BIG RIVER 1985 Tony Awards

[@MS-df2fk]

"River in the Rain" and "Worlds Apart" are two of the most gorgeous male duets in theater history.

[@fcmmusicfreecopyright7473]

Agree

[@grown-upactress4155]

I had the biggest crush on Daniel Jenkins. I woukd get tickets at TKTS and sit right behind the ramp in the house. Must have seen it 8 times.

[@jenniferleighwarren2799]

I was there on that stage that night in Big River. Thanks for posting this memory.

[@leopardlycameron2121]

I remember seeing you, Jennifer. You played "Alice's Daughter" and sang How Blessed We Are. You stole she show with your amazing voice! Thank you!

[@topherdisgrace2280]

Must have been amazing. Seeing this musical is such a fond childhood memory of mine. I have been listening to the soundtrack like crazy lately. :-)

[@HarringtonTribal]

And you were (and are) amazing! You owned that song! We all hope you're still singing!!!

[@jenniferleighwarren2799]

That was/is me. Thank you!

[@raquispetree]

wowzers.. such history Jennifer

[@backhand4]

It's a crime that this show hasn't been revived. It's brilliant and seems it would have some relevance in this current political climate.

[@jasobres]

Mitchell Johnson It was revived briefly in a sign-language production on Broadway. And just recently, NY City Center did an ENCORES! production of it.

[@nancyklein2622]

I saw the sign language version and it was amazing. Michael McElroy was spectacular.

[@spencerb.240]

Mitchell Johnson my high school is performing it for this reason, politically relevant

[@Phanatic24601]

I completely agree.

[@jimwhitney1656]

The Rubicon Theatre in Ventura CA is reviving it this month.

[@micheleharris5634]

My dad took me to see this show in 85 or 86. I was 11 or 12. He got me the soundtrack too. Fast forward 15 years. Both my sons were raised listening to this & now know every word despite having never seen the show. I had to explain the plot to them. Finally told the to read Huckleberry Finn. Said all that to say my dad is low key responsible for introducing 2 generations of my family to musicals, and Mark twain. Thanks daddy!❤️🫶🏾😇

[@andrewrudygalindo2646]

Damn that is one talented cast at the top of their game. One of my favorite musicals of all time.

[@WakandaBabe]

I saw this and it was absolutely wonderful. Roger Miller surprised everyone with this music. Tony Award well deserved.

[@BriannaLovesPudding]

R.I.P Ron Richardson :( You were an amazing Jim and captivated my heart in this musical

[@Starrman69]

Gosh! He was only 43...Rest In Peace Ron, you left us much too soon!

[@nancyklein2622]

I did not realize that he had died. Such a voice, such a presence, such a loss!

[@aeichler]

He was my great friend during the run of "Timbuktu!" with Eartha Kitt.

[@just-dl]

I didn’t know we lost him! I cry when I hear these songs. Now I’m crying more!!

[@cards0486]

BIG RIVER was my first Broadway play, on my first trip to New York City. 😊🎶💕

[@brennenfoerst3908]

That’s absolutely amazing! How incredible for you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️. I’m a HUGE fan of John Goodman. Were you able to see him live as Pap Fin? I’m sure it was a glorious experience! ❤ (P.S 1985… what a great time for Broadway!! 😭🎭)

[@ronbarefield3531]

Jennifer Warren was indeed on that stage, as she was for all three times I saw the production. A small, beautiful lady with a HUGE, beautiful voice. A voice that I remember stood out not only on her solo, but could be easily recognized weaving in and out of many numbers. The first performance I saw, in 1986, was the most moving Broadway experience I'd ever had and Big River remains my favorite musical -- I play the soundtrack every time I need an emotional boost. Thank you, Ms. Warren, and everyone else on that stage. Where is the billionaire who will revive this classic, either on stage or on the screen?

[@jannunn2825]

Agree absolutely 👍, on every point. 🥰

[@jenniferleighwarren2799]

Thank you for your OH so kind words. I'm very proud of being a part of "Big River," an experience that will live in my heart forever. .It is also so lovely that it is still appreciated and loved. Thanks again. JLW

[@pika23]

I'm in tears watching now

[@ItsaMeGo]

How have I never heard of this musical? This is incredible, I hope to see it live one day.

[@just-dl]

Please do. Bring a tissue or two. You will feel many things! 🤗

[@papa4545]

I saw this in 85, still one of the greatest shows ever!!!

[@thomasponzio8345]

jossepie jackson an unknown John Goodman abd Rene (annoying guy from Benson)

[@detectivefiction3701]

I was lucky enough to see Daniel Jenkins perform almost this same sequence of staged excerpts at the Kennedy Center in 2003. He sounded almost exactly the same as here, and his smile was just as infectious. Nice to see Rene Auberjonois as the Duke in finale here.

[@chevreherd]

Detectivefiction me too....fav memory in my life

[@mrdameacham]

I never have been able to see this show but bought the soundtrack years ago and have listened to it over and over.

