” Big: The Musical” (Milwaukee) reviewed by Amy Menzel

***** There’s a permanent little space in my heart for the 1988 movie Big. I didn’t see it in the theater; I stumbled upon it on TV. And I was fascinated. The plot, of course, was intriguing. A kid’s wish to be a grown-up granted? Whoa. But it was the genre that really hooked me. The only movies I had seen to that point were Disney films and, with the exception of Mary Poppins, they were all animated. Naive eight-year-old me had no idea that movies like this existed. I kept waiting for the credits to roll (I mean, Growing Pains was only a half-hour), but this story just continued. I loved it! Eventually I settled into the couch and just enjoyed. When the credits finally did roll, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. That was it. I was a fan of movies.

So just imagine my excitement seeing that the second show in Skylight Music Theatre’s 2026-2027 season is Big: The Musical. I was giddy. How would they stage the wish-granting carnival machine Zoltar? Would they include the ginormous keyboard scene? Friday night, I found out.

First, you need to know there’s a Zoltar machine in the lobby, folks. Yeah. So maybe go a little early. Get your fortune told by Zoltar, grab a drink at the Skylight Bar, and then contemplate your future. Or head right into the house. There’s a cool—or should I say radical—80’s vibe to the pre-show curtain. Think lots of neon and tubular visual projections. At least one other patron was also impressed, although they could have been reacting to the Cabot Theatre in general. The intimate Baroque-inspired space is spectacular. (For readers also interested in architecture, I’ve included a link to a story about the Cabot below.)

The opening-night audience was ready to laugh. And laugh we did throughout the entire show. Big is full of fun, including what might be the most aptly titled musical number I’ve seen:  “Fun.” (This is when the giant keyboard comes into play. FUN!!)

Skylight’s production is also big on talent. Zach Thomas Woods returns to the Skylight stage in the role of Josh (made famous by Tom Hanks in the movie). His energy makes his playfulness powerful. David Flores, a favorite Skylight performer, rises to the role of MacMillan with his own dose of dynamism, and the two make quite the duo in their big keyboard duet. Ira Kindkeppel-Longden is a fantastic wing-ma…er, boy in the role of young Josh’s BFF, Billy. And Brianna Bauch makes a most triumphant Skylight debut in the role of Susan. In the tradition of identifying show-stealers, Bauch is Big’s.

The ensemble deserves a shout-out here, too. Big’s big numbers are crisp company performances. And the young performer ensemble kicks off the second act in an extremely entertaining and appropriately big way with “It’s Time.” Kudos to Artistic Director Michael Unger for his direction in this production. He’s honed his craft in a way that allows all performers to shine.

Big: The Musical is a blast. Nostalgia for some, and fun for all. It’s the perfect show for a variety of occasions, including but not limited to a date night or a family outing. (Big is recommended for ages 9 and up.)

★★★★★

Big: The Musical runs now through December 27 at Skylight Music Theatre located at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased online at skylightmusictheatre.org.

Big: The Musical runs 2 hours and 35 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

(As promised, here is WUWM story on the Cabot Theatre: https://www.wuwm.com/milwaukee-theater-identical-twin-coast-france)