Big River The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Roger Miller
Book by William Hauptman

Big River Recommended Resources

Big River Plot Summary & Audition Tips

List of Characters in Big River

Big River Sheet Music (Vocal Selections)

Big River Non-Musical Film Version

Big River Original Broadway Cast Recording

Based on Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.

Mississippi in the mid 1800s. Huckleberry attempts to help Jim achieve his freedom by escaping down the "Big River"

The show is performed in Story Theatre Style.

The music in this show is Country-Western. Your best choice for an audition song is something from another show with country-western music.

This show features characters of a specific ethnicity. See our list of other shows with characters of particular ethnicities to aid in the search for audition material.

Huckleberry Finn (Baritone - A?2 to E4, 14 - 16)

A rough and tumble near-orphan who was taken in and "civilized" by Widow Douglas. Prefers freedom to domestic life.

Widow Douglas (50 - 70)

a strict but loving woman who takes Huck in and raises him

Aunt Sally

Miss Watson (Soprano B2 to G4, 40 - 60)

Widow Douglas' friend. A strict and traditional woman that helps to raise Huck.

Jim (Bass/Baritone B1 to E4, 30 - 45)

Widow Douglas' slave. He is desperate to be free so he can buy back his wife and children.

The Duke (Tenor E3 to A4, Comic Role, 35 - 55)

a broken down actor turned con artist - conniving. Requires an excellent actor.

Tom Sawyer (Tenor(E3 to G?4, 14 - 16)

Huck's friend. Clever, but often overly dramatic.

Ben, Hank, Jo Harper (14)

Tom & Huck's schoolmates

Pap Finn ( Baritone D2 to G?4, 38 - 50)

Huck's no-good alcoholic father who abandoned him some time ago. Returns to collect on Huck's trust fund.

The King (Baritone C2 to D?4, 35 - 55)

an escaped convict and con artist

 

Mary Jane Wilkes (Mezzo B2 to E4, 14 - 21)

The grieving and pretty eldest girl of the wealthy Peter Wilkes, who recently passed away.

Judge (45 - 65)

A man with high respect for the letter of the law.

Young Fool (Tenor D3 to E4, 16 - 25)

A young man who just loves to gossip. Age:

Wilkes, Silas

Mark Twain, Doctor

Chorus and Smaller Roles: 3F (2 must be black), 5M (2 must be black), all must sing

Big River Related Websites

• Big River Song Lyrics

• Big River Monologues
  
• Browse other shows with roles for children

• Do Ya Wanna Go To Heaven? (Chorus)
• The Boys (Tom & Boys)
• Waitin' For the Light to Shine (Huck) 
• Guv'ment (Pap Finn)
• Hand for the Hog (Tom)
• I, Huckleberry, Me (Huck)
• Muddy Water (Huck & Jim)
• The Crossing (Chorus)
• River in the Rain (Huck & Jim)
• When the Sun Goes Down in the South (King, Duke)
• The Royal Nonesuch (Chorus)
• Worlds Apart (Huck & Jim)
• Arkansas (Boy)
• How Blest We Are (Mary Jane & Chorus)
• You Oughta Be Here With Me (Mary Jane & Sisters)
• Leavin's Not the Only Way To Go (Huck, Jim, Mary Jane)
• Free At Last  (Jim)
• River In The Rain (Jim & Huck)