"Big Fish" musical closing on Broadway

Broadway's "Big Fish" is swimming away.

Producers said Sunday the musical, starring two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz, will play its final performance Dec. 29.

When it closes, it will have played 34 previews and 98 regular shows at the Neil Simon Theatre.

The quirky and visually lush show about a sensible son trying to reconcile with a manic father fond of tall tales got mixed reviews when it opened Oct. 6 and never ignited the box office.

A review in The New York Times said, "For a show that celebrates tall tales, 'Big Fish' feels curiously stunted," while the New York Daily News called the production "a singing version of catch-and-release. It hooks you, then loses you -- all night."

Five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman directed and choreographed the musical, based on the Daniel Wallace novel and the 2003 Tim Burton-directed film starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. Music and lyrics are by Andrew Lippa.