Village Players Fight the Dragons in BIG FISH

The Village Players of Birmingham continues its 96th season with the funny, fanciful and heart-warming new musical BigFish.

Running three weekends October 26-28 and November 2-4, 9-11, 2018 at the Village Players of Birmingham.

Big Fish is based on Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions. The musical has been compared to The Wizard of Oz, The Odyssey and The Music Man. The story which features flashbacks and tall tales that come to life, quickly caught the attention of American screenwriter John August who adapted the novel for the 2003 film Big Fish. In 2013, John August brought the story to Broadway with music and lyrics by Michigan Native Andrew Lippa. The Broadway production ran for more than 100 performances. August & Lippa then created a new version for smaller venues like Village Players.

Big Fish tells the tales of Edward Bloom (Doug Clark of Royal Oak), a man with a big heart and an even bigger imagination. Edward's son, Will (Drew Dyer of Ferndale), has grown up on his father's stories of kissing a mermaid, befriending a giant and meeting Will's mother, Sandra (Jeanne DeLong of Shelby Township) at a circus. However, now a grown man recently married and expecting a child with his wife Josephine (Katie Harris of Royal Oak), Will looks at the world in black & white and doesn't see the value of such tall tales. Not accepting these stories, Will finds that he is drifting further and further away from his father. Is it possible for Will to accept Edward before the end of Edward's life or will their relationship end broken? Big Fish transports audiences of all ages through the magic of storytelling as Edward's tales come to life on stage

Big Fish is directed by Alan Ellias who is making his Village Players debut as a director, although he has directed with such groups as Players Guild of Dearborn and St. Dunstan's Theatre.

When asked why he wanted to direct Big Fish, Alan said "I am always drawn to shows that focus on the characters and their relationships. This is one of those musicals that speak to universal family issues, through the story of a father and son and beautiful music."

Big Fish runs approximately 2.5 hours including one 15-minute intermission. Show dates and times are October 26, 27 & November 2,3, 9, 10, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. and October 28 & November 4 & 11 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $21.00 and are available online at www.birminghamvillageplayers.com or by calling the theatre box office at 248-644-2075. The Village Players Theatre is located at 34660 Woodward Avenue in Birmingham.

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