PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Plays South Coast Rep, Now thru 6/7

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs today, May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

They call him Boy, the orphan without a name. One day he's whisked onto the good ship Neverland, and recruited by a young Starcatcher named Molly to save the "starstuff" from Black Stache and his pirate crew. If the starstuff falls into Black Stache's hands, his every wish could become reality. See how the Boy becomes Peter in a swashbuckling tale of yesteryear, infused with pop culture imagery of today.

"Peter and the Starcatcher is the rare example of a play that works for adults and youngsters," said director Art Manke. "Like Sondheim and Lapine's Into The Woods, this wonderful story, based on a novel for young readers, is elevated with wisdom that will resonate for all who listen."

Actor Matt McGrath returns to SCR to take on the antagonistic role of Black Stache. His previous SCR credits include Putting It Together and last season's Theatre for Young Audiences production of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. He holds numerous credits regionally as well as on- and off-Broadway. On Broadway, he replaced Alan Cumming as the Emcee in the first revival of Cabaret.

Joining McGrath on stage will be SCR regular Wyatt Fenner, as Boy, who was in last season's world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter's Rest. Gabrielle McClinton, whose credits include Pippen (Broadway) and Whatshername in the first national tour of American Idiot, makes her SCR debut as the young heroine, Molly.

The cast for Peter and the Starcatcher also includes Tony Abatemarco, Christian Barillas, J. Paul Boehmer, Joel Davel, Miles Fletcher, Allen Gilmore, James MacEwan, Kasey Mahaffy, David Nevell, David O