Big Fish: What the Cast and Crew Have To Say About LC’s Greater-than-Life Musical

by Annalie Nachriner

Photography by Richard Maguire

​​​​For the second weekend in a row, LC Tiger Drama will present Big Fish the musical in the auditorium on Thursday the 14th and Friday the 15th at 7:00 PM, and Saturday the 16th at 2:00 PM. The first weekend was a big success, so make sure you get your tickets to see the show before it’s too late!

Big Fish tells the story of a father and a son, Edward and Will Bloom, and how they learn to see eye-to-eye despite their differing points of view. As Edward learns that he will soon be a father himself, he seeks to find the truth in his own relationship with his father, Will, before it’s too late—Will has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and doesn’t know how much time he has left.

All of this is portrayed through Edward’s fantastical stories and the stark contrast of Will’s straight-and-narrow take on life. The cast consists of Declan Sheehan as Edward Bloom, Elijah Dordal as Will, Kate Stachofsky as Edward’s wife Sandra, Siena Lotrario as Will’s wife Josephine, Theodore O’Harra as Karl the Giant, Jacob Garrett as Amos Calloway, and many other wonderful ensemble members. But even if you don’t have any friends in the show, that shouldn’t deter you from coming—it’s still a beautiful experience

​Big Fish explores around how family can love each other “no matter their flaws,” says Siena Lotrario, who plays Josephine, Edward Bloom’s wife.

Mara Bech, the stage manager, sees the storyline as echoing “events that have happened within [her] own family,” with many of the cast members agreeing.

​Another big theme of the show is connection, and how people help others grow. Norah Spilker, one of the ensemble members, told me that the entire cast is “always so supportive.”

It is clear how much the cast and crew of this show have become their own version of a family, as they’ve spent hours around each other to bring this beautiful story to life.

The story centers around Edward and the magical connections he makes with people, including his high school sweetheart, a giant, a werewolf, the crew of a circus, and a witch. Talk about whimsy!

Rya Monroe, one of the ensemble members, says that being a part of the production itself is very similar—she loves “meeting new people” during the rehearsal process and “hanging out with people backstage,” creating many connections between every one of all kinds of backgrounds. Everyone putting this show together has bonded—cast and crew, leads and an ensemble members, those who walk on flat shoes and those on stilts the entire show (shout out to Theo, who plays the Giant!).

​As Spilker says, “Mr. Pschirrer is just outstanding in his directing,” and the entirety of the cast agrees. Everyone says that the show is “wonderful,” “heartwarming,” “lively,” “fun,” “sweet,” “heartfelt,” “colorful,” “giant,” and—well—“big” (fish).

Elijah Dordal, who plays Will, says the show is “fantastical.” Who doesn’t want to see a little bit of fantastical-ness! Fantastic-ness? Fantasy? All of the above?

​This show reaches to all ends of the emotional spectrum.

Bech said that, reading the script, she got “choked up.”

Monroe even said that she “didn’t realize how emotional this show [is]” until she read the script too.

From this first read-through with the cast and crew to now, this show has grown so much, and everyone involved has created such a beautiful work of art that you should come see, because, as Kate Stachofsky, who plays Sandra, says: “It’s a great story that will make you laugh and cry!”

And as Theo O’Harra, who plays Karl, and Monroe both say, “you should come see the show because Theo is on stilts!”

Hope to see you there at 7:00pm Thursday or Friday, or 2:00 Saturday!