Yearly Archives: 2017

Kelcey Steele as Peter Pan and Local 12’s Bob Herzog as Captain Hook. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents PETER PAN JR. October 21-30, 2017 at the Taft Theatre.  Based on J.M. Barrie’s enchanting play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, Peter Pan JR. is a modern version of the timeless tale about the adventures of a mischievous boy.  This is the first production in TCT’s 2017-2018 MainStage season at the Taft Theatre.

The musical features music by Morris (Moose) Charlap with additional music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.  The show was originally directed, choreographed and adapted by Jerome Robbins.

“Peter Pan JR. is a story which encourages each of us to reconnect with the spirit of youth,” says Roderick Justice, Producing Artistic Director for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and director of TCT’s PETER PAN JR. production.  “[Ringing Bell Sound],” adds Tinker Bell.  *At press time Peter Pan was not available to translate for Tinker Bell.

In PETER PAN JR. Wendy, Michael and John Darling meet and befriend Peter Pan when the mysterious boy and a fairy named Tinker Bell enter their nursery in search of Peter’s lost shadow.

Peter whisks his new friends away to Neverland, an island with “hardly any space between one adventure and the other.” There, Peter introduces the Darling children to his fellow Lost Boys, children who – like Peter – never grow up. The crew launches into a great adventure where they encounter Brave Girls, led by the incredible Tiger Lily, and Pirates led by the dreaded Captain Hook, played by Local 12’s own Bob Herzog. Challenges ensue when the Darling children are ensnared in Captain Hook’s sinister plan to seek revenge on Peter.

PETER PAN JR. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, October 21-22 and 27-29, 2017.  Saturday, October 21 at 2 PM* (this performance is signed for the hearing impaired), Sunday, October 22 at 2 PM, Sunday, October 22 at 5 PM, Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, October 28 at 2 PM, Saturday, October 28 at 5 PM, Sunday, October 29 at 2 PM at the Taft Theatre, 5^th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10.  1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.

TCT’s Sensory Friendly performance of PETER PAN JR. will be held on Monday, October 30 at 9:45 AM.  This performance is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges.  Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimalized.  A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) is made available on the TCT website one week before the performance.  At the theater, TCT provides an area staffed by specialists in the field where patrons can take a break from the performance if necessary, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has trained staff on hand.  For details about how to purchase tickets to this performance, visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

The cast (in alphabetical order):

• Pirate Ensemble KEVIN BELL
• Pirate Ensemble, Starkey BRANDON BENTLEY
• Slightly ANDREW BLAKE
• Lost Boy Ensemble EVAN BLUST
• Smee RHYS  BOATWRIGHT
• Lost Boy Ensemble     BAILEY BROXTERMAN
• Tiger Lily MADDIE BURGOON
• Brave Girl Ensemble JORDAN COLLINS
• Twin 2 MARLOD’ASCENZO
• Twin 1 MIA D’ASCENZO
• Brave Girl Ensemble TINA DE ALDERETE
• Pirate Ensemble, Jukes IAN  FORSGREN
• Pirate Ensemble NICK GODFREY
• Brave Girl Ensemble ANNA GORTNER
• Nibs NICK GUNDRUM
• Brave Girl Ensemble COURTNEY HAMMONDS
• Mr. Darling/Captain Hook BOB HERZOG
• Wendy ZOE JENSEN
• Brave Girl Ensemble AUBREY JONES
• Pirate Ensemble, Cecco MATT KRIEG
• Pirate Ensemble, Noodler JOEY LOGAN
• Nana/Crocodile TREY PARIS
• Toodles MAKAYLA PLATT
• Michael JACKSON SCHABELL
• Peter Pan KELCEY STEELE
• Brave Girl Ensemble AMANDA STEIER
• Brave Girl Ensemble RENEE STOLTZFUS
• Brave Girl Ensemble ERIN ULMAN
• Liza/Brave Girl Ensemble RIA VILLAVER COLLINS
• Mrs. Darling SARAH VIOLA
• John JACK WALZ
• Pirate Ensemble LOGAN WEINFURTNER
• Curly CJ ZIMMER

Understudies:

• Nibs EVAN BLUST
• Michael BAILEY BROXTERMAN
• Peter Pan MADDIE BURGOON
• Cecco, Noodler, Jukes, Starkey NICK GODFREY
• John NICK GUNDRUM
• Hook/Mr. Darling MATT KRIEG
• Smee JOEY LOGAN
• Tiger Lily RENEE STOLTZFUS
• Wendy, Liza ERIN ULMAN
• Mrs. Darling RIA VILLAVER COLLINS

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of PETER PAN JR. is made possible by the generosity of Edyth B. Lindner, TriHealth and the community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation.  This program is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.  Media sponsors are LOCAL 12 and Q102. The show is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

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