SEMO ready for overflow parking at 'Big River'

The River Campus is prepared for overflow parking when "Big River" takes the stage starting tonight at the Bedell Performance Hall.

Southeast Missouri State University River Campus box office manager Ellen Farrow said River Campus staff isn't expecting the parking need to exceed parking space outside the Bedell for opening night, but it probably will for Friday's show, if not others.

The River Campus has 284 parking spaces, according to figures from the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety.

River Campus staff estimate those spaces should be enough to accommodate tonight's crowd unless ticket sales accelerate quickly.

About 280 tickets were left as of Tuesday afternoon.

If the theater's 940 seats are packed, then parking overflow could happen. That will likely be the case Friday, for which only 12 tickets remained Tuesday afternoon, the closest to a sellout of the musical's five-day run.

In the case of overflow, parking will be available at the downtown lot in front of Hutson's Fine Furniture, Farrow said. Shuttles will take patrons back and forth to the overflow parking on a 10- to 15-minute schedule, she said.

The chances of this happening Friday are "very likely," Farrow said.

But the situation could arise other nights, too, as Farrow said ticket sales are going well.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182