So this is awesome: Auburn campus landmarks—Samford Hall, the Auburn University sign—are apparently a major part of the set in the musical Broadway production of “Big Fish.â€And judging by the trailer, the Auburn scenery gets plenty of use.The play is based on the Tim Burton movie of the same name released ten years ago that included scenes set in Auburn, where the girl of protagonist Edward Bloom’s dreams went to school. Sure, the scenes were filmed at Huntingdon, but there there were actual, real beautiful Auburn girls cast as extras.Of course the movie was based on the same-named 1998 book by Daniel Wallace (who has a bit part as an Auburn professor), which includes even more incredible Auburn references. And like it usually goes, the stuff in the book has infinitely more depth and a more lasting ummmph. You can read the chapter titled “The Day I was Born†here. You should read it right now. Trust us. It’s short. It’s awesome. War Eagle.
‘Big Fish’ author Daniel Wallace objects to use of Bama pennant in Broadway productionWritten by Staff Culture, People Sep 19, 2013An even better photo of the Auburn campus on the set of “Big Fish.†And we hope the set designer breaks a leg if he / she dares sully it with a Bama pennant. [Photo: Erin Argo]The show must go on. Just not with that hideous Bama pennant. At least not if Daniel Wallace has anything to say about it. And it’s understandable that he would.The new Broadway musical “Big Fish†is, of course, based on Wallace’s 1998 book of the same name, a book that, you know, includes an incredible chapter about Auburn winning the Iron Bowl which you should read right now, a book that lead to Danny Devito saying the word “Auburnâ€, and that inspired the Broadway version of Auburn University we were introduced to last week. And Wallace just isn’t down with sacrificing thematic consistency and believability and artistic intent so the set designer can pat himself on the back for deciding that a Bama pennant better captures some modern Southern Gothic vibe or whatever. That may work on a Brooklyn BBQ bar’s Instagram account. But this is real life.From al.com While the show is in previews, Crouch, director Susan Stroman and the rest of the “Big Fish†team are tweaking things here and there, but the Auburn scenes are pretty well set, Crouch says. What’s in question right now is a nod to the University of Alabama in the opening scene. Wallace, the author, “didn’t like that there was an Alabama pennant in the boy’s bedroom, and he complained about it,†Crouch says. “I think it’s still there, but I think it’s being worked on.â€War Daniel Wallace.
A Broadway show is definitely in the plans.
Sounds faaabulousOr, are you going there because your daughter dances in NYC now?
The movie actually mentions it a couple of times too and shows a small scene that is supposed to be in auburn but nothing looked familiar. I think Danny devito mentions it.
As the article says, and as I remember vividly from when they were filming in Montgomery/Prattville, they shot the Auburn scenes at Huntingdon. Just a budget thing because they were shooting in the Gump already. Movie magic.
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