Ciara Renee to Join Norbert Leo Butz & Kate Baldwin in Broadway’s Larger-Than-Life New Musical Big Fish

Big news: Casting is complete for the new Broadway adaptation of Big Fish! Ciara Renee will make magic as the Witch in the new musical, which begins performances on September 5 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Katie Thompson, who originally played the Witch in the musical’s Chicago premiere, is no longer attached to the production, despite originally being announced to star in the Broadway cast. Renee will join previously announced Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz and Tony nominees Kate Baldwin and Bobby Steggert. Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman, Big Fish will open officially on October 6.

Adapted from a 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. Set in the American South, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom (Butz), a charismatic man whose impossible stories of his epic adventures frustrate his son Will (Steggert). Will must embark on his own journey to find out who his father really is, revealing the truth to his father’s tall tales. Big Fish premiered April 2 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, starring Butz and Baldwin.

Renee is making her Broadway debut in Big Fish. She appeared in the pre-Broadway workshop of Bull Durham. Her regional theater credits include Rent, The Wild Party and Ragtime.

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 and Anthony Pierini alternating performances as Young Will. Big Fish will also feature Ryan Andes as Karl the Giant, Ben Crawford as Don Price, J. C. Montgomery as Dr. Bennett, Tony nominee Brad Oscar as Amos Calloway, Kirsten Scott as Jenny Hill, Sarrah Strimel as Girl in the Water and Alex Brightman as Zacky Price. The production will also feature Preston Truman Boyd, Bree Branker, Joshua Buscher, Robin Campbell, Bryn Dowling, Jason Lee Garrett, Leah Hofmann, Synthia Link, Angie Schworer, Lara Seibert, Tally Sessions, Cary Tedder and Ashley Yeater.

Click below to see Renee's soulful take on "The Man That Got Away" at 54 Below!