Hawthorne Actor Honors Father in Musical Big Fish at 4th Wall Theatre

When 4th Wall Theatre in Bloomfield, NJ announced their closing show of the season as the heart-warming musical Big Fish based on the book by Daniel Wallace and Tim Burton film of the same name, Hawthorne actor Gregory Allen knew he had to audition. "I absolutely feel a connection to this piece," says Gregory Allen, who was cast as traveling salesman Edward Bloom in the musical. "The movie, the book, I saw the musical three times on Broadway and wrote a love letter to it for the Huffington Post - it connects me to my own dad in such a profound way." The musical written by John August with composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa lasted only three months on Broadway in 2013, but the creative team didn't let that stop them there. They returned to working on the script, changing up songs and created a smaller version which was first produced in Boston. 4th Wall Artistic Director Kate Swan says, "We were thrilled once this version became available, and we are so excited to bring it to New Jersey audiences. This version allows for the tall tales of Edward Bloom to take center stage without the need for all of the huge sets and projections that created so much of that magic on Broadway."

Allen, a local author/actor/filmmaker in Hawthorne had previously performed for 4th Wall Theatre years ago and last appeared on the stage in their production of Next to Normal. However the story of the traveling salesman attempting to connect to his son after being diagnosed with cancer hit a chord with the actor to make him want to get back on the stage. Allen's own father was a salesman, his mom's name was Sandra (as the wife in the musical), and Allen moved off to New York from Texas at 18 the way Will Bloom does in the show leaving his Alabama roots.
"My dad died early at 59 years old which is where we've placed older Edward in this production," says Allen. "I completely feel his presence as we rehearse this piece, even though he's been passed for over 13 years." Those familiar with the film remember Albert Finney as older Edward and Ewan McGregor playing him in his younger years. The musical has one actor flipping back and forth in the role played amazingly by Leo Norbert Butz on Broadway. "It is a real challenge to remember what place I'm at in Edward's life during the non-linear show," says Allen. "I go from this energetic go-getter as a young man to someone battling with cancer later in life. An incredible journey for any actor to get to take on and one I'm very proud to do with 4th Wall Theatre."

At the core of Big Fish are themes of family and love. A love of a man for his son who he can't see eye-to-eye with played by Christopher Traina as older Will and Alexander Wolfe as younger Will. A love between a man and a woman that he falls head-over-heels for from the moment he meets her. Sandra Bloom played by Laurice Grae-Hauck is the center of this family, holding her men together as they battle between Will's need to know his father before he dies and Edward's need to be remembered for something bigger than life.

"Everyone deserves to be remembered when they die," says Gregory Allen. "Now as I creep towards 50, I realize I've spent my adulthood attempting to create things to leave behind. A published author, a filmmaker, even performing on stage - it's all been ways for me to leave something on this earth after I'm gone." Allen says one line in the show he really relates to is the lyric, I've always been a man who said that staying still was playing dead, the kind who's looking forward to the challenges ahead. "I heard that lyric and screamed, YES!" Allen says. "Challenges keep me going. I have no children to leave a legacy, so I look for other things that will be here after I'm gone."

Audiences can be assured that Big Fish is a show with big heart and lots of humor. Though we find out early on that Edward is battling cancer, it is the stories and tall tales that make this piece so entertaining. Director Kate Swan and Music Director Markus Grae-Hauck have infused so much fun in the piece while also allowing for those moments that tug at the heart strings. The cast has many faces that returning audience members will recognize from previous 4th Wall shows plus some new ones as well. Kimberley Mesiti, Jodi Maloy, Rich Maloy, Vanessa Robinson, Tom Schopper, Patrick McLaughlin, Ashley Leone, Danny Egan, Jessica Walch and Peter Downing round out the cast.

"When people ask me what I do, I say I'm a story teller. Either as an actor, author, or filmmaker - it's all about telling stories," says Gregory Allen. "Edward is the master at story telling and I'm thrilled to put on his shoes and bring those to audiences with the amazing cast that 4th Wall has assembled. Come check us out!"

The musical runs June 3, 4, 10, 11 at 8:00 pm and June 5, 112 at 3:00 pm at the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield. NJ. More information, is available at www.4thwalltheatre.org. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or reserved at 973-566-9255.