Big Fish Sets Fall Dates at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre; Kate Baldwin, Bobby Steggert and More Join Cast

The musical adaptation of Big Fish is officially casting its net into the Broadway seas. Starring two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz and Tony nominees Kate Baldwin and Bobby Steggert, the musical will begin performances September 5 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Opening night is set for October 6. 

Adapted from the novel by Daniel Wallace, Big Fish features music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony nominee Andrew Lippa and a book by Grammy nominee John August. Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman, the musical is a fantasy set in the American South and centers on the charismatic Edward Bloom (Butz), whose impossible stories of his epic adventures frustrate his son Will (Steggert). As Edward’s final chapter approaches, Will embarks on his own journey to find out who his father really is, revealing the man behind the myth, the truth from the tall tales.

In addition to Butz as Edward Bloom, Baldwin as Sandra Bloom and Steggert as Will Bloom, Big Fish will star Krystal Joy Brown as Josephine Bloom and Zachary Unger as Young Will. Big Fish will also feature Ryan Andes, Ben Crawford, J. C. Montgomery, Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar, Kirsten Scott, Sarrah Strimel, Katie Thompson, Preston Truman Boyd, Alex Brightman, Bree Branker, Joshua Buscher, Robin Campbell, Bryn Dowling, Jason Lee Garrett, Leah Hoffman, Synthia Link, Angie Schworer, Lara Seibert, Tally Sessions, Cary Tedder and Ashley Yeater.

Butz earned Tony Awards for Catch Me If You Can and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. His additional Broadway credits include Rent, Wicked, Thou Shalt Not, Is He Dead?, Speed-the-Plow, Enron and most recently, Dead Accounts. Baldwin, who starred in the recent off-Broadway premiere of Giant, earned a Tony nomination for Finian’s Rainbow. Her additional Broadway credits include The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. Steggert earned a Tony nod for Ragtime, and has also appeared on Broadway in 110 in the Shade and Master Harold…and the Boys. Krystal Joy Brown appeared on Broadway in Leap of Faith. Zachary Unger recently made his Broadway debut in Chaplin.

Big Fish features scenic design by Julian Crouch, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Jon Weston and projection design by Benjamin Pearcy.

The musical will play a previously announced pre-Broadway engagement at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre beginning April 2, with an official opening night on April 19. The production will play a five-week limited run through May 5.