BoHo Theatre creates bold theatre that challenges convention through innovative storytelling and creates a shared community of artists and patrons in which all members are moved through art to make thoughtful, well-examined, caring relationships the highest priority in their lives. Company Board ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PRESIDENT Stephen Schellhardt Nancy Bullock EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TREASURER Meg Love Richard Maxen MANAGING DIRECTOR MEMBERS Nick Barsuli Adam Brakhane Sara Coffou MARKETING DIRECTOR/ Silvia Rota GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michael Schwartz Charles Riffenburg Kevin Sullivan BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE Collin Walker CASTING ASSOCIATES Artistic Adam Hill, Molly Layton Affiliates SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Ashley Hannon Christa Buck Justin Castellano PRODUCTION MANAGER Brandon Dahlquist Dalton Long Diane Fairchild TECHNICAL ADVISOR Greg Foster Anthony Churchill Patrick Ham Theresa Ham ACCOUNTING CLERK Steve O’Connell David Tibble Thomas Samorian COMPANY MEMBERS Cassy Schillo Peter Blair, Lindsay Brown, Danni Smith Eleanor Katz, Peter Robel, Katie Stanley Peter Marston Sullivan, Jeremy Trager Danielle Wheeler Megan Turnquist John Zuiker Emeritus Members Stephen Genovese, Thomas Samorian, Ryan Guhde, Kaela Altman, Mary Kate Robel www.BoHoTheatre.com @BoHoTheatre FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Where is the line between real life and our interpretations of real life? And is it always meaningful to know the differ- ence? Welcome to BIG FISH, our final production of this 15th BoHo season. It’s a heartfelt “big fish” of a tale that themat- ically revolves around those questions. It’s the saga of a father with a penchant for spinning myths about his past and his adult son who prefers to hear a true account of his dad’s life as old age begins to take its toll. It’s about the lengths we go to feel important, to be remembered. It’s about par- enthood and faith, and the visceral connection you create when sharing a story. Some will contend it’s a love story, pure and simple. That’s part of it, but at its core, Big Fish is about the bond between parent and child. I adore this storytelling adventure, with a book by John August and one of my all- time favorite musical scores by Andrew Lippa, who also wrote the lyrics. BIG FISH has Chicago roots as it started here in the spring of 2013 before moving to Broad- way. It often is produced as a large-scale spectacle. While I appreciate grand theatri- cality, I felt an obligation to relate this story in a more earnest and rawer fashion, focusing on the father-son relationship, bringing the more intimate moments to life without losing the magic of that production I first fell in love with. I appreciate that BIG FISH is set in the Deep South and honors that region’s love of tall tales without exploiting Southern stereotypes. I enjoy that 12 actors bring a multitude of characters to vibrant life. I'm heartened that we close our season with a story whose conversation feels necessary in today’s reality. And, of course, I love our dream-team cast and crew. What are the lessons BIG FISH weaves? You will draw your own. But to me, they’re these: Don’t be scared to grow. Follow your own path. Never settle. Your first prop- er job will be really bad. Forgive the past. Everyone is immortal. I dare predict that BIG FISH will have you thinking about the stories and memo- ries you wish to pass on. It certainly has made me think about the legacy I wish to impart on my one-year-old daughter. Stephen Schellhardt, Artistic Director, BoHo Theatre BOHO THEATRE PRESENTS Big Fish Music & Lyrics by Book by ANDREW LIPPA JOHN AUGUST Based on the novel by DANIEL WALLACE and the Columbia motion picture written by JOHN AUGUST Directed by STEPHEN SCHELLHARDT* Music Direction by Choreographed by MICHAEL McBRIDE MEGAN FARLEY PERFORMERS Edward Bloom ................................... TOMMY THURSTON Sandra Bloom ..................................... KYRIE ANDERSON Will Bloom. .......................................... JEFF PIERPOINT Josephine Bloom ...................................... NICOLE BESA Jenny Hill ........................................... ALLI ATKENSON The Witch ......................................... CAITLIN DOBBINS Don Price ............................................... MATT FRYE Zacky Price ......................................... JOSHUA BISHOP Karl the Giant .................................. ROBERT QUINTANILLA Amos Calloway .............................. SEAN MICHAEL BARRETT Girl in the Water ................................. MICHAELA SHAPIRO Young Will ................. DESMOND MURPHY / IAN MICHAEL PINKSI WITH Bass ............................................... RAFE BRADFORD Guitar ............................................ PERRY COWDERY Violin .............................................. HILLARY BAYLEY Cello ............................................ RACHEL SCHULDT Drums ............................................... LIOR SHRAGG PRODUCTION ARTISTS & STAFF Producer ...............................................MEG LOVE* Assistant Director .............................. ALEXANDRA KUNATH Assistant Choreographer ...........................CASIENA RAETHER Scenic Designer ................................LAUREN M. NICHOLS Lighting & Projection Designer ......................G. "MAX" MAXIN IV Costume Designer .............................. CHRISTINA LEINICKI Sound Designer ...................................DANIEL HOSFIELD Sound Engineer ..................................... CRISTIAN SOLIS Props Designer ........................................ EMILY BOYD Technical Director ....................................ABIGAIL REED Press Relations .................... JOHN OLSON COMMUNICATIONS Production Manager ..................................DALTON LONG* Stage Manager. CHRISTINE LAUER Assistant Stage Manager .................................KATIE CAPP Production Photographer ...............................BARI BASKIN * BoHo Theatre Company Member BIG FISH is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. (866) 378-9758 www.theatricalrights.com SPECIAL THANKS TO Danny King, Robert Hornbostel, Lifeline Theatre, Vagabond School for the Arts, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Joel Hall Dance Center, The Den, Linda Fortunado, Devin DeSantis, Sara Reinecke, The Lion’s Head Pub, Time Stops Photography, The Illinois Arts Council, the Richard H. Drie- haus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Arts & Business Council of Chicago; The BoHo Board of Directors and Company Members, who strive daily to make this a place where artists can learn, grow, and fulfill their dreams. SONGS ACT I ACT II Be the Hero Fight the Dragons Edward Bloom & Company Edward Bloom & Young Will I Know What You Want The Witch, Edward Bloom, Stranger (Reprise) Witches Will Bloom Just Take Another Look The River Between Us Josephine Will Bloom & Edward Bloom, Stranger I Don't Need a Roof Will Bloom Sandra Bloom Two Men In My Life Start Over Sandra Bloom Edward Bloom, Don Price, Amos Calloway, Karl, Out There on the Road Zacky Price, and Company Edward Bloom, Karl, Jenny Hill, and Company What's Next Will Bloom, Edward Bloom, Little Lamb from Alabama and Company Sandra Templeton & Alabama Lambs How It Ends Edward Bloom Time Stops Edward Bloom & Be the Hero (Reprise) Sandra Templeton Will Bloom Closer to Her Amos Calloway, Edward Bloom, and Company Daffodils Edward Bloom & Sandra Templeton BECOME PART OF THE BOHO FAMILY Since its founding in 2003, BoHo has brought Chicago theatrego- ers together for our unique brand of bold theatrical experiences. Now in our 15th season, BoHo continues to grow with exciting new shows and intimate cabarets. We are thrilled to be the newest resi- dent of the Greenhouse Theater Center here in Lincoln Park! We can't do all this alone. We need you, our community! DONATE TODAY! Your donations can be directed to underwrite our artists, our sets, our costumes, our rent, or our staff! You can donate: • With a BoHo Company Member after the show • On your phone, directly to our Venmo account @BoHoTheatre • Online at BoHoTheatre.com Contact us directly to discuss how you can make the most impact with your support. PERFORMERS TOAD (Frog) and A SERVANT TO TWO MASTERS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY) (Truffaldino). He thanks Stephen, Michael, Megan, and everyone at BoHo for giving him the opportunity to be a part of this show KYRIE ANDERSON and the cast, crew, and staff for making it so (SANDRA BLOOM) is amazing! And all the thanks to family, friends, excited to make her debut the boychik and Cubby. Rock the arts and keep performance with BoHo theatre alive!! Theatre! Recent credits include MERRILY WE NICOLE BESA (JOSEPHINE ROLL ALONG (Porchlight BLOOM) Nicole’s recent Theatre), Lizzie Understudy (LIZZIE/ Firebrand Chicago credits include A Theatre), Miriam (FLY BY NIGHT/ Theo Ubique), LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Ms. Mary Poppins (MARY POPPINS/ NightBlue), Nordstrom, u/s Anne; BoHo MY WAY, A TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA Theatre), MISS SAIGON (Theo Ubique), and Mrs. Johnstone (BLOOD (Yvette; Jedlicka), THE KING BROTHERS/ Theo Ubique). As always, she AND I (Singing Wife; Lyric Opera of Chicago), thanks her family and friends for their nev- and LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TRILOGY (CSO er-ending love and support! & the Lakeside Singers). Nicole would like to thank her friends for always knowing the best ALLI ATKENSON (JENNY places to eat (big fish, ramen, and bubble tea). HILL) is ecstatic to