Thursday was opening night for “Big Fish: the Musical” at the Habersham Community Theater, and with a sold-out show, flashy costumes, a mermaid, a giant, tear-jerking scenes and a love story for the ages, it’s a fabulous marker that live theater is back.
The musical, based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and acclaimed Tim Burton film, follows the story of Edward Bloom, whose life is full of tall tales and larger-than-life stories. His son, with whom he has a strained relationship, is determined to know the truth about his father now that he has a son of his own on the way.
Directed by Alta Moseley and Musical Director Lisa Smith, the Habersham Community Theater brings this fantastical story to life in a time when the world needs a little extra magic.
Getting back on stage
After a fifteen-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Habersham Community Theater is finally offering live, in-person theater. Starting with “The Odd Couple” in June, “Big Fish” is the first musical to hit HCT’s stage in over a year.
Musical Director Lisa Smith says that working with performers in person, on stage and having performances in front of an audience again has been “wonderful” and “incredible.”
“We need the theater,” Smith says.
Cast members shared similar feelings, noting how difficult it’s been over the past year and a half to not gather together to produce shows, sing and bring audiences joy.
LeAnne Challenger, who plays Sandra Bloom, says playing her “dream role” has been a very special way to come back to the stage following the COVID-19 lockdown that closed the Habersham Community Theater’s doors to the public for over a year.
“It’s so important to be in person,” LeAnne Challenger says. “It was hard, really not getting to sing [over the last year]. So it’s been nice to sing again and spend time with these people.”
Having an audience back in the theater is something that Joel Morgan, who plays Edward Bloom, says makes the theater.
“It’s been just fantastic, especially knowing that the audiences are going to be so appreciative,” Morgan says. “Because that’s the whole point of doing this anyway. If it’s not for the audience, there’s no need to do all of this.”
Growing together
There’s something special about community theater, how neighbors come together to create something spectacular. But one of the most astonishing things about local theater is seeing the community that grows within the theater.
“My favorite part about putting [“Big Fish”] together was seeing kids that I’ve seen grow up in the theater take leading roles,” Director Alta Moseley says. “It’s been fun watching the development of the kids that started with us a long time ago.”
Moseley says that Maggie Smagur, who plays The Witch in “Big Fish,” first came on the HCT stage as a baby. Now, she’s all grown up and center stage.
Moseley isn’t the only person watching the children she’s directed take big parts on the stage. Challenger, who has been involved with HCT since she was nine years old and now teaches voice and piano lessons, has students from her music classes that are sharing the spotlight with her in “Big Fish.”
“I’ve been in the teaching role for a while now,” Challenger says. “A lot of my students were in this show, so it’s been great to get to do something with them.”
A sold-out show
Cast members and directors say that “Big Fish,” is a reminder of the importance of love, the beauty of life, finding the magic in every day and appreciating those close to you. While tickets to “Big Fish” are sold out, Moseley says that there’s still a chance for anyone who wants to see the performance and doesn’t have a ticket.
“Anybody who’s interested needs to call the box office and say, ‘put me on the waitlist,’ because there’s always something that comes up and it’s very disappointing to look out and see empty seats,” Moseley says. “Miracles happen every day— this show is a miracle, it’s an example of that.”
For more information on “Big Fish: The Musical,” check out the theater’s website here.
