Moose Charlap News

Berkeley Playhouse at the Julia Morgan Theater proudly announces their eighth season. The ambitious season will see an increase of productions from four to six, their first "R-rated" show, a world premiere commission, the first non-musical in the company's history, and a Bay Area premiere.

The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, is proud to present Broadway's timeless musical Peter Pan directed by Michael Schwartz for its 102nd  season in May and June of 2015.  

Atlanta Lyric Theatre, now in its 36th year as the metro area's only professional musical theatre company, is pleased announced its upcoming 2015-16 season of musicals at the 600-seat Jennie T. Anderson Theatre (548 S. Marietta Pkwy., Marietta).  With five fantastic shows -- Broadway's timeless classic Peter Pan, Mel Brooks' hilarious Young Frankenstein, the raucous The Full Monty, the sensational story of Dreamgirls, and the greatest musical drama of our time West Side Story -- we look forward to delivering an unforgettable theatrical experiences to our patrons!

The 2015/16 Season at Syracuse Stage is bookended with comedies. Opening the season in October is Steve Martin's farcical romp The Underpants. The season will close in May 2016 with a brand new madcap comedy spoof of Sherlock Holmes' most famous case in Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: a Sherlock Holmes Mystery.

Following the success of the previous two festivals, the 3rd Annual New York Hot Jazz Festival -- produced by the impresario Michael 'Misha' Katsobashvili, performer Bria Skonberg, and composer/producer Patrick Soluri (of Prohibition Productions and The Salon) -- returns to The Players this year and promises some of the biggest stars of the Hot Jazz and swing scenes in a summit of uptown and downtown talent spanning three generations.

Casting is complete for the Mountain Play's 2015 production of Peter Pan, which will fly over the San Francisco Bay Area May 24 - June 21, 2015. For full details visit www.mountainplay.org

The Kean University Department of Theatre's 2014-2015 Season continues with the high-flying musical Peter Pan, opening Friday, February 20 in Kean's Wilkins Theatre. Based on the tremendously popular play by Sir James M. Barrie, Peter Pan will be directed by Department of Theatre faculty member Holly Logue with musical direction by Meg Zervoulis, choreography by Michele Mossay, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Morris 'Moose' Charlap. The cast of Kean University students also includes two local children - Joshua Hunt of Cranford and Lucas Luchsinger of Elizabeth - who will share the role of Michael Darling.

To be perfectly candid, I found NBC's presentation of PETER PAN LIVE! to be completely unwatchable this past holiday season. However, my review copy of the soundtrack CD landed in my mailbox yesterday. The recording is making me rethink my abandoning the film in the middle of 'Hook's Tango.' Ultimately, Broadway Records' PETER PAN LIVE! (Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event) is nicely entertaining and quite charming.

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.

Peter Pan Takes Flight at New Stage on Dec. 4th

Bring home the magic and adventure of NBC's all-new production of Peter Pan Live! on DVD Dec. 16, 2014 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Pirates! Crocodiles! Mermaids! Magic! Relive all of the heavenly high-flying highlights of last night's PETER PAN LIVE!

Growing up, my brother, sister, and I wore out our VHS recording of one of Mary Martin's TV productions of PETER PAN. Mixed in between viewings of APOLLO 13 and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, we learned every word to every song, and while I don't remember dancing along with the Lost Boys, there is no doubt that we could have, if asked. I've never seen the musical on stage, so, for me, PETER PAN simply belongs on TV; and producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan spared no fiary dust in creating a magical PETER PAN that reinforced why this holiday tradition should never grow up and fly away. Despite a handful of hiccups that befall many live productions, simply put, PETER PAN LIVE! is a triumph for children young and old.

In anticipation of NBC's exciting live broadcast of the musical Peter Pan this Thursday, I knew it was essential to attend the Patrick Grossman directed incarnation running through January 4th at The Noel Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC). They have been overly buzzing, too, as they even received a shout out from Allison Williams (who portrays the title character for NBC) on the Seth Meyer's show.

Reserve your copy of the PETER PAN LIVE! soundtrack now!

BroadwayWorld.com continues our exclusive content series, in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, which delves into the library's unparalleled archives, and resources. Below, check out a piece by Barbara Cohen-Stratyner, Ph. D., Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg Curator of Exhibitions, Shelby Cullom Davis Museum, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on PETER PAN:

BroadwayWorld.com's Richie Ridge was on hand at PETER PAN's press day where he talked to the stars and creative team about how they are putting together this live TV event. Here, Richie talks to the producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.