[@kurtjackberhalter1537]

Theatre at its finest. Never fails to move me. Ron Richardson and Roger Miller,are singing with the angels.

[@iHeartsNostalgiaPit]

man Big River looks awesome, it needs another revival

[@WakandaBabe]

I saw this play when it first came out in NYC. I was with a group of visitors and we picked this play because we couldn't get tickets for anything else. Well, it was an amazing musical...I still remember the song 'The Crossing'. Gave me goosebumps!

[@rodb9275]

One of my favorite musicals ever. I wish a local rep theater would do it again. Seacoast Rep in Portsmouth NH has done great versions of this twice.

[@frankrams8601]

That Ron Richardson sure can sing! Definitely one of the most underappreciated musicals of all time. Thank you MrPoochsmooch for posting this video!

[@frankrams8601]

edit: could sing, RIP Ron!!!

[@peace4annie]

My mom took me to see this when I was young, and I've had the music from it trapped in my head all of this time. Thanks for sharing this video. It truly is a treat!

[@cmahue1235]

FANTASTIC!! Saw this 3 times in one season at the St Louis Muny Opera. It is always good, but outside it's even better. God bless Roger Miller and RIP, Roger.

[@barrettgrey]

Saw the touring show in Atlanta. Ron Richardson was in it. Such a great talent

[@WakandaBabe]

I saw this when it came out on Broadway. We didn't know anything about it. Well, I was stunned...it was fabulous.

[@bar10ml44]

So many memories. I adored this show can't believe it's not so long ago. Time for a West End Revival

[@bartley3742]

Favorite musical of all time. Man, Roger Miller could write a tune!

[@tommyo2450]

Such an incredible show! One of the best in my opinion.. Those two songs are phenomenal.. Musicals used to be so good.. It feels different now..

[@tommyo2450]

Two of the greatest songs in a musical for me.. loved them so much..

[@ladymorti]

Our local community theater did thisnin the '90s and I got the original Broadway soundtrack after that. Such a fantastic show.

[@jcmendezify]

Gosh I had such a great time singing this song in Men's Glee club last year

[@toddness305]

makes me tear up everytime i hear these songs.

[@steverichardson1363]

Saw with original cast in Memphis at the Orpheum. My raising as a Pentecostal preacher sharecropper's kid in cotton fields of Mississippi Delta in the 1940's made EVERY song meaningful/personal. My "high falutin" double doctorate degrees gave a heads-up to "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Phantom of the Opera" et al but my personal favorite for down-to-earth realism, flashback to my youth is BIG RIVER..........EVERY SONG, EVERY SCENE reminds me of poor kid playing hooky on Quiver River near Doddsville, Mississippi.....had to wade water from Quiver floods and built makeshift rafts just like Huck and Jim. Great memories! Did I want to "go to heaven"? I just hated being forced to go to Pentecostal preaching till after midnight two or more times weekly then two weeks straight when crops were "laid by" waiting for fall harvest.

[@jenniferleighwarren2799]

Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing and kind words about the show.FYI - the "original cast" are the ones you see here onstage at the Tony Awards(on Broadway). We did not all go on tour. You saw a touring company. Not the original cast.

[@esaiasrichardson1390]

@@jenniferleighwarren2799 thx for sorting this out for me. The touring company did the show proud!

[@cards0486]

This was the first show I ever saw in NYC. It will always be very dear to me. The fact that Roger Miller composed the songs made it really special. Seven Tonys, including Best Musical, does make me wonder why it isn’t more popular around the country for theater groups.

[@chevreherd]

An awesome production. Underappreciated. Thanks for posting this

[@mexicocash]

Excelente obra, estuve en 1986 con mi familia en NY y fuimos a verla, una deliciaaaa

[@WakandaBabe]

John Goodman was in this...I think that's him at 4:22. He left after a while to go to Hollywood.

[@richardbeach2430]

Roger Miller was the true definition of genius

[@papa4545]

I saw this show in March of 86, it changed my life!!!!

[@kevingmiter5144]

The best duo as i see it.loved there rendition of Huckleberry Finn seen it march.1986

[@mokamo23]

roger miller. the man.

[@MLongPhotography]

I love this show! I played young fool in our production and it was so much fun! I love the Jim in this show!

[@janicedavis7515]

Saw it in Greenville SC a year or two ago

[@allanhuish1417]

Allan Huish (Wales U.K.) I saw Big River in Atlanta in 2006. It was amazing to watch. I've never understood why it never came to London. Well Done.

[@madisonharrill1935]

This is the most underrated show

[@juanmonge8]

It won the Tony for best musical!

[@shemacty]

Oh, I love this show!

[@loraross3598]

I saw this show in NYC in 1985. It was FAB!!!

[@kev7161]

I played Pap Finn in my local community theater production. Although I wasn't right for the part (age, mostly) I would have loved to play Huck. I knew all his songs and could hit the notes (back then!).

