Overview
Synopsis
Edward Bloom has lived a full and fantastical life, populated by witches, giants, and mermaids, marked by true love that stops time in its tracks, and framed by heroics that push the limits of believability. His adult son, Will, is no longer amused by his father’s fantastical tales, insisting on a rational rather than a fantastical account of one’s life. When Edward’s health declines, and Will learns that he and his wife, Josephine, will have a son of their own, Will decides to find out his father’s “true” life story, once and for all. Big Fish is a heartfelt, powerful, and truly magical musical about fathers, sons, and the stories that we use to define our identities. With spine-tinglingly beautiful music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and a funny, heartwarming book by John August, Big Fish is a magnificent “big fish” of a tale, itself -- spectacular, fantastical, and overflowing with love.
Show Information
- Book
- John August
- Music
- Andrew Lippa
- Lyrics
- Andrew Lippa
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2013
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Spectacle
- Time & Place
- edward and sandra bloom’s home in alabama, the present. also various fantasy locations in alabama in the 1950s.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Theatrical Rights Worldwide
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Big Fish the musical is adapted from two sources: Daniel Wallace’s 1998 novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions and its 2003 film adaptation, directed by Tim Burton. The novel, which is told from Will’s point of view in first-person, is a chronological retelling of the tall tales Will’s father, Edward, told about his life. The novel draws inspiration from classic literature and mythology. For example, like Odysseus in Homer’s The Odyssey, Edward Bloom is on a seemingly endless quest
to read the context for Big Fish and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In Alabama, an aging man named Edward Bloom skips stones on a river. His son, Will, approaches. It’s Will’s wedding day, and he urges his father not to make any embarrassing toasts or tell any wild stories. Edward is befuddled by this request, but agrees. Edward enters a flashback, in which he tells six-year-old Will a story before bed. In the story, which comes to life, Edward encounters a group of men and women who are unsuccessfully trying to catch a fish. Edward informs them
to read the plot for Big Fish and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act One
- Prologue – Orchestra
- Be the Hero – Edward Bloom and Company
- The Witch – The Witch, Edward Bloom and Company
- Stranger – Will Bloom
- Two Men in My Life – Sandra Bloom
- Out There on the Road – Edward Bloom, Karl, Jenny Hill and Company
- Little Lamb from Alabama – Sandra Bloom and Alabama Lambs
- Time Stops – Edward Bloom and Sandra Bloom
- Closer to Her – Amos Calloway, Edward Bloom and Company
- Daffodils – Edward Bloom and Sandra Bloom
Act Two
- Red, White and True – Edward Bloom, Sandra Bloom and Company
- Fight the Dragons – Edward Bloom and Young Will Bloom
- Showdown – Will Bloom, Edward Bloom and Company
- I Don't Need a Roof – Sandra Bloom
- Start Over – Edward Bloom, Don Price, Amos Calloway, Karl and Company
- What's Next – Will Bloom, Edward Bloom and Company
- How It Ends – Edward Bloom
- The Procession - Company
- Be the Hero (Reprise) – Will Bloom
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A fictional story of the fantasy genre – idealised, romantic, and magical.
Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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