the Mississippi River, Huck encounters The Duke, a drifter and con-man. Duke is played by ASL performance artist Noah Buchholz of Princeton, with voice by Shawn Doremus of Forked River. The Duke’s partner is played by Hamilton resident Tom Bessellieu.
The cast also includes Jaime Schwartz of Croydon, Pa., DiAnna Freeman Westcott of Hamilton, Lisette Weiland of Lambertville, Cindy Palella of Langhorne, Samantha Kamen of Mercerville, Arnold Aromando of Neshanic Station, Jill Bradshaw of Oaklyn, Debra Fleetwood of Plainfield, Alan Naidoff and Sally Page of Princeton, May Lynn of Princeton Junction, Allie DeKorte of Southhampton, Pa.,Ellen LaCorte of Titusville, E.J. Ferrara of West Windsor and Noah Barson of Yardley, Pa.
Local performers Kyrus Keenan Westcott, Jamie McMillin, and Aimee Robidoux join the production as offstage vocal support.
The production staff is headed by producer Jenn Gregg of Ewing. Frank Ferrara of West Windsor serves as director; Shannon Ferrara of West Windsor as musical director, Rachel Tovar as choreographer, Tara Gruber-Etter of Hamilton as stage manager, Alison McMullen of Ewing as assistant director, Bryan Schendlinger of Langhorne, Pa., as set designer, M. Kitty Getlik of Hamilton as lighting designer, Jay Stevens of Pennington as costume designer and Wayne Irons of Princeton as sound designer.
Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Oct. 4, 11 and 12 ; and 2 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 13 at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Oct. 4.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $16 for students and children.
More information is online at penningtonplayers.org.
