Wireless Mics and Projection for Big Fish

Show guide · Full-length · 11 principals plus a flexible ensemble · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026

Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Big Fish.

Who gets a mic

This guide covers the full-length Big Fish. TRW also licenses a School Edition (also full-length, with language adjusted) and a Small Cast Edition; the school script uses the same 17 roles, so this plan works for both. We mic the 11 roles that sing or carry dialogue over music: Edward, Will, Sandra, Young Will, Josephine, Karl the Giant, Amos Calloway, Don Price, the Witch, Jenny Hill and Dr. Bennett. That is 11 body mics plus 2 spares, for 13 channels.

Borderline roles: the Alabama Lambs sing backup with Sandra in "Little Lamb from Alabama"; two or three area mics usually catch them if they sing downstage. Zacky Price, the Mayor and the Fisherman have short scenes the area mics can handle, and the Girl in the Water and Dancing Fire are dance roles that need no mic.

With a bigger budget, add body mics for the Alabama Lambs, Zacky Price and the Mayor, for about 17 channels.

Mic plot

Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.

The ensemble

Townspeople, wedding guests, circus performers and the USO dancers fill the big numbers, including "Be the Hero", "Out There on the Road" and "Red, White and True". Three area or choir mics along the stage edge cover them. Move a featured ensemble singer, such as an Alabama Lamb, to a body mic when their line sits over the full band.

Show notes from our team

• Two worlds, two sounds. Present-day hospital and family scenes are quiet and close; Edward's stories are big and theatrical. Build separate scene presets so the quiet scenes do not inherit the loud reverb and levels.
• Karl and Amos. Karl's giant costume and Amos's werewolf transformation can knock hairline mics loose. Earsets ride with the actor; fit them with costumes early and rehearse every costume reveal with the mic on.
• Big dance numbers. "Be the Hero", "Red, White and True" and the circus numbers are full-company and sweaty. Use sweat covers, tape twice, and do a quick mic check at intermission.
• "Daffodils". The Act One finale is an intimate Edward and Sandra moment, often with a flower reveal. Keep packs and cables clear of drops, and lower the area mics so the duet stays close.

Projection

The river, the Witch's swamp, the circus, Spectre, the field of daffodils and the hospital all suit projected scenery, and projections make it easy to move between Edward's stories and the present day. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.

Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Big Fish. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.

Rent it for the run, or own it

Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.

Common questions

How many wireless mics does Big Fish need?

Plan on 13 channels: 11 body mics for Edward, Will, Sandra, Young Will, Josephine, Karl, Amos, Don Price, the Witch, Jenny Hill and Dr. Bennett, plus 2 spares. Add three area mics at the stage edge for the ensemble.

Do the Big Fish ensemble and the Alabama Lambs need mics?

Three area or choir mics along the stage edge cover the ensemble and usually the Alabama Lambs if they sing downstage. If the Lambs get lost under the band, add body mics for them.

How should we mic Karl the Giant in Big Fish?

Use an earset. Giant costumes, stilts and head pieces can pull a hairline mic out of place, while an earset rides on the actor's ear. Fit it at the first costume fitting and run the pack low enough to clear stilts.

Can we rent mics just for our show week?

Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.

Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Big Fish is licensed through Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!