Podcast with Big Fish Composer ANDREW LIPPA
Podcast with Big Fish Composer ANDREW LIPPA from SHOWBIZ CHICAGO on Vimeo.
One of our favorite guests, composer Andrew Lippa discusses his newest production, BIG FISH, which is having its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago.
ANDREW LIPPA (Music and Lyrics) received a 2010 Tony nomination for Best Original Score and 2010 Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics for The Addams Family. New York theatre credits include The Wild Party (Manhattan Theatre Club); the score for Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention (Broadway); new songs for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Broadway); john & jen (co-written with Tom Greenwald). Regional: A Little Princess (book/lyrics by Brian Crawley) at Theatreworks in Palo Alto; Jerry Christmas (book by Daniel Goldfarb) at NY Stage and Film; Asphalt Beach(book by T.C. Smith and Peter Spears) at AMTP at Northwestern. Recordings: The Wild Party, john & jen, …Charlie Brown, A Little Princess, Bat Boy (Producer). Awards: 2000 Grammy nomination; winner of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, ASCAP/Richard Rodgers and Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Awards. As Kristin Chenoweth’s music director: Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco symphonies; Carnegie Hall; The Metropolitan Opera House, among others. Andrew is a graduate of the University Of Michigan School Of Music. andrewlippa.com
BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will have its pre‐Broadway world premiere at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5‐week engagement beginning performances Tuesday, April 2, 2013, opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. Tickets for the Chicago engagement are on‐sale now.
Directed and choreographed by five‐time Tony Award® winner Susan Stroman(Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award® nominee Andrew Lippa(The Wild Party, The Addams Family), a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory),BIG FISH begins previews on Broadway Thursday, September 5, 2013 and opens Sunday, October 6, 2013, at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).
Starring two‐time Tony Award® winner Norbert
Leo Butz(Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can) as Edward Bloom,Tony Award® nominee Kate Baldwin (Giant, Finian’s Rainbow) as Sandra Bloom, Tony Award® nominee Bobby Steggert (Giant, Ragtime) as Will Bloom, Krystal Joy Brown (Leap Of Faith) as Josephine Bloom and Zachary Unger (Chaplin)as Young Will, and featuring Ryan Andes, Ben Crawford, J. C. Montgomery, Tony Award® nominee Brad Oscar, Kirsten Scott, SarrahStrimelandKatie Thompson,BIG FISH has a cast of 27 that includes Preston Truman Boyd, Alex Brightman, BreeBranker, Joshua Buscher, Robin Campbell, Bryn Dowling, Jason Lee Garrett, Leah Hoffman, Synthia Link, Angie Schworer, Lara Seibert, Tally Sessions, Cary Tedder and Ashley Yeater.
BIG FISH has scenic design by Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Julian Crouch, costume design by five‐time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by two‐time Tony Award winner Donald Holder, sound design by Los Angeles Drama Critics Award winner Jon Weston, projection design by Drama Desk Award winner Benjamin Pearcy for59 Productions, musical direction by Mary‐Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and dance arrangements by Sam Davis. BIG FISH is produced by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Stage Entertainment with Roy Furman, The Nederlander Organization, John Domo and Broadway Across America in association with CJ E&M, Parrothead Productions and Columbia Pictures.
A rollicking fantasy set in the American South, BIG FISH centers on the charismatic Edward Bloom (Butz), whose impossible stories of his epic adventures frustrate his son Will (Steggert). As Edward’s final chapter approaches, Will embarks on his own journey to find out who his father really is, revealing the man behind the myth, the truth from the tall tales. Overflowing with heart, humor and inventive stagecraft, BIG FISH is a tribute to the power of family, dreaming big and the unpredictable adventure of life itself.
“Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions” by Daniel Wallace was first printed in 1998. In December 2003, a critically acclaimed film of Big Fish was released by Columbia Pictures directed by Tim Burton, starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Helena Bonham Carter. The film was nominated for an Academy Award, Grammy Award, 4 Golden Globe Awards and 7 BAFTA Awards.
