In an extraordinary event, The Natchez Festival of Music will present as part of its tricentennial season, Four Flags Over Natchez, the revered musical “Show Boat,” set here in Natchez. The 1927 premiere of “Show Boat” was a watershed event in the history of Broadway. It was the first true musical theatre production. Until then, Broadway had featured only vaudeville-style music revues or pageant-like spectaculars. This was the first book-musical in which the story was as important as the music and the characters fully-rounded and vibrantly real.

It was the product of four legendary talents — novelist Edna Ferber, composer Jerome Kern, dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II and producer Florenz Ziegfeld. Ferber, a Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote the novel on which the musical was based.

It tells the story of three generations of entertainers associated with the Mississippi riverboat Cotton Blossom, piloted by Captain Andy Hawks. It is a timeless story of love, betrayal and redemption, with classic songs such as “Ol’ Man River.” The score is alive with tunes, some of them reprised several times during the story, with different meanings and intents at each turn. In addition to the immortal “Ol’ Man River,” you’ll hear “Can’t Help Lovin Dat Man,” “Make Believe” and other familiar tunes such as “After the Ball is Over,” “Bill” and even John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post March.”

Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, the show serves as a reminder of how even in the darkest days, life goes on and family matters above all.

“Show Boat” will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin. Cash bar refreshments begin at 6 p.m. in The Grape Escape Club Room. Admission is $40 ($10 for Student K-12, Adult with K-12 student, College and Active Military with current ID).

Other upcoming events include Rockin’ On The River featuring Mojo Mudd at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bowie’s Tavern. Admission is $7. Art 7 p.m. on Wednesday will be Rossini, Puccini, and Martinis at the Historic Natchez Foundation. Admission is $10 with a cash bar. At 7 p.m. Thursday Impressions and expressions: Classical Music of Our Time featuring Maryann Kyle, soprano, Ellen Elder, Joseph Brumbeloe and Willis Delony, piano, will be presented at the First Presbyterian Church. Admission is $20 ($10 for Student K-12, Adult with K-12 student, College and Active Military with current ID).

Don’t miss The British Invasion of Natchez: Music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Other Brits that Changed the World. which will be at 7 p.m on Friday at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin with a cash bar beginning at 6 p.m. in The Grape Escape Club Room. Admission is $25 ($10 for Student K-12, Adult with K-12 student, College and Active Military with current ID).

Please note our Rockin’ On The River event on Tuesday, May 24th, will now feature Vasti Jackson due to an unfortunate cancellation by the promoted act. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. at Bowie’s Tavern. Vasti Jackson is a world renowned guitarist, and vocalist, Mississippi living blues legend, cultural ambassador, 2012 Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee and 2015 Albert King Lifetime Guitar Award recipient.

For tickets to all events, please visit www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com, in person at the Visitor Reception Center, or telephone 1-800-647-6742, or at the door for all events. There is a cash bar at each event. Come for the music, stay for the experience.

 

Rob Mulholland is director of “Show Boat.”