The names Huck, Jim, Tom bring to mind what is widely considered to be the greatest American novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. These characters along with numerous others from the classic plus the author himself will be brought to life as Sterling High School Theatre presents the musical “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 13, 14 and 15, in the school’s theatre.
Set in the pre-Civil War days, the show, like the novel, follows the adventures of the young, rebellious Huck Finn and the runaway slave Jim as the two board a raft and set sail down the mighty Mississippi River searching for freedom and discovering the value of true friendship. This classic tale of adventure and self-discovery is a heartwarming piece of Americana. The musical received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score for its homespun mix of country, jazz, and gospel music. Playwright William Hauptman adapted Twain’s sprawling novel for the musical stage and famed country western songwriter Roger Miller provided the memorable score.
Leading the 36 member cast will be Sterling High seniors Brian Walker and Solomon Dold as Huck and Jim. Seniors Cameron Fair, Andrew McPherson, Kandra Pattison, Micah Watney and Bobby Foster will also be featured in the show. Fair and McPherson will play the uproarious con men known as the King and the Duke. Watney will be seen as Huck’s buddy Tom Sawyer. Foster will be Huck’s drunken father Pap Finn while Pattison will be Huck’s love interest the earnest Mary Jane Wilkes.
Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, Huck’s guardians, will be played by Kaci Wilson and Jamie Dechant. Tom and Huck’s band of pals will include J. J. Oden, Kyler Comley, Eli Miller, Cole Slupski Will Dutton, and Hans Anderson.
Mary Jane Wilkes’ sisters will be Julie Carroll and Keen Schweizer. Brayden Hosman will be seen as Judge Thatcher. Additional townspeople and cast members will be Hannah Hendricks, Mac Thrasher, Zane Nicholls, Max Fulbright, Nicole Dowell, Maddie Wagley, Bethany Anderson, Destiny Nickerson, Betty Barr, Jessica Thorpe, Kylah Comley, Hannah Vogt, Jody Gunther and Jessica Ricker.
Also featured in the Sterling High production will be Sterling College Theatre student Raven Taylor as the slave known simply as Alice. Sterling High students Holly Davis, Bailee Maskill, Olivia Elliott and Katie Comley will join her in the slave chorus.  
Senior Ian Stephens will preside over the story as Twain himself.
SHS theatre instructor Betsy Dutton is directing the show with colleague, vocal music instructor Clark Comley as music director. Elementary music teacher Cindy Anthony will play keyboard. Tickets for “Big River” are $6 for adults and $4 for students and will be available at the door before each performance.