PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Makes Regional Debut at Virginia Rep Tonight

Virginia Repertory Theatre presents the regional premiere of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, October 2 with a preview tonight, October 1. The production runs through October 25, 2015. This inventive, high-energy play by Rick Elice is based on the book, PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

Reflecting the sharp, clever wit of Dave Barry and an award-winning instrumental score by Wayne Barker, this prequel to the story of Peter Pan has been winning the hearts of both adults and kids since it first appeared on Broadway in 2012.

Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome Nathaniel Shaw in his directorial debut at the November Theatre. Shaw was an Associate Choreographer for ONCE, supervising both the Broadway production and the first national tour. He is the Development Director for Glass Half Full Productions, Tony and Olivier Award Winning Producers of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Mark Rylance Shakespeare Revivals, and Sunny Afternoon amongst many others. He was the founder and Artistic Director of The Active Theater in New York. New York credits include the first revival of The Violet Hour (Innovative Theatre Award nomination for Best Revival), the World Premiere of Bridgeboy, and the World Premiere of Body Language (4 Midtown International Theatre Festival nominations).

Shaw talks passionately about the perspective offered in this version of the classic story. "J.M. Barrie gave the world a beautiful gift when he first gave wing to Peter Pan. I have not seen another addition to the legend that better captures Barrie's spirit than PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. This hilarious, and boisterous romp across treacherous seas, to an island destined to become Neverland, captures both the imagination and adventure of childhood fantasy, and the bittersweet pangs of growing up."

Music director, Leilani Giles is a performer in both classical and musical theatre and holds a Masters in Piano Performance from VCU. Recent Music Director credits include: Hairspray (SPARC), Aliens (Firehouse Theatre Project), Closer Than Ever, and White Christmas (Virginia Rep).

Virginia Rep welcomes set designer, Craig Napoliello. Recent regional credits include Witness For The Prosecution (Fulton Theatre), and The Music Man-In Concert (Two River Theatre). Off Broadway credits include I Forgive You (Ronald Regan Beckett Theatre); The Bardy Bunch (St. Clement's Theatre); and Sexual Healing, (Rattapallax Productions). Lighting designer, BJ Wilkinson (The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Whipping Man, Equivocation for Virginia Rep) and costume designer, Jeanne Nugent (They're Playing Our Song, Treasure Island for Virginia Rep) round out the creative team.

Richmond favorite, Scott Wichmann returns to the November stage in the comic role of Black Stache. Recent credits include Barney Cashman in the summer hit Last Of The Red Hot Lovers, Say Goodnight, Gracie; The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Fully Committed. Film & TV credits include Lincoln, Lake Effects, TURN: Washington's Spies, and the upcoming film Shooting The Prodigal.

Making their debuts at Virginia Rep in lead roles are Jeremy Lagunas as Boy and Megan Graves as Molly Aster. Lagunas is a graduate of the American Musical Dramatic Academy and currently resides in New York. Recent regional credits include 9 to 5: The Musical with Sally Struthers, Spamalot, A Christmas Story, Hairspray, Annie, The Full Monty, Happy Days, Hello, Dolly!, Urinetown, Summer of '42, and Tombstone.

Graves is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory. Regional and DC credits include: The BFG (National Children's Theatre); Passion Play, Clementine in the Lower 9 (Forum Theatre); One Man, Two Guv'nors and The Cripple of Inishmaan (1st Stage); The BFG, Inside Out, The Night Fairy, The Magic Finger (Imagination Stage).

Also making Virginia Rep debuts are Roger Ainslie, Evan Bergman, and Joseph Bromfield in partnership with the University of Virginia MFA in professional acting program and David Rogozenski in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University.

Josh Marin (The Color Purple, Seussical, Music Man for Virginia Rep) returns from New York in the role of Prentiss. Rounding out the cast are Nicholas Aliff as Slank/Hawking Clam, Paul Major as Smee, Charley Raintree as Alf, and Robert Throckmorton as Brumbake/teacher.

Community Partners - PETER AND THE STARCATCHER captures the spirit of childhood imagination and the power of fantasy. To some of Richmond's children, the dream of a stable home and family are the focus of childhood imagination. Virginia Rep is delighted to partner with three organizations who provide homes and services to children in the Richmond area and turn a fantasy into a reality: Elk Hill Farm, Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, and Children's Home Society.

Four Thoughts
1:30 p.m. on Sundays
The new Four Thoughts discussion series will continue on Sundays 30 minutes prior to the performance. Local experts on theatre will present four thoughts or ideas that provide context to the play. Open to public. No reservation needed.

IF YOU GO:

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

Box Office 804-282-2620
www.virginiarep.org
Full Price Tickets: $38 - $46.
Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available.
U-Tix for college and high school students $10. Available by phone or in person day of show only. Student ID required.

Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 7:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays; matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and select Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-park is available for patrons within blocks of the theatre.

The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a new state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.

Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, combines the talents and strengths of two nonprofit companies that shared facilities, resources, and management teams for over a decade. Now the heritages of Barksdale Theatre (founded in 1953) and Theatre IV (founded in 1975) live on in their new form, as Central Virginia's leading professional theater company. Virginia Rep presents national caliber productions of the great dramas, comedies, and musicals as well as classics, contemporary works, and world premieres, always seeking to demonstrate the unique power of theater to engage, enthrall, educate, and inspire. Productions are staged at four distinct venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and Theatre Gym at the downtown Virginia Rep Center, Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre located at Willow Lawn, and at Hanover Tavern, home to Virginia Rep's Barksdale Season.

Pictured: The cast of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at Quirk Hotel. Photo by Aaron Sutten.

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