Showbiz Chicago Spotlight: Jimmy Buffet & Frank Marshall Catch BIG FISH

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.