The stage at County College of Morris (CCM) will be making a big splash once again as the cast prepares for its fall musical “Big Fish” with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by John August.
Directed by Professor Marielaine Mammon, chair of the Music, Performing Arts and Music Technologies
department at CCM, choreography by Professor Colleen McArdle and Music Direction by Professor Matthew Swiss, the production of “Big Fish” is a testament to the theatrical coined phrase, “the show must go on.”
The CCM production of “Big Fish” will run Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited to 65 seats per show, due to COVID-19 protocol. Tickets are free and must be reserved.
Go to www3.ccm.edu/campuslife/Shows/EnterPassword.asp and enter the password: “BigFish” and follow the prompts. Masks must be worn at all times on the CCM campus, located at 214 Center Grove Road in Randolph. Audience members are to park in Lot 6.
“We wanted to show our support to the community during this very difficult and stressful year and to give them a really special treat with this performance,” said Mammon.
“Big Fish” had been scheduled to open in late March during the 2020 Spring Semester but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit New Jersey the show was unable to open, but the spirit of the students continued. As the college transitioned to an online format, the performers of “Big Fish” recorded themselves singing one of the showstopper songs from the production, “Be the Hero” to inspire the community that can be viewed on CCM’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Ugt6QWDu9pU/.
When Governor Phil Murphy announced performing arts venues could open at 25 percent capacity, Mammon was determined to get the show back on the stage. “The students worked so hard on this production that we could not let this pandemic stop them from performing. They have done a spectacular job,” remarked Mammon.
“Big Fish” centers on the charismatic Edward Bloom, whose impossible stories of his epic adventures frustrate his son Will. As Bloom’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.
The CCM cast includes residents from Dover, Madison, Mt. Olive, Morris Hills, Morris Knolls, Randolph, Rockaway, Roxbury in Morris County, Vernon in Sussex County and Belvidere in Warren County.
The “Big Fish” cast are Matt Delavan as Edward Bloom; John Deluca as Amos Calloway; Daniel Gardner as Karl the Giant and ensemble; Alyssa Hopkins as the Giant’s Wife and ensemble; Joshua Lemma as the Fisherman and ensemble; Jaclyn Lenox as the Farm Girl and ensemble; Grace Logue as Sandra Bloom; Nicholas Meurer as Will; Ryan Griffin as Don Price and ensemble; Grady Hall as Little Will and ensemble; Margaret Schaffer as Jenny and ensemble; Hallie Schiavo as the Mermaid and ensemble; Matthew Steen as Dr. Bennett and ensemble; Heather Stevenson as the Witch and ensemble; Jason Thompson as Karl the Giant and ensemble; and Zachary Weiner as Zacky Price and ensemble.
Rounding out the ensemble are Kessler Bicho, Brianna Davies, Christine Del Vecchio, Melissa Hamfeldt, Madison Jones, Emily Larsen, Laura Perez, Lydia Rivera, Francesca Salluce, Emily Steele, Giana Valero, Pamela Welsch, Jacob Wood, and Eric Tayler. The production team also includes Brian Kafel, Lighting Designer; Anthony Foti, Projection Designer; Kalil Alekel, Audio Designer; Elizabeth Knudson, Stage Manager; and Julia Jeffer, Assistant Stage Manager.
For this specific production, the entire cast will be wearing masks and the length of show has been shortened to provide additional caution during the pandemic.
To learn more about the Music, Performing Arts and Music Technology department at CCM, visit www.ccm.edu/academics/divdep/liberal-arts/department-of-music-performing-arts-music-technologies/.