[@himonightbreeze]

We did this show my senior year of high school. I remember we had to build extensions to the stage for extra space and a trap door. I played one of Tom and Huck's unnamed gang members for "The Boys," Unnamed Loafer #3 for "The Royal Nonesuch," and fucking crushed it as Silas Phelps because I didn't have to sing or dance while showcasing my natural comedic talent. "And why was a rope ladder baked into a pie? It makes no sense!" 😂

[@feralbluee]

good song for sure. Huck’s friend is a wonderful singer. i bet he could do a great “Ol’ Man River”. and i only thought of it cause they’re on that river!!!

[@doug396427]

My son was huck in a live play in Paducah Ky

[@huckfinn9225]

I'm sure he did a wonderful job.

[@mrmarshfellow]

Just discovered this musical because of tiktok, very excited to look into it :)

[@nicholasnewell628]

I played Tom in this show in high school. Great experience

[@huckfinn9225]

that is cool

[@tejaswoman]

The only musical I ever actually got to see on Broadway. So fantastic ... when will it be back?

[@ryuinz]

Unreal performance. And fuck the fact that we didn't act faster to address AIDS. Too many people died scared and alone who just needed to know they were loved.

[@nathancox5316]

This was the first Broadway show I ever saw. See if you can spot John Goodman in the cast.

[@Budcat101]

great theater!

[@sophb8302]

yeezus these are BOPS why doesn’t this have as big of a fan base as stupid shows like the prom?

[@anthonyburwell2860]

I played Jim in community theater

[@KellyTruax]

LOVE!!!!!!!

[@Zzzk23]

Occasionally when they looked at each other I immediately thought, "they totally smashed."

[@ohwow6640]

Ajeidjduuwhshs my sister thought so too but when she read the book she was mortified.

[@Zzzk23]

Oh Wow now that I know their characters so am I. Didn’t realize the blue shirted man was a child

[@pika23]

You're.... you're not familiar with Tom sawyer and huck finn and Jim the slave? I guess they don't talk about this book in school anymore bc of the not so pc parts

[@Zzzk23]

@@pika23 I knew who Tom Sawyer was. Not Jim

[@dbehr1996.]

I had no idea John Goodman was in this!!

[@nicholasnewell628]

He killed it

[@stevenmulrooney28]

Roger Miller was a damn marvel.

[@kevingmiter5144]

Seen this play in 1986 in ny

[@notpropertyadream]

♥️

[@theostracized]

4:10 Jeremy Jordan??

[@arnoldstollar5375]

Good

[@tishtashtishtash]

When show clips ran 5 min on the Tonys....

[@twinmedal2789]

Ok. Im doing this musical for my theater dramaturge and I don't know the name of the firs song. Can anyone help me out?

[@kev7161]

3 years later: Do You Wanna Go to Heaven?

[@rematesbanc4557]

4:15 Quico Big River Style

[@arnoldstollar5375]

The river shall get bigger if there is a quake there, NewbMadre fault,

[@Psybur]

When I was in 7th grade back in '96/'97, I was in chorus and the music teacher played a record for 'Big River' that is TOALLY different from the original soundtrack that's all-over KZbin. And he had us sing to 'Muddy Water', and I swear to god on all that is musically holy, the role of 'Jim', was sung by Ken Page! I remember everyone in class laughing at me when I said that, but a student named Jenny Milinowsky (sp?) agreed and said it sounded like the alligator from 'All Dogs go to Heaven'. The record he played didn't have *beep* talking before the song starts the way the original soundtrack does and sounds SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than the original does. No matter where I look, I can't find it or hear it! I had my music teacher record it for me on cassette tape and, like a dumb ass, I let my mom through it out. It HAS to be from a version that was recorded from 1985, when the production came out, to when I was in school and heard it on record between '96/'97. Please, does ANYONE know what I'm talking about?! The only other song we heard was 'You 'ought to be here with me', which, once again, is COMPLETELY different from what's on the original: In that song, it has what sounds like some 'Conway Twity' electric guitar-ish, 'whine-y' instrument in the intro (I think it's a slide guitar), and harmonica near the end.

[@pika23]

Look for one that says original broadway cast

[@Psybur]

@@pika23 I tried that, and it’s still not the same thing. I’m going to go crazy trying to find it. XD

[@TheJordanWS]

Guys... It's based off a book... How is it an original musical? #MTproblems

[@shreksmaternalchild2377]

Oh dear lord please tell me hes joking.

[@TheJordanWS]

Yes, obviously

[@detectivefiction3701]

"Original musical" just means it's not a revival of a musical. Most musicals that exist are based on some kind of source material.

[@MustangScott]

Are they lip syncing?

[@jenniferleighwarren2799]

No we were not lip-syncing...Sigh.

[@oliverdelica2289]

3:28 dammit do actors really have to smoke onstage?

[@dominiquepalmer2265]

Oliver Delica they aren’t actually smoking they have stage cigars and cigarettes for that reason so it looks like they are because it was very popular in the time period the story is set in.