Big Fish
Awards and Recognition
- OC Premiere
- OC Weekly Best Theatrical Ensemble
- NOMINATED 7 Broadway World Awards
- Best Performance Jeff Lowe The Daily Pilot Best Of
Reviewer Quotes
“ throat-catchingly romantic ”
Los Angeles Times
“ a bountiful catch... spirited direction ”
Daily Pilot
“ whimsical wonder and appealing charm ”
Broadway World
“ musical delight for all ”
Talkin' Broadway
On the Cripe Stage…
Adapted from Daniel Wallace’s novel and Tim Burton’s acclaimed film, and featuring spine-tinglingly beautiful music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family and The Wild Party), Big Fish is a fantastical musical that illustrates the larger-than-life anecdotes of Edward Bloom, a man nearing the end of his life. This fact has compelled his grown son Will to embark on an adventure of his own — to unravel his real dad from the myths of his tall tales. Filled with magic, love, luck, and crazy coincidences, this rollicking fantasy set in the American South is a tribute to the power of dreaming big.
Recommendation: Good for all ages.
Among Top 5 of 2018
The Orange Curtain Review
“A mix of folk tale and highly charged drama, the story requires imaginative handling, and the Chance Theater is just the company to take it on. The Anaheim group has deftly handled that very mix in its productions of such musicals as ‘Dogfight,’ ‘Violet’ and ‘West Side Story.’” — Los Angeles Times
“Edward Bloom — brilliantly interpreted both dramatically and vocally by Jeff Lowe — is the town character, a loquacious spinner of tall tales and a passionate purveyor of bovine excrement. Lowe’s near-magical antics allow us to love this fellow, even though we probably don’t believe him.” — Daily Pilot
“Heartwarming and quite appealing, Chance Theater’s BIG FISH may dazzle with its fantasy, but at the end of the day, the real takeaway is its emotionally-tinged story that focuses on the love-slash-frustration we have over people in our family.” — Broadway World
“The most bewitching Chance Theater musical in years, and as emotionally satisfying a show as anyone could wish for, Big Fish is guaranteed to hold audiences in its spell from its magical start to its deeply emotional finish.” –StageSceneLA
“demonstrating once again that thoughtful staging and creative technical aspects can make a smallish house into just the right venue for spinning big tales.” — Talkin Broadway
“While some of the songs can be pretty touching, it is the connection the audience makes between the father and all of the amazing mythical, and regular individuals we meet throughout that makes the play special.” — Orange Curtain Review
Season Producers
Bette & Wylie Aitken
Executive Producers
Tod & Linda White
Associate Season Producer Laurie Smits Staude
Associate Producers Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller
- Save $10 by attending Previews (June 29-July 6).
- Save $5 by attending Weekdays (July 13-July 27). Limited availability.
- Seniors, Students, Educators and Military save $4 per ticket.
- 2-for-1 Tix on Thurs, July 12 at 7:30pm... Use online code "BEL404". Limited availability.
- $20 Rush Tix available 1 hour prior to the performance. Cash only. Subject to availability.
- 40% off for Groups of 10 or more.
Venue Bette Aitken theater arts Center
- Full-Service Bar
- Free Parking
- Conveniently Located
See the show? Share your experience with us...
At a Glance
- Approximate Running Time:
- 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
- Special Notes:
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- Post-show discussions after each performance.
- Join us for Opening Night as a Gold Member.
- "Salon" on Sun, July 8 at 2pm... Arrive early for a hosted discussion with the artists.
- Babes in arms and children under four are not permitted.
- Free Wine Tasting on Fri, July 13 at 7pm.
- Free Beer Tasting on Fri, July 20 at 7pm.
- 40% off for groups of 10 or more.
The smaller venue was perfect to really feel the play’s message. The smaller cast, with their different roles, were really amazing. Connecting each actor’s different roles and the connections was great to see- especially the second time. I could see this many more times, and still realize, see, feel something new every time.
I am so proud to be a longtime Chance member seeing the quality and great performances. This show was fantastic & all of the performers were
absolutely awesome; amazing vocals, costumes, & choreography!(Thanks Kelly Todd!)
My family and I have attended dozens of musical theater shows at grand auditoriums (such as the Pantages, Ahmanson and Cerritos Center) and at smaller venues (such as the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Whittier Community Theater, USC Bing Theater, and Lawrence Welk Theater). Chance Theater provides a great theater experience and features top-notch productions that is on par with our previous theater-going experiences. Bravo!
Loved it, wonderful way to tell a great story. Sorry, can’t pick anything out unless its Jeff Lowe, it was all great. Acting, singing, music, props and costumes, maybe any story told like that would be great!
I truly had no idea what this play was… in fact, silly me thought it was based on the movie “A Fish Called Wanda” until it started! Duh! I was so moved by everything about it… I had an uncle just like Edward Bloom and my son is like his son. Touched my heart and soul… I still miss my amazing uncle after so many years! He was my childhood idol until, sadly, I grew up and became cynical like Edward’s son did. Magic is so important!!! Being a hero, even in a small way, is why we are here. BTW, I could’ve sat through it again the same day!! Amazing talents!!! Wow! We will be back to your theater for sure! Had no idea it existed!
Everything exceeded my expectations. I was just looking for something to do while in town for a business meeting. I was pleasantly surprised by incredible performances, delightful staging, and a kind and helpful manager. If I didn’t live so far away, my husband and I would be season ticket holders.
I did tell everyone I encountered about the show: the employees of the hotel, the person who served me at dinner, and everyone at my business meeting.
Thank you for the wonderful experience!
I was so impressed with the set design and use of lighting and the projection of images onto the background. I went into the theater wondering how you would be able to do this play on a small stage, but you sure pulled it off. And, I really liked the Big Fish themed specialty cocktails. Also, I am from Alabama and do appreciate that the Southern accents were not overdone. They were very natural, not a stereotype, bless your heart.
I was very impressed with the quality of the production. It is a sweet story with fun music, but the actors take it to another level with their outstanding voices and intensity of the performances. Loved Rachel’s witch and the dance of the trees!
I also really appreciated the director’s pov when he commented in an interview how it reminded him of the need to hear his own family stories and the deep desire one generation has to understand the experiences and travails of previous generations. Whoever compared Bloom to a con man, ala the Music Man, missed the point of both musicals.
Big Fish was mesmerizing from the first minute until the last. The messages built and linked upon one another leaving us feel connected to our own Big Fish in our lives and how we are a Big Fish in the eyes of others. Great talented cast, costumes, set design, music, staging, directing and all that goes behind creating the magic of delivering a heart warming message.
This theater is a hidden gem in Orange County. The actors in Big Fish were outstanding. This small theater provides a high-caliber, professional production in an intimate space. Big Fish was the first show I saw at Chance Theater, but I plan to see more. I had the benefit of attending on the Sunday Salon day, so I got to hear the actors talk about their experience with the show. It’s clear this cast has great chemistry, and they truly put their hearts into this show. What a joy to watch!
I am from out of state and was looking for something to do and saw this play, so I went because I liked the movie. It was quite different but I LOVED IT. I come into the area every few months and I will DEFINITELY look this theater up again! Loved it. I thought the actress that played the mom/wife was AMAZING. It left me emotional at the end, pondering my own relationship with my son and my father. So thank you very much!