Big River Question
Big River Question
BroadwayBaby21
Broadway Star Joined: 8/20/04
#0Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:41pmHey, I just saw a local high school's production of Big River and fell in love with the show. (it helps that I'm in the middle of reading Huck Finn, but anyway...) I was wondering, was there a cast recording of Roundabout's broadway production of Big River? Because I read that Michael Arden was Tom Sawyer, and seing how I LOVE him and the show's music, I want to find that recording. (if there even was...) Thanks!
-If you don't like your fate, change it. You are your own master.- Aida
#1re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:49pmI think just the 1985 recording exists. I could be wrong though. But I can't seem to find a recording for the Roundabout's production.
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#2re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 3:14pmRoundabout didn't record, which was a smart move in my point of view. The original is all they have, but it's far superior to the arrangements and orchestrations of the revival. Plus, the revival cut some stuff.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
riv
Leading Actor Joined: 3/6/05
#3re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 4:00pm
I know there is also an Australian cast recording from the fairly recent past. I've never heard it so I don't know if it's better than the Broadway original or not.
The score is not exactly high on my list.
Updated On: 3/12/05 at 04:00 PM
#4re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 8:26pmI wouldn't say that the original is far superior, they both sound lovely. But I think a cast recording of the revival defeats the purpose of the show's concept, where it's a bilingual production in both English and ASL. And since many of the actors are deaf and hard-of-hearing, it wouldn't be fair to those actors. So yeah, I think that's why they decided against another cast recording. Although Michael McElroy and Gwen Stewart were phenomenal and I would love to have their renditions of the songs on record. ~Steven
#5re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/12/05 at 11:57pmIt just should've been taped for PBS. That's all there is to it...
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#7re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/14/05 at 2:24pm
They recorded the video of the Roundabout production, you have to go to Lincoln Center Library to view it 
Light To Shine fan site for Big River
#8re: Big River Question
Posted: 3/14/05 at 3:24pm
It makes sense that they didn't record the revival, being that it was a Deaf West production, and some cast members didn't sing. Again, it was a show performed for deaf people (even though it was performed for the hearing, as well), so why would they record it? The deaf wouldn't be able to buy it.
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"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
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Updated On: 3/14/05 at 03:24 PM
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