I first encountered the story Big Fish in college during a creative writing class. It is still to this date my favorite assignment I've ever been given. I had no idea I would come back to this story more than ten years later. At the International Thespian Festival in 2018, we saw the Illinois All-State Cast perform the musical you're about to see. It was the first time I had thought about Big Fish in many years, but there was something about it I could not shake. I knew it was a dream musical to direct, but I did not think it would happen this soon.
Initially, one thing drew me in: the stories. There's something about the art of storytelling that can captivate us. Edward's stories are insane, outlandish, and absurdly real. The same stories that completely bind Will as a child infuriate him as an adult. The stories haven't changed, but Will has. His perception has changed because of the environment of his life. It's a fragile tale between father and son.
Reconnecting with this story many years later has brought me a fresh perspective. Having two sons of my own has allowed me to see beyond the wonderful stories presented here and see the relationship between Will and Edward, between Father and Son. This is one of the major themes portrayed in this show. I wholeheartedly believe Fatherhood is the single most important job a man can have. Statistics show the devasting effect the lack of a father can have on children. Edward struggles to show his love for Will, but as you'll see in the show, his love never wavers. This is why my favorite musical number has become "Fight the Dragons." You'll see in this number the reason why Edward does everything that he does--his son. While it takes Will years to see this, the dynamic of their relationship is a crucial part of the story. It is a crucial part of all of our stories.
The biggest challenge in producing this musical is trying to do justice in presenting Edward's stories on a live stage. Edward's stories are larger than life (some quite literally), and we have attempted to portray those to the best of our ability. Our goal is that you feel right there alongside Will and Edward as we journey through their relationship.
This has been a wonderful, exhausting journey, but our mantra from the very first rehearsal has echoed the words of Edward in Act II: "A man is as rich as his friends. I am a tycoon." We sincerely hope you learn to be the hero of your story, and as always, enjoy the show!
