“Show Boat,” one of the world’s greatest musicals, will steam its way on stage at Stephens Auditorium Friday.”It’s a classic musical, with a beautiful score, interesting story and the added bonus of being about our region of the country,” said Patricia Cotter, Iowa State Center marketing and public relations coordinator. “It’s a historical view of life on the Mississippi, which is fascinating to many of us who live in the Midwest.”The story of “Show Boat” spans a 40-year period in the deep South after the Civil War in the 1880s through the roaring 1920s. The Cotton Blossom is a showboat that travels up and down the Mississippi River.The boat’s owner, Cap’n Andy Hawkes, claims that the boat is “one big happy family,” said Eve Himmelheber, assistant professor of theater. The story revolves around Parthy, Cap’n Andy’s domineering wife; Magnolia, their innocent daughter; Julie LaVerne, the leading lady of the Showboat company and Steve, her husband; and Gaylord Ravenal, a flashy riverboat gambler who joins the troupe as an actor.Problems arise on the Cotton Blossom when Pete, a “river rat” and engineer of the boat, starts to desire Julie. Steve warns him to stay away from her and when Pete threatens revenge, Cap’n Andy sends him packing. Pete then informs the local sheriff that Julie is of mixed race — having one white parent and one black parent. The fact that she is married to a white man is a criminal offense in that state. Steve, knowing this accusation was coming, pricks her finger and sucks her blood so that he, too, will have black blood in him. The two are forced to leave the boat. The departure of Julie and Steve leaves the Cotton Blossom and Cap’n Andy in a real bind. Luckily he is able to convince Gaylord to play the leading man opposite his own daughter, Magnolia. Their stage romance soon becomes real and the family prospers. The show follows Cap’n Andy’s family from that prosperous start through rough spots and truly bad times before arriving at a great reunion of lovers that were torn apart.”With a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Edna Ferber, story and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Jerome Kern, ‘Show boat’ is one of the best musicals on tour now,” Cotter said.The show originally played at the Ziegfeld Theatre, opening on Dec. 27, 1927, Himmelheber said. In 1995 the Livent production of “Show Boat” won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival. “Most musical comedy producers are delighted when audiences remember one or two of the songs,” Himmelheber said. “Most audiences, on the other hand, know almost all of the music from ‘Show Boat,’ for each new revival through the years seems to make the public aware of another beautiful melody.” Some of the most popular pieces include “Ol’ Man River” and “Make Believe,” which became popular during the first run of the show, as did “Why Do I Love You?,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and “Life Upon the Wicked Stage,” said Himmelheber, whose personal favorite is the sultry “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.””‘Show Boat’s’ music echoes all of America’s popular music, and presented in a format that was previously dominated by European operetta and Gilbert and Sullivan,” Himmelheber explained. “It helped Americans to realize the richness of their own musical heritage, much of which came from black Americans.””Show Boat” has also retained its popularity as a stage production despite three movie versions being released, said Himmelheber.Cotter said there are very few tickets still available for this show.”We ask people to buy their tickets as early in the evening as possible,” Cotter said. “Also, with events going on at Fisher and the Scheman Building, people should leave time to park and walk to Stephens.”Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available through the Iowa State Center Ticket Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.