It’s a family affair

MIDDLETOWN — The Acting Out Playhouse, in conjunction with SummerStar Theatre, presents Peter Pan Jr. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 12, at 3 p.m., at the William and Helen Richards Theatre on the Middletown campus of SUNY Orange.
Based on J.M. Barrie’s enchanting play, "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up," and the 1953 Disney film, Peter Pan JR. is a modern version of the timeless tale about the adventures of a mischievous boy.
The musical features music by Eric Svejcar, lyrics by David Zellnik.
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.
Challenges ensue when the Darling children are ensnared in Captain Hook’s sinister plan to seek revenge on Peter.
Families act outEvery year, The Acting Out Playhouse receives not only awards for acting, but compliments for its sets, costumes, lighting, sound, choreography and vocals.
Peter Pan Jr. has become a real family affair in several ways. Director and choreographer Terry Odell enlisted the talents of her very musical high school son, William, to musical direct.
Costumer Yvonne Bel-Blatt uses the talents of both high school daughters Laine and Abby with sewing and fittings.
Lighting designer Peter Galipeau is training teenage daughter Claire on follow spot.
It is great fun watching everyone work together and appreciate the special skills each person brings to the production.
The cast and crewWith creative staging under the direction of Terry Odell and musical direction by William Odell, each member of this youth ensemble get their time in the spotlight. They include Mia Battifarano, Laine Blatt, Ashlyn Brown, Lyla Brown, Lucas Cresser, Sophie Cresser, Charlie Curabba, Rebecca D’Ambrosio, Stephen D’Ambrosio, Lauren Edouard, Maya Edouard, Carly Kunisch, Madison Lijoi, Lauren Luck, Madison Mattera, Kaden Nagel, Logan Nagel, Max Paltrowitz, Julie Roome, Dennery Simon, Aidan Stubbs, Sara Venter and Abigail Yurchuk.
EssentialsYou can preorder tickets for $15 by going to www.theactingoutplayhouse.net, or pay $18 at the box office.
Group rates apply for groups of 10 or more. Peter Pan Jr. is the perfect show for the child in all of us ... who dreamed of soaring high and never growing up.
The William and Helen Richards Theatre at Orange Hall, is air conditioned and universally accessible. General parking is available in the College parking lot at the intersection of Wawayanda and Grandview avenues.