(BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- 4TH WALL THEATRE closes its 19th season with Big Fish, featuring music and lyrics by Tony nominee Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, The Wild Party) and a book by screenwriter John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). The musical is based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the film, directed by Tim Burton. Performances run on select dates from June 3 through June 12 at the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield.
Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a man who has lived a full and fantastical life, populated by witches, giants, and mermaids, marked by true love that stops time in its tracks, and framed by heroics that push the limits of believability. His adult son, Will, is no longer amused by his father’s fantastical tales, insisting on a rational rather than a fantastical account of his father’s life. When Edward’s health declines, and Will learns that he and his wife, Josephine, will have a son of their own, Will decides to find out his father’s “true” life story once and for all. Big Fish is a heartfelt, powerful, and truly magical musical about fathers, sons, and the stories that we use to define our identities. Of the show, Entertainment Weekly said, “Big Fish finds theatrically inventive ways to reel audiences into its central love story. In this case, it isn't boy-meets-girl but father-hooks-son. And Edward Bloom is quite a catch.”
The show has been called “a magnificent ‘big fish’ of a tale itself -- spectacular, fantastical, and overflowing with love.” 4th Wall is presenting the new “12 chair” version, created for a smaller cast.
The production features Gregory Allen of Hawthorne; Christopher Traina, Jodi Freeman-Maloy, and Rich Maloy of Cedar Grove; Laurice Grae-Hauck of West Orange; Alexander Wolfe, Danny Egan, Kimberley Mesiti, and Jessica Walch of Bloomfield; Tom Schopper of Bloomingdale; Patrick McLaughlin of Little Falls; Ashley Leone of Lodi; Peter Downing of Cliffside Park; and Vanessa Robinson of New York.
4th Wall Artistic Director, Kate Swan of Teaneck, directs and is joined by Markus Grae-Hauck of West Orange as Music Director. The two have teamed on numerous 4th Wall productions. Gwen Ricks-Spencer, formerly of Montclair, is the Production Manager, and Martha Thalheimer of Paterson serves as the Stage Manager.
Swan is having a great time directing Big Fish and says of the show, “I am so glad that the Big Fish writing team created this downsized version of the show so that smaller companies like 4th Wall can produce them. The rewritten version features all the wonderful songs and tall tales of the original Broadway musical while focusing much more intensely on the relationship of Edward and his son. 4th Wall’s cast is uniformly terrific, and I know audiences will enjoy how they tell this fun, heartwarming story.”
Big Fish will play at the Westminster Arts Center on the campus of Bloomfield College in Bloomfield and runs June 3, 4, 10, 11, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 and 12 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are only $25, and discount tickets are available for students and seniors. Tickets may be reserved by calling 973-566-9255. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted. Tickets may also be purchased online and additional information is available at www.4thwalltheatre.org
