Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni and faculty members are involved in the musical Big Fish at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. Big Fish–based on the 2003 Tim Burton film of the same title and on the 1998 novel that inspired the movie–had its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago in April and May of 2013, but the Theatre at the Center production is the first professional locally produced presentation of the show since it ran on Broadway.

Callie Johnson and Ann Delaney, both alumni of Columbia College’s BFA program in Musical Theatre Performance, are in the cast, as is Bethany Thomas, who studied in Columbia College’s Musical Theatre BA program. Both Johnson and Thomas are winners of the Joseph Jefferson Award, Chicago’s top theatrical prize. (Johnson was just nominated for another Joseph Jefferson Award for her performance in Bailiwick Chicago’s Carrie.)

Jefferson Award-winning choreographer Linda Fortunato, who teaches Musical Theatre Dance at Columbia College, is choreographing the show. (Fortunato was just nominated for a Jeff Award for her direction of BoHo Theatre’s Parade.) Jeff Award-winning set designer Jacqueline Penrod, who teaches in Columbia’s BFA program in Theatre Scenic Design, is designing the set with her husband Richard Penrod.

With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, Big Fish runs May 7-June 7 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Rd., in Munster, Indiana. F0r ticket information, call 219-836-3255 or click here.