'Show Boat' Concert Is This Weekend At Bucks County Playhouse

Bucks County Playhouse’s world-premiere concert adaptation of Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern’s legendary musical, “Show Boat,” is Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m.

The benefit concert, which is part of the Playhouse’s fourth Oscar Hammerstein Festival, features an all-new adaptation by Rob Ruggiero and includes a cast of top Broadway talent performing Hammerstein and Kern’s score with direction by Josh Rhodes (BCP’s “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show” and Encores “Grand Hotel”).

The concert is the culmination of Bucks County Playhouse’s Fourth Oscar Hammerstein Festival. Named in honor of the master writer Oscar Hammerstein II whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career have included mentoring a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Highland Farm in Bucks County – the festival is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists.

Cast includes Tony-nominee Lee Wilkof, who is replacing previously announced Michael McGrath as Captain Andy. Marcy Harriell joins the cast as Julie. Anna Shea will play young Kim. Suzanne Bodine will play the Old Lady on the Levee.

Executive Producer is Robyn Goodman, Producing Director is Alexander Fraser, and producers are Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler. Andy Einhorn is musical director. Ted Chapin, President and Chief Creative Officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization will narrate. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.

Others joining the ensemble for this one-night event include Sumayya Ali (Broadway’s “The Great Comet”), Glenn Seven Allen (Broadway’s “The Light in the Piazza”), Dwelvan David (National Tour of “Finding Neverland”), Ta’Nika Gibson (Encore’s “Me and My Girl”), Beth Kirkpatrick (Broadway’s “Les Miserables”), Brandon Michael Nase (Oslo Rep’s “Evita”), Lindsay O’Neil (Broadway’s “A Christmas Story”) and Jason Simon (National Tour of “Sister Act”).

“I first fell in love with Show Boat when I saw the remarkable 1936 film with Irene Dunne, Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan. We are thrilled to present our first Hammerstein musical at the Playhouse and to continue our study of how Hammerstein’s legacy can inform future generations of musical writers,” said Producing Director Alexander Fraser.