Between “Big Fish” and a birthday celebration for America with “Let Freedom Sing,” there’s a busy two weeks ahead for Arts Express.
More than 30 young people will take the stage — with about 30 more volunteers, crew and musicians working behind the scenes — for the nonprofit’s musical production of “Big Fish,” based on Daniel Wallace’s novel, “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions.”
The story of an estranged son who tries to find the truth behind his father’s “big fish” stories was adapted for the 2003 film and for Broadway by John August, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The musical, which will be presented for the first time in Southern Arizona, has been compared to “The Wizard of Oz” and “Music Man.”
Director Dana Milne believes the production will resonate with audiences on multiple levels.
“This is a beautiful story about a man facing his mortality and a son trying to discover who his father was before he passes. On another level, it is about, ‘How do we tell our stories so that our children are inspired to live wonderful lives?’” said Milne. “That is important today because we need to have children who are willing to listen. We need to understand that delicate balance between father and son or parent and child and realize that how we talk to our children changes the way they listen — not just to us, but to the world — and we want our children to be open to perceiving with their minds and hearts.”
Milne said Arts Express helps to facilitate that perception through several annual productions and various programs in community theater and arts education.
“Theater teaches empathy: We learn more about the human experience through watching theater and participating in theater. We get to see onstage things that we couldn’t otherwise participate in or understand and I think that helps us to perceive the feelings of others in a more genuine way,” said Milne, who also teaches drama at Salpointe Catholic High School.
Milne emphasized that theater also promotes human connections and communication at a time when people can become emotionally disconnected due to technology.
“We spend so much time on social media and in front of computers, videos or phones without having an understanding of context and we need to learn to communicate interpersonally without technology.
“Watching live theater, where emotions are expressed 15 feet from you in a way that you haven’t — or maybe you have —felt or seen before but maybe you haven’t known how to express, helps us to stay connected to ourselves and our fellow man,” Milne said.
Milne believes the fantastic story, in combination with lively music, will draw in people of all ages.
“My vision as director is that there is magic in the memory. As we grow and share things, those shared memories create our legacy ... we live on in the memories that we instill in our children,” she said.
Luke Gaff, the 19-year-old who plays Edward Bloom, the father in the story, said the musical is filled with heart.
“It has a big heart but addresses real life. At the center of the story is a misunderstanding between a father and son ... it really touches base on family — not just the pretty stuff, but the arguments and disagreements and what those situations look like and how people deal with them. It is a fantastical telling of these events but doesn’t seem unrealistic; it is something that everyone can relate to,” said Gaff.
Gaff is grateful that organizations such as Arts Express offer opportunities for young people — and the entire community — to experience the magic of singing, dancing and musical theatre.
“It is sometimes easy for kids to get caught up in the “cut and paste” feeling of going to school, graduating, going on to college and getting a job without discovering their true passions. It is very important to put opportunities out for people to try something new that they might enjoy, and that was my own experience.
“I found something that I never knew I had a love for: It is not so much converting people to the arts, but giving them the opportunity so they can open the door to find something they truly love,” said Gaff, who began acting during his junior year at Desert Christian High School and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the UA.
July Fourth celebration
Arts Express offers another door of opportunity through its family-friendly July Fourth extravaganza, “Let Freedom Sing.”
The annual production will feature the Arts Express Choir and the Arts Express Band, along with renowned soloists and such as Juan Aguirre, Ben Cline, Jodi Darling, Armen Dirtadian, Kathy Jenkins, Delores Maddox, Chach Snook and Dennis Tamblyn. American Idol semi-finalist Crystal Stark will be a featured performer; another highlight will be guitarist Domingo DeGrazia, who will present an original arrangement of “Malaguena de Sonora.”
Tim Warren, music director and conductor, said the audience can expect patriotic favorites such as the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “America the Beautiful” along with an Irving Berlin medley featuring classics such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “Blue Skies.” The line-up will also include catchy, modern tunes by the Beach Boys, Martha and the Vandellas, Aretha Franklin and more.
“We are also increasing the technology we have on stage with lighting, sound and different projections, which is all part of modernizing the production. We are really focusing on celebrating the nation’s birthday at a family-friendly event with lots of fun music ... any community event that brings all different kinds of people together and celebrates diversity is a good thing,” said Warren.
