Vanessa Williams and Julian Ovenden Star In New York’s New “Show Boat”

In November, the New York Philharmonic will present a semi-staged concert version of Show Boat: one of the classic shows that mark the transition from European style operetta on Broadway to more “American” themed musical plays.

While this 1927 Jerome Kern favorite is little known in the German speaking operetta world – and even less frequently performed – the New York performances at Avery Fisher Hall will pull all the stops out, in terms of casting. They recently had Emma Thompson in a concert version of Sweeney Todd. Now, they’ll have TV’s überbitch Vanessa Williams as Julie exploring a gentler character side. Downton Abbey star Julian Ovenden will play Gaylord Ravenal and Lauren Worsham his love interest Magnolia.

All three make their Philharmonic debuts.

The performances are conducted and directed by Tony Award winner Ted Sperling.

Since Show Boat is such a famed show, and of such importance in the history of the musical and Broadway operetta, you might want to check out Kurt Gänzl’s article on the show from his Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. You’ll find it in our online archive by clicking here.

Let’s hope there will be a recording of this performance series, because a new Show Boat with full orchestra on disc would be a very welcome addition to the catalogue. And let’s also hope that the large scale Linz production in Austria will not remain the only XL-enterprise in the German speaking world. The festival in Bregenz pulled back their Show Boat production this summer because no one bought tickets for an “unknown” title. (So, instead, audiences were offered the Magic Flute.)

It is obviously high time for German and Austrian operetta fans to embrace this classic.

For dates, tickets and more information on the cast, click here.