Show Boat is a groundbreaking American musical that premiered in 1927, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Edna Ferber’s novel of the same name. Set aboard the Cotton Blossom, a showboat traveling along the Mississippi River, the story spans several decades from the 1880s to the 1920s, exploring themes of love, racial prejudice, and the hardships of life in show business. The musical follows the lives of performers, dock workers, and riverboat crew, centering on the romance between Magnolia Hawks, the captain’s daughter, and Gaylord Ravenal, a charming gambler. Known for its rich score—including classics like "Ol’ Man River" and "Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man"—Show Boat is celebrated for its integration of serious social themes into musical theater, marking a significant evolution in the genre's storytelling.