These Barn Jr. Players Get BIG This January

Kansas City's acclaimed youth troupe the Barn Players Jr. are pleased to present Broadway musical hit, "BIG." Based on the memorable Twentieth Century Fox film written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, this amusing musical has a book by John Weidman, with music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. The Barn Jr. winter production is directed by community theatre veteran Jason Coats, with musical direction by Todd Gregory-Gibbs.

What magic happens on stage? At a local carnival, awkward young Josh Baskin makes a wish to the mechanical Zoltar fortune teller to become "BIG." To his amazement, his wish is granted. Before he knows it Josh must do "adult" things, including finding a mentor, getting a job and soon a girlfriend. His rite of passage between boy and man and back includes the discovery that there's more to being an adult than he bargained for. Lesson? We all must grow up at our own speed.

"Our student actors have done a phenomenal job of bringing this work to life," says director Jason Coats. "It's a perfect show for them. It explores what growing up really means. It challenges what they think it may be like to be an adult."

Featured roles in "BIG" are played by: Wes Battey, Anna Berardo, Maria Berardo, Veronica Dervin, Ashley Elliot-Rowe, Sydney Gilman, Paiten Griffith, Alex Leondedis, Phil Licata, Abigail Nottingham, Paige Padgett, Paul Ruf, Claire Segura, Seneca Sims, Margaret Veghlan, and Sam Wise. Ensemble players include: Lucy Alcock, Stella Hughes, Sophia Logan, Ava Moran, Aurelia Power, Jezri Robertson, Sean Ruddy, and Isabelle Simmonds.