Penn Manor High School musical director Lauren Ciemiewicz is trying something different this spring, eschewing the more famous productions in favor of a lesser-known work.

Penn Manor's Thespian Troupe 274 will present "Big Fish" Thursday, March 13, to Saturday, March 15, in the high school auditorium, 100 East Cottage Ave., Millersville.

Tickets may be purchased at https://pennmanor.seatyourself.biz.

The performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. on March 13. Tickets are on sale to the public, but this is the designated show where all Comet Classic cardholders and Penn Manor staff members are admitted free by showing their card at the box office.

The show time for Friday, March 14, is 7:30 p.m. There are two productions on March 15, a matinee at 2 p.m. and the final performance at 7:30 p.m.

The plot of "Big Fish" revolves around the relationship between a father and son, said leads James Helm, who plays the dad, Edward Bloom, and Thomas Lebo, who portrays the son, Will Bloom.

"You learn that Edward Bloom, the father, is a little sick," said James. "On the flip side, his son, Will, is about to get married and have a kid of his own. They've always been at odds with each other. They don't have the best relationship. It's about them reconvening before the father passes away and before the son has a kid."

Will hears his father's farcical stories, including tales of a giant and a werewolf, and tracks down Edward's high school girlfriend to to see if there's a shred of truth to the wild stories.

"My character's childhood was messed up because of all his (father's) crazy stories, and I never knew my dad for what he was," Thomas said. "I am thinking about fatherhood for a majority of the musical."

Ciemiewicz said she chose "Big Fish" for two major reasons. "Last year, we did 'Beauty and the Beast,' (which is) a big-name show and a Disney show," she said. "This one is much more obscure. I chose this one for the story and because it offered a lot of opportunity for our students to get to do a variety of things. There's a circus scene so we have some talents utilized there. ... It took a little while for the kids to jump on board, but I think they're really loving this experience."

Ciemiewicz said one of the highlights of the show is tap dancing during the numbers with student Dana Raugh serving as an assistant choreographer. "We love to showcase the kids if we can," she said.

In addition to James as Edward Bloom and Thomas as Will Bloom, the main cast is Ava Wolfersberger (Sandra), Kyle Griffin (Young Will), Charlie Stoy (Josephine), David Ferre (Amos Calloway), Bailey Floyd (Witch), Madelyn Stern (Jenny Hill), Aidan Whitfield (Don Price/Red Fang), Rayn Andreychuk (Zacky Price), David Fogell (Karl the Giant), Alyssa Ford (Girl in the Water), and Ethan White (Dr. Bennett and The General).

There are many challenging aspects in putting on this production. David Fogell learned how to walk on stilts to portray Karl the Giant. "It's an incredible thing, and them even letting me walk with stilts is an incredible thing," he said. "You have to learn how to keep your balance when you are two feet off of the ground."

Stage manager Jack Cassidy said, "It's been quite an ordeal trying to figure out how all these set pieces fit backstage, ranging from massive trees, the entrance of a cave, a cannon."

Ava noted the musical numbers are demanding. "One of the hardest things about the songs is having to deal with dancing and singing at the same time, doing all the hard choreography while still having to projecting and sounding good," she said.

Charlie stated that the show will entertain attendees and give people something to think about. "The beauty of 'Big Fish' is it really plays with realism and fantasy, not quite to put them against each other, but to blend them together and show you the point of life is to live it the way you want to," she said. "I think coming to see the show gives you one of those moments where you sit down ready to have a good time. You will leave knowing you watched a beautiful piece of art on this stage. You can leave with something that may respark something in you that you might not have had going into it."