This New York Philharmonic production of the classic Oscar Hammerstein-Jerome Kern Broadway musical is semi-staged, which means minimal scenery, less ornate costumes and a cast assembled just for a few nights of performances. This means, though, that you can get quite a cast for a limited commitment, and this one includes Vanessa Williams, Julian Ovendon from Downton Abbey, Norm Lewis, Lauren Worsham and Fred Willard. It also includes numbers rarely performed on stage, including songs added for the 1938 Show Boat film, and others included in, but subsequently trimmed from, the score for the original 1927 production. The action covers three generations of show folk, from 1880 to 1927 – so it was very topical then, at the end. And still is today, because much of the plot concerns race relations and prejudice. Check local listings.