Little Fish, Big City; New LaChiusa Musical Opens Off-Broadway, Feb. 13

By Ernio Hernandez
February 13, 2003

Second Stage Theatre's staging of Michael John LaChiusa's world premiere musical, Little Fish, opens Feb. 13 at the midtown Manhattan venue. The new tuner began performances Off-Broadway Jan. 22 and is scheduled to run through March 16.

LaChiusa sets his new musical, Little Fish, in New York City "over the course of the present year." The show, based on the stories of writer Deborah Eisenberg, centers around a neurotic writer who moves to New York City. While attempting to quit smoking, via distraction of swimming and running, she finds that she never really knew herself until she quit.

"Not to wax metaphorical, but we're all little fish in some way, shape or form and sometimes it's good to swim in schools," LaChuisa explained the show's title to Playbill Radio. The play, as the Second Stage production of Metamorphoses, utilizes a pool as part of the set. This time, however, there is not an actual pool with water, but a creation which employs a blue fabric with dozens of slits where actors poke their head through.

Graciela Daniele (Once on This Island, Marie Christine, A New Brain) directs a cast that includes Jennifer Laura Thompson as the quitter, Lea DeLaria as her drugged-and-dreadlocked roommate, Marcy Harriell as her urbanite friend, Hugh Panaro as the man she left for the city, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as her gay friend with Celia Keenan-Bolger, Ken Marks and Eric Jordan Young playing various other characters.

The work features book, lyrics and music by LaChiusa. The songlist includes “Days,” “Robert," “It’s a Sign," “The Pool," “Winter Is Here," “Short Story," “Perfect," “John Paul," “He," “Cigarette Dream," “Flotsam," “I Ran," “By the Way," “Remember Me," “It Feels Good," “Little Fish," “Poor Charlotte," “Simple Creature," and “In Twos and Threes.” Dan Lipton serves as musical director. Bruce Coughlin (Urinetown) provides orchestrations.

The creative team includes Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Peggy Eisenhauer (lights), Toni Leslie James (costumes) and Scott Lehrer (sound).

For subscriptions or single tickets, call Second Stage, 307 West 43rd Street, at (212) 246-4422. Tickets will be available Jan. 3. For more information, visit the Second Stage website at www.secondstagetheatre.com.