Big Fish in 2026!

We all know the saying: “The show must go on!”

In the case of our winter musical, Big Fish, it did go on… but due to the arrival of a foot of snow on Long Island January 25-26, the show went on just a day later. Our wonderfully talented cast, crew, faculty, staff, and community musicians shifted their schedules by one day to hold tech day on January 27 and shows on January 28 & 29.

The show’s Director, faculty member Chris Brick, shares insights into the production: “Big Fish is a story about the space between truth and imagination. It’s about looking at this space and, ultimately, finding the love that lives there. At its heart, this musical asks a simple but profound question: how do we remember the people we love and who do we become through the stories they leave behind?

“Our production of Big Fish is intentionally intimate. Rather than presenting the story as a sweeping spectacle, I wanted to focus on how the closeness of relationships are balanced with the fragility of memory and the quiet moments that define a family. The magic of this musical lives not in scale but in the connections we collect throughout our lifetime and how those help to create who we are. The intimacy of this show mirrors the way stories are truly passed down in life: person to person, moment to moment. We spent time together talking about these characters and who they are in relation to the bigger picture. These students dove into their characters with openness and courage while embracing both the vulnerability and imagination the story demands. Through their commitment and authenticity, I feel that each of their performances felt deeply personal to bring our world of Alabama to life with honesty and heart.

“Ultimately, the big fish represents the idea that a life well-lived is one that is remembered with wonder and not just accuracy. It is something no one can quite catch or pin down. Our story, like fish, is meant to be free.”

Bravo to all for this wonderful production. Keep scrolling to see see performance shots of LIHSA’s presentation of Big Fish!