CHICAGO TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for BIG FISH at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre range in price from $33‐$100. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 15 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977‐1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775‐2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations, and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
NORBERT LEO BUTZ (Edward Bloom) won Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical for Catch Me If You Can (also Drama Desk Award, Best Actor in a Musical) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (also Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire Awards, Drama League Award winner, Best Actor in a Musical). His other Broadway credits include Dead Accounts, Enron, Speed‐the‐Plow, Is He Dead?, Wicked (original cast, Fiyero), Thou Shalt Not (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Rent. Off‐ Broadway credits include How I Learned to Drive (Second Stage), Fifty Words, Buicks (Drama Desk nomination), The Last Five Years (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations, Drama League Award), Juno and the Paycock (Roundabout), Saved (TFANA). National Tour: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cabaret (Helen Hayes Award, Jefferson, Dora and Ovation Awards). Regional credits include Catch Me If You Can (5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle), four seasons at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. His film credits include Better Living Through Chemistry (2012), Greetings From Tim Buckley (2012), Disconnect (2012), The English Teacher (2012), Higher Ground (Sundance Film Festival 2011), Fair Game, and Dan in Real Life. Television work includes his starring role in the series “The Deep End” (ABC); the pilots “The Miraculous Year” (HBO) and “Playing Chicken” (FOX); the mini‐series “Comanche Moon” (CBS); “The Good Wife”(CBS), “CSI” (CBS), “Law & Order‐Criminal Intent” (NBC). Norbert participated in the producing, writing and recording of The Angel Band Project’s album, Take You With Me (now available on iTunes), for which all proceeds benefit the Voices and Faces Project. He received a BFA from WebsterUniversity and an MFA from Alabama Shakespeare Theatre.
KATE BALDWIN (Sandra Bloom) was nominated for a Tony Award® for her performance in Finian’s Rainbow. Her other Broadway credits include The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie (original cast) and Wonderful Town (Helen). New York credits include Leslie Lynnton in Giant at The Public Theater; Opening Doors at Zankel Hall; Fiorello!, andFinian’s Rainbow, Bloomer Girl, Babes In Arms and A Connecticut Yankee at CityCenter’s Encores! Tours include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Betty Haynes). Regional credits include Mary Hainesin The Women at San Diego’s Old Globe, Nellie in South Pacific (Helen Hayes nomination) at Arena Stage,Amalia in She Loves Me (IRNE nomination) at Huntington Theatre and Williamstown Theatre Festival,Katharine in Henry V at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.Concerts appearances include Chicago Humanities Festival, NSO, PSO and the American Songbook Series. TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” PBS’ “Live from LincolnCenter: Stephen Sondheim’s Passion”. Recording: Let’s See What Happens and She Loves Him: Kate Baldwin Sings Sheldon Harnick, both on PS Classics. Ms. Baldwin is a graduate of NorthwesternUniversity.
BOBBY STEGGERT (Will Bloom) was most recently seen in Giant at The Public Theater and at Lincoln Center in A.R. Gurney’s The Grand Manner. He was nominated for a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Drama League Award for his performance as Mother’s Younger Brother in the Broadway revival of Ragtime, a role that he originated in the acclaimed Kennedy Center production. He appeared alongside Audra McDonald in the Broadway revival of 110 in the Shade, for which he received an Outer Critics Circle nomination. He also received Drama Desk and Drama League nominations for his performances in Yank!andThe Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island at the Vineyard Theater. Other notable New York credits include The Minister’s Wife (Lincoln Center Theater), Mordred in Camelot (NY Philharmonic, Live at Lincoln Center), Master Harold…and the boys (Broadway), columbinus (New York Theater Workshop, Drama League nomination for ensemble), The Music Teacher (The New Group), Yank! (Gallery Players, NY Innovative Theater Nomination for Lead Actor) and the workshop of a revised Side Show directed by Bill Condon. Regional appearances include The Kennedy Center, L.A. Theaterworks, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Milwaukee Rep, Pioneer Theater, Olney Theater and Walnut Street Theater. Film/TV: The Namesake, Game Six, Night Swimming, Kinsey, For Richer or Poorer, “The Good Wife,” and a year as Sam Grey on “All My Children.” He is a graduate of NYU and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). He had the honor of performing at the New York Philharmonic’s Sondheim: The Birthday Concert which aired on PBS.
