Garden Theatre Presents Digitally Immersive PETER PAN This Month

Garden Theatre announces its digitally immersive theatre experience of Peter Pan showing today, May 1 - 31, 2015, presented by Florida Hospital Winter Garden. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden). Peter Pan is also sponsored by Seacoast National Bank, Duke Energy, Insight Credit Union and Toole's Ace Hardware. The Garden Theatre's 2014 - 2015 Season Media Sponsor is The West Orange Times & Observer.

Audiences familiar the classic version of Peter Pan will experience a new way to fly combining live action with revolutionary digital technology never seen before in such an intimate theatre.

"Our Peter Pan unites the powerful magic of digital technology with the miraculous power of human imagination," says award-winning director, Karen Rugerio. "This power to create alternate realities, so natural and so strong in children-and sometimes weakened by the demands of adulthood-is the essence of this show."

The immersive experience is brought to the stage in partnership with state-of-the-art digital and technology companies which have donated over $825,000 in in-kind goods and services: Nth Degree & Visual FX, Birket Engineering, Inc., Goodtheory, Inc., Winfield Murdock Creative Works, InTelesis, and Phoenix Rising, LLC. The digital partners are providing the animation and visual effects, projectionable surfaces, projectors, show controls, rigging, cables, servers, and media. Multiple projectors will bring 3D animated scenery and effects to the live stage with a custom curved screen that captures the images. Other partners include Valencia College, Christie, Alcorn McBride and Purple Cow Productions, Inc. The Garden Theatre has also received funding from the City of Winter Garden, The Bond Foundation and other generous individuals to bring this production, with a value of over $1 million, to the stage.

"We are so excited to breathe new life into this timeless classic by using the same spectacular animation and state-of-the-art projection mapping technology that Nth Degree uses for some of the world's biggest themed entertainment venues and stage productions," says Amber Larkin of Nth Degree, Peter Pan's Animation/Visual FX Director. "I believe this will be an incredible opportunity for these young performers to work with the future of theatre while dazzling every audience member who comes to see it."

Traditionally, hoists and wires have been used to make Peter and the actors fly. This has been the only option for theatre companies around the globe for over 50 years. In an intimate venue such as the Garden Theatre, wires would be visible and the magic would be lost. Now, with the efforts of over 300 cast, crew, volunteers and partners, when Peter, Wendy, Michael and John take flight, the audience will feel as if they have left their seats and joined them in a journey to Neverland.

With the installation of this new technology, the Garden Theatre venue will be a one-of-a-kind, digital immersive theatre, able to enhance future productions such as Singin' in the Rain in April 2016.

Tickets are $29 for adults and $25 for seniors and students. Ages 12 and under are $12 on Saturday matinees. Due to high demand, Thursday night performances have been added. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

For tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or contact the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736). Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts of up to 25% by contacting group sales manager Jana Goupil at 407-877-4736 x208.

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