“You’ll find friends in the most unusual places,” says cast member Chelsea Cannon, describing one of the things that audiences will learn in the 2018 Great Lakes Theater touring production of HUCK FINN.
Kicking off the free public tour on Tuesday, February 6 at Talespinner Children’s Theatre (Reinberger Auditorium), the 60-minute adventure of Huckleberry Finn and Jim will play local schools and will also have 14 public outreach performances in venues around northeast Ohio.
“I think the great thing about this play is that, while we’re going to the schools, that everyone can enjoy the show… it is not a children’s show, but it’s a family-friendly story,” explains cast member Chennelle Bryant-Harris. So it’s for EVERYONE!
Based on the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and adapted by Eric Schmiedl, the boy Huck Finn (Cannon) and runaway slave Jim (Harris) find themselves living on a raft as they head down the mighty Mississippi River together. They encounter con artists, feuding families, and a monster paddle boat. Supported by the musical stylings of James Alexander Rankin and Eric Schmiedl, Huck and Jim learn lessons of integrity, dignity and friendship.
“We kind of focus on Huck and Jim’s relationship and the journey that they take together,” says Cannon. Director Lisa Ortenzi has done a great job of building an unbreakable bond between not just the two main characters, but within their four-person ensemble.
With many insights and plenty of stories, the four company members have a lot more to say! CLICK HERE for the FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW featuring Cannon, Harris, Rankin and Schmiedl as they talk about the show, their insights, and even give us a banjo-driven Beyoncé cover song!
For more information on the upcoming public show schedule, visit Great Lakes Theater at www.greatlakestheater.org. Performances are free!
Recommended for students in Grades 3 and up.
Kate Klotzbach 