Big Fish: Spring Musical Review

Disclaimer: I worked on some of the sets for Big Fish, but my first time experiencing any of the performances was when I saw it on stage during the matinee.

Photos by Joy Knight

Big Fish is a musical about family, storytelling, and how we leave a legacy to those around us. I had the wonderful opportunity to see the Jordan Theatre department perform it, and I’d like to share some of my favorite parts of the experience.

To start, every performance was fantastic. Everyone from the lead roles to the massive ensemble did a fantastic job on stage, the incredible pit orchestra brought even more depth to every moment, and the technicians operating the lights, sound, and set worked hard to bring the world of Big Fish to life. Of special note is Andrew Schreiber, who excelled at the role of Edward Bloom. Andrew was a late addition to the cast, and he did so much work to get the show to where it is now. 

Some other performances that stood out to me were Alana Coovadia’s adorable Young Will, the mysterious and magical Witch played by Sofia Gee, and of course, Danica Laan’s wonderfully emotional Sandra Bloom. I felt strongly invested in the story and world of Big Fish through these performances.

The atmosphere of the show is important due to the variety of settings and characters, and Jordan Theatre was able to nail it. The projections that make up most of the set are vibrant and magical, with the lighting and physical set pieces complementing it well. The costuming also contributes to this, as each member of the large ensemble had an impressive number of costume changes, and every outfit was stunning - some of my favorites were Karl’s giant pants and scruffy cloak, The Witch’s swamp robes, and Amos Calloway’s Ringmaster attire.

Some minor technical issues were present, such as microphones cutting out or being unable to hear the ensemble, but these didn’t significantly detract from the experience. All in all, Jordan Theatre created a fantastic production in Big Fish, and it’s not too late to see it for yourself!