POWERGRAMS

23 Big Fish Tale As Red Mountain Theatre Company (RMTC) brought tall tales and Southern heritage to the stage this past fall with "Big Fish," it also brought with it an appreciation for the city the story was based on and a homecoming for the book's author, Daniel Wallace. "Big Fish" opened at RMTC as hundreds, including Wallace, filed in on a rainy opening night. The book, published in 1998, has been made into a film, Broadway production and now an off-Broadway musical. "Big Fish" is a story of stories – larger-than-life tales told to William Bloom by his father, Edward, which William grapples with in understanding his father and their relationship. In addition to fantastical storytelling and imagination, "Big Fish" speaks to the depth and complexities of family relationships. "You can't write without being inspired by the people in your life," Wallace said when discussing the characters in the book and his own relationships. "Stories are how we make sense of our lives. That's how we understand each other." The inspiration for the book began early. Growing up, Wallace was interested in mythology. "Look around and mythology is everywhere in Birmingham, from Vulcan to the vestas in Vestavia," he said. Wallace published five novels before "Big Fish" but credits it with the beginning of an amazing journey. He never anticipated the success of the book or the projects that would follow. Screenwriter John August adapted the book into a movie, directed by Tim Burton, which was released in 2003 and received critical praise and box- office success. "I was shocked at turning the book into a movie because of the book's structure," Wallace said. "I wasn't sure how the movie would portray the stories. Everyone who reads the book adapts it in their own way. It just turned into a great adventure." The adventure continued when August developed the screenplay into a Broadway musical in 2005. Wallace remembers his surprise. "For it to come all the way to Broadway, it almost doesn't seem real," Wallace said as he watched with 500 people on opening night in Birmingham. "John August is so much a part of the life of this book; I don't take credit A scene from "Big Fish," now an off-Broadway production, presented by Red Mountain Theatre Company. By Allison Westlake AUTHOR RETURNS AS RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE TRANSFORMS ARTS AND CULTURE IN MAGIC CITY Wallace Photos provided by Edmonds Images/ Red Mountain Theatre Company

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