When BIG FISH first opened in Chicago, "This River Between Us" was in the show. "Showdown" was added later, pre-Broadway. Song #14, "Red, White and True" is a huge chorus/ensemble number at the beginning of Act 2, and after watching the Broadway production for a few months, the authors felt that there was not a need for Song #16 to also be another large chorus number, and #16 from the Chicago production, "This River Between Us" (where the entire cast sings but is not seen) was a better choice – and better served the story. Furthermore, "Showdown" was seen as inconsistent with the storytelling. Every "fantastical" story in BIG FISH is a story that Edward told young Will and is now being revealed to the audience (sometimes with old Will visible in the periphery remembering the story). So, we have the theatrical "story" world verses the real-world scenes. "Showdown," being added afterwards, breaks that consistency. It was created as Edward's "dementia dream." But "This River Between Us" provides a more powerful payoff between Edward and Will. As a result, when the authors learned that the Texas Thespians were producing BIG FISH as their All-State show in 2016, they suggested putting the song back into the script. The success of that version not only became BIG FISH School Edition, but it also shaped the West End production that did not include "Showdown."
Finally, if you are presenting the Broadway version with "Showdown", contact me directly for an alternate lyric to "There's gonna be a hangin' tonight".
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[Jim] [Hoare]
[Executive Vice President]
[TRW]
[New York] [NY]
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2021 09:37
From: Rachel Pringle
Subject: Big Fish The Musical
In my experience TRW is super flexible, so they may let you switch versions. That said, we found the school version to be the better choice- "The River Between Us" is incredibly powerful. Your choreographer is likely disappointed because "The Showdown" was a group number with dancing. Re: the lynching reference, it would probably be wise to avoid that... Also "Two Men in My Life" is a nice song, but "Magic in the Man"(school version) is more interesting and I think helps you understand Sandra's relationship with Edward better. We loved doing that show.
Original Message:
Sent: 9/7/2021 2:01:00 PM
From: Toni Thomas
Subject: Big Fish The Musical
Hey all - I'm in a bit of a conundrum - we've licensed the School version of Big Fish for our show next spring. Upon receive the pre-planning materials I see that the music selection for the scene when Edward and Will are fighting in Act 2 is different in the school version. I was a little concerned about the lyrics "there's gonna be a hanging tonight" in the full version - but my choreographer thinks the song in the school version is dull and doesn't convey the story as well.
Does anyone have any thoughts/experience with this? Anyone do the full show and get in trouble for the Showdown song? Will TRW let me switch versions?
Thanks in advance!
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Toni Thomas
English Teacher, Theatre Director
Ogemaw Heights High School
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