Kitchen Theatre Company to Present PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, 1/31-2/21

Kitchen Theatre Company is celebrating its 25th season in 2015-2016, and the centerpiece is PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, a play that is a celebration of live theater and ensemble story telling: a great adventure with music told by a cast of twelve actors and a "let's put on a show" spirit. Funny and full of surprises, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER opens for previews on Sunday, January 31 and runs for eighteen performances, through February 21st.

Written by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson withmusic by Wayne Barker, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is the winner of five 2012 Tony Awards. A grown-up's prequel to Peter Pan, it tells the story of how Peter got his name, met the Lost Boys, met the Darling family, and first encountered his nemesis. The twelve actors play over 100 unforgettable characters!

Directing the play is Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director Rachel Lampert and frequent guest director Sara Lampert Hoover. "We haven't had a cast this large in a long time, and never before in our new theater space," says Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director and Peter and the Starcatcher co-director Rachel Lampert. "There is something exciting that happens when you get this many actors together in our relatively small space. And these are a dozen wonderful comedic actors-Sara and I are going to have a blast working with them!"

The ensemble cast of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER features many Kitchen Theatre Company veterans: Karl Gregory*, who has appeared in 25 previous productions, is Black Stache. Joey Steinhagen, Artistic Director of Running to Places Theatre Company and veteran of many Kitchen Theatre Company Main Stage and Family Fare plays and musicals, is Mrs. Bumbrake. Matthew Bretschneider* (Seminar and The House) plays The Boy/Peter. Eric Brooks*, who has appeared in ten previous productions at Kitchen Theatre Company (most recently Heroes, on the 2013-2014 season), plays Alf. Craig MacDonald*, who has acting and directing credits at the Kitchen dating back to its early years, is Lord Aster. Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Associate Emily Jackson, director of this season's I and You andThe Soup Comes Last, makes her Kitchen Theatre Main Stage acting debut as Molly. New to the Kitchen are NYC actors Sergio Mauritz Ang*, Tobi Aremu, John D'Arcangelo, Zander Meisner*, Aundre Seals, and Ithaca College musical theater major Connor Briggs. (*member, Actors' Equity Association)

The Music Director is Nick Wilders. Wilders will be playing live for the productions. Joining him in the small but mighty pit orchestra will be Rob Snyder (percussion), and Lesley Greene (flute/trumpet/ukulele).The set design is by David L. Arsenault, lighting design is by Tyler M. Perry, and costumes are by Amanda Aiken. The production stage manager is Jen Schilansky*.

In conjunction with the performances of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of ancillary events. Post-show talkbacks are scheduled for Sunday, January 31, Tuesday, February 2, and Wednesday, February 3 (preview performances), and Friday, February 12(facilitated by Lee Rayburn of WHCU). On Wednesday, February 10th at 6:30 PM, there will be a pre-show talk. Please check our website for more details and events:www.kitchentheatre.org.

Kitchen Theatre Company's production of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is supported by a number of sponsors. The lead sponsor is Co-Producer Tompkins Trust Company. Additional sponsorship comes from Barry Chester and Elissa Cogan. The Media Sponsor is WSKG. Opening Night food is provided by Northstar House, and drink is provided by Americana Vineyards. Wine, beer, and cocktails are available for sale in the Kitchen Theatre Company lobby before and after every performance.