This chapter examines how all of the elements that have been discussed in Chapters 1 through 11 come together in a production of Great Expectations produced by Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, Virginia. Mill Mountain Theatre is a 42-year-old resident theatre that employs mainly Equity aactors and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres. The authors of the musical, Edwin Wilson and Doug Katsaros, had several workshop readings of the play in New York City, which led to revisions prior to the production in Virginina.

This production of Big River began with a series of readings in New York City prior to being scheduled in the 400-seat Mill Mountain Theater. With each reading, and then rehearsals, changes were made to script.

The chapter traces the production through photographs of the rehearsal process as well as reproductions of drawings made by the show's designers.