ECC Musical Theatre brings musical 'Big Fish,' celebrates longtime artistic director July 29-Aug. 3
Elgin Community College Musical Theatre will present its summer production of the musical "Big Fish" from Friday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 7, in the SecondSpace Theatre located in the ECC Arts Center, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The production starts at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
ECC professor John G. Slawson, DMA, is the artistic and musical director. The musical is directed and choreographed by Konnie Kay. This production also will celebrate ECC Musical Theatre's longtime artistic/musical director John G. Slawson who will be retiring after 30 years of teaching following this production.
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, "Big Fish" centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest and loves telling others about his adventures. Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him, especially his devoted wife Sandra. Their son, Will, however, is about to have a child of his own and is determined to find the truth behind (or within) his father's epic tales. ECC Musical Theatre will be presenting the "12 Chair" version of Big Fish which features a smaller performance ensemble presenting an intimate and magical production of this extraordinary Broadway musical.
This musical production will be particularly special for artistic/musical director John G. Slawson who in addition to being a professor of music for 30 years has served as the artistic/musical director for ECC's Musical Theatre's productions for over two decades. During his tenure at the college, Slawson has served as professor of music, director of choral studies, as the music department co-coordinator, and as the artist/musical director of ECC's Musical Theatre productions. He also founded the ECC Concert Choir in 1987, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble in 2000. Under his artistic and musical direction ECC Musical Theatre has produced such memorable shows as "Man of La Mancha," "The Fantasticks," "West Side Story," "Into the Woods," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Oliver!," "Evita," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Sweeney Todd," "A Little Night Music," "Annie," "The All Night Strut!," "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," "Once On This Island," "A Chorus Line," "Big River," "Cabaret," "Hello, Dolly!," "Godspell," "Company," "Guys and Dolls," "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," "The Drowsy Chaperone," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Chess," "Forever Plaid," "Crazy for You," and most recently "Monty Python's Spamalot."
Members of the cast hail from Algonquin, Aurora, Elgin, Geneva, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Palatine, Park Ridge, Maywood, Naperville and St. Charles.
Tickets are $20 or $18 for seniors and students. Tickets for all performances in the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Arts Center box office located. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
"Big Fish" is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 570 Seventh Ave., Suite 2100, New York, N.Y. 10018, 866-378-9758, www.theatricalrights.com.