Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Visual & Performing Arts Department to make an on-stage splash with the spring musical Big Fish
Event: Big Fish
When: Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, 7 p.m.
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSunday, March 29, 2 p.m.
Where: Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Tickets: $15, $5 students under 18,
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – A musical of epic proportions swims onto the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre stage when the LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department presents Big Fish. Performances are at 7 p.m. March 26-28 and 2 p.m. March 29. Tickets are available online at .Ìý
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish follows a son, Will Bloom, who longs to connect with his father, Edward Bloom. As a child, Will felt he never truly knew his father, a traveling salesman who was often away. To make up for his absences, Edward would return home with fantastical tales filled with larger-than-life characters: giants, witches, magical caves, fields of daffodils, circuses, and more.
“Big Fish is a story full of magic and dazzling spectacle, which correlates with our season of magic and fantasy. We hope the audience enjoys taking this imaginative and emotional journey with us,†stated director and LMC Theatre Instructor Shalico Sain.Ìý
Regarding the story’s timeless themes of love, loss, and family, Sain added, “This story resonates personally with me since I lost my father to cancer a few years ago. Every family has its own familial myths it passes down from generation to generation to carry on tradition and story. Sharing this musical and celebrating those types of stories and bonds is kind of my way to pay homage to him and my memories of him.â€
To bring the larger-than-life story alive on the Jenkins Theatre stage, large-scale LED video wall panels and digital scenery will provide the backdrop for a professional-level theater experience. The College is working with the local film production company Little Red Fern, led by Ryan Cheevers, to create the imagery that will be shown during the production.Ìý
Students will gain real-world production experience by assisting with the equipment load-in, panel installation, programming, and panel teardown. The hands-on learning opportunity is a resume builder for students looking to get into the technical aspects of the performing arts.
Funding for the rental of advanced theater technology and graphics production was provided by the Berrien Community Foundation with support from Ann Marie Marlow.
Sain said she has used a casting concept similar to the film, in which two actors each play both Edward and Sandra. The Big Fish cast was selected during auditions in December and features LMC students and alumni, as well as community members of all ages. Those starring in the show are:
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJason Adams as Current Edward
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLandon Mitchell as Past Edward Bloom
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLaura Neuroth as Current Sandra
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýElla Harris as Past Sandra Bloom
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýWes Shenker as Will Bloom
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJack Selvidge as Young Will
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSummer Leadingham as Josephine Bloom
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJacob Prillwitz as Karl the Giant
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýKip Bartloff as Amos Calloway
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýKlare Johnson as The Witch
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýNora Bomar as Jenny Hill
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýAJ Dyer as Don Price
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýZ Childs as Zackary Price
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýNiko Brown-Parrot as Doctor Bennet, Judge
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLauren Lovell as Alabama Lambs/Cheerleaders/Sorority Sisters
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýFaith Simmons as Alabama Lambs/Cheerleaders/Sorority Sisters, Mermaid
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýDeonna McGrew as Alabama Lambs/Cheerleaders/Sorority Sisters
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýAni Doyle as Red Fang, Witch Ensemble
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýErika Vondale as Dream Sandra, Witch Ensemble
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýWyatt Arms as Fisherman, Sharecropper
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSienna Harris as New York Doctor
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýTriss Wright as Witch Ensemble
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLaura Gomez as Witch Ensemble
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJessica Lewis as Witch Ensemble
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýAllison MacMillan as Mayor, Schoolteacher
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJuno Agens as Little Girl with Orange Cat
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýCharles Larson as Hot-Blooded Shotgun Toter, Cowboy
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýNoah Kasuba as Barber
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýDeejay Dortch as Shepherd
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýQuintin Sharpe as Juggler
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýEva Olson as Over-excited Scout
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSadie Olson as Scout
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýCassidy Wang as Scout
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýReis Leaverton as Farm Girl, Scout
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýAsher Bansen as Will's Son, Scout
The production features a live orchestra assembled by Rebecca Selvidge, the show’s music director. The orchestra is composed of LMC faculty, students, alumni, and community members and arts educators in the region. Orchestra members include:
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLane Alsup, Keyboard
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýRachel Cabanilla-Sinnett, Violin
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJared Coller, Percussion
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýBrenna Giazzon, French Horn
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJason Gresl, Reeds
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýAlexandra Lee, Keyboard, Rehearsal Accompanist
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýDeyton Lee, Percussion
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýDanny Lopez, Trumpet
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýGlenn McFarland, Drum Set
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSusan Dietrich Reed, Cello
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýLuis Sanchez, Trumpet
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýSean Sinnett, Viola
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýBenjamin VanRoekel, Reeds
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýBrandon Yenchus, Upright and Electric Bass
The Big Fish production team includes LMC faculty, staff, and students as well as community members. They are:
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýRob Lunn, LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýShalico Sain, LMC Theater Faculty, Producer & Director
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýRebecca Selvidge, LMC Music Lecturer, Music Director
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýMindy McCaffrey, LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department Administrative Assistant
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýPaige Mulick (LMC Alum), Choreographer
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýGarreth Smiley, Stage Manager
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýGavin Blake, ASM/Props
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýKyra Utroske, Production Manager/Set Designer & Scenic Artist
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýDolphy Clark, Light Designer/Technical Director
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýJohn Taylor, Set Designer/Master Carpenter
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýCindy Jakeway, Scenic Artist
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýForce Tech, Sound Design
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýTabitha Hoskins, Costume Designer
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýRyan Cheevers - Little Red Fern, Digital Scenic Design
Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 for students under 18. Tickets are available at .Ìý
Big Fish is based on the book by John August, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the novel Big Fish by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Pictures film screenplay written by John August.ÌýOriginally produced on Broadway by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Stage Entertainment with Roy Furman, Broadway Across America/Rich Entertainment Group, John Domo, The Nederlander Organization and Edward Walson in association with CJ E&M, Dancing Elephant Productions,ÌýParrothead Productions, Carole L. Haber, Peter May/Jim Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz/Joe Piacentile and Columbia Pictures.
BIG FISH is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. .Ìý
About the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Visual & Performing Arts Department Ìý
The Visual & Performing Arts Department enables students to reach new levels of excellence through classroom instruction and public performance. Many programs, including instrumental and vocal music, theatre, and dance, are based in the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Mendel Center, the only performing arts center of its kind in Southwest Michigan. Here, LMC students have opportunities to study the performing arts in a venue that attracts thousands of patrons annually. Programs including drawing, painting, and graphic design allow students to explore the possibilities in the visual arts.
Auditions are held for select ensembles that perform on the same stages as world-renowned touring acts. Students in any major also have opportunities to audition for Broadway musicals and plays and join two different vocal ensembles, string and wind ensembles, a pop-rock ensemble, and a jazz band. One of only two colleges in Michigan to carry the prestigious All-Steinway designation, LMC has a team of highly qualified faculty who bring real-world expertise to the classroom.Ìý
For more information about the Visual and Performing Arts department and performances, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/arts, email mmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call 269-927-8876.
About the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Mendel Center
The Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv Mendel Center is 30 minutes from Niles and 40 minutes from Kalamazoo and South Bend. It is located on the Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmv campus at 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, one mile east of I-94 (Exit 30) and one mile west of the US 31 Bypass (Exit 24). Its GPS mapping address is 1100 Yore Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI.
Big Fish