KRYSTAL JOY BROWN (Josephine Bloom) was most recently seen on Broadway as OrnellaSturdevant in Leap Of Faith and in Hair. Ms. Brown played Mimi in the National tour of Rent. Off‐Broadway she played Eve in Falling for Eve at The York Theatre. Selected regional credits include Ornella in Leap of Faith at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre, Rosanna in Calvin Berger at the George Street Playhouse, and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors (John W. Engeman). TV credits include: “Castle,” “Storyforia.”
ZACHARY UNGER (Young Will) Broadway: Chaplin. Off‐Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along, Measure for Measure. Film: Tar, Admission. TV: “Dora the Explorer,” “Sesame Street.”
RYAN ANDES (Karl The Giant) NY Theatre: Big Fish (Workshop), Action Philosophers! (NY Comic Book Theatre Fest), The Red Box (SoHo Rep), Interning (MITF), Blood Bros’: The New Guingol (The Brick), My Base and Scurvy Heart (The Wild Project), The Little One (The Kraine Theater), Winter Journey (Undergroundzero PS 122), Kidnapped by Craig’s List (the PIT). Regional Theatre/National Tours: Assassins (McKenna Theater), West Side Story (Stagestars), Street Scene (Mainstage SF), Freedom Train (Theatreworks USA), Choosing Helen (Ripley Grier).
BEN CRAWFORD (Don Price) Broadway: Shrek the Musical, Les Miserables. Off‐Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along (Encores!), 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (Brooklyn’s Galapagos Arts Space).
J. C. MONTGOMERY (Dr. Bennett) Broadway: The Scottsboro Boys, Boys From Syracuse, Bye Bye Birdie, The Color Purple, The Little Mermaid, Parade, Smokey Joe’s Café, Swing and Thou Shalt Not. Tours: Les MiserablesandJoseph…Dreamcoat. Roles on all the “Law & Orders.”
BRAD OSCAR (Amos Calloway) Brad Oscar was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award® for his role as Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in The Producers. He has appeared in several productions at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. In 2005, he played The Devil (Mr. Applegate) in Damn Yankees, and in October 2006 he played Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret. He played multiple roles, including Lady Enid in The Mystery of Irma Vep in 2008.
KIRSTEN SCOTT (Jenny Hill) Broadway: Follies, Hairspray. Regional: Follies (Kennedy Center); Limelight (La Jolla Playhouse); Minsky’s (Ahmanson Theatre); Curtains (PCLO); Thoroughly Modern Millie, A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast (WVPT). Off‐Broadway: The MarvalousWonderettes, Gemini (NYMF). Guest soloist with the late maestro Erich Kunzel. TV: “All My Children.” BFA, CMU.
SARRAH STRIMEL (Mermaid) Broadway: Rock of Ages,Young Frankenstein, The Producers. Encores!:Stairway To Paradise. National Tours: The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Favorite regional roles include Hedda Hopper in Sammy (The Old Globe), Minsky’s(The Ahmanson), Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, Stupefyin’ Jones in Lil Abner (Goodspeed Opera House), and Bombalurina in Cats.
KATIE THOMPSON (Witch) Theatre: Giant (Public Theater; Dallas Theatre; Signature Theatre), Spidermusical(Mint Theatre), Bloodties(NYMF), Cloaked (CAP 21), Ripper (NAMT), R.R.E.D. (NYMF; The Grove Theatre in LA), The Lighthouse Project (NY Workshop with Duncan Sheik), Piece (NAMT). Solo Recordings: Private Page, KT LIVE, What I’ve Done Right. Musical Theatre Recordings: Scott Alan’s Dreaming Wide Awake, Bobby Cronin’s Reach For the Shy, Kerrigan &Lowdermilk’sMy First Mistake, Joey Contreras’ Love Me, Love Me Not.
FOR INFORMATION ON BIG FISH’S CHICAGO ENGAGEMENT:www.BroadwayInChicago.com