Soar into a far off land called Never Never Land and relive childhood fantasies with a bit of fairy dust and our favorite boy who could fly, Peter Pan.
The Center for the Performing Arts will be presenting their second musical of the 2000-2001 season on Wednesday. The Big League Theatricals, Incorporated will be performing the National Tour of the Broadway Revival of Peter Pan.
"We are really excited, it's a family musical that has maintained its popularity over time," said Peter Wray, the press and public relations manager for the CPA.
The show starts out as Peter Pan, played by Shorey Walker, and his fairy friend, Tinkerbell, steal into the London bedroom of the Darling family children, Wendy, played by Becky Gulsvig, John, played by Christopher Schram, and Michael, played by Andrew Gallagher, where they attempt to recover a shadow that Peter had stolen on an earlier visit. Peter soon becomes mesmerized by Wendy and then teaches the children to fly.
The children soon fly off to Never Never Land where they encounter an island of Lost Boys, indians and pirates. There Peter runs into his arch nemesis, Captain Hook, played by Chris Carsten, who has lost his hand to a hungry crocodile. Within the blink of an eye, Tiger Lily, played by Karen Eleanor Wight, the Indian princess, is captured by the pirates and rescued by Peter.
However, Peter manages to get himself captured and Tiger Lily comes to his rescue. The calamity and hijinxs ensues as the children, Wendy, Michael and Peter, are also captured by the pirates.
The musical Peter Pan was based off of Sir J.M. Barrie's best-known play Peter Pan, which was first presented in 1904. Since then it has spun off into a musical comedy, a silent movie and a feature-length animated cartoon.
The story has also been spun into a motion picture, Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie attempted to recreate the story with a man who had forgotten his youth and has to go back to Never Never Land to rescue his own children.
According to Wray, the CPA wanted to bring the in the show because of its "wide popular appeal."
"For people who can't go to New York, we can bring the National Tour here," said Wray.
In conjunction with Homecoming, the CPA will be placing a Peter Pan theme float in the Homecoming parade, in the shape of a pirate's ship. Staff members of the CPA and some of their children will ride on the float. "We'll be handing out candy and discount coupons (for the showing of Peter Pan)," Wray said.
The staff of the CPA is very excited of promoting the upcoming musical and by participating in the parade, since it has been years since they last participated. According, to Wray they hope to build a bridge between the students, community and the CPA.
"We are looking forward to whatever it (the float) looks like along with the whole community," said Wray.
Opening night for the show is Wednesday in Eisenhower Auditorium. Ticket prices are $35 and $25 for general admission, $30 and $22 for students, $20 and $12 for Penn State University Park students, and $25 and $19 for children 12 and younger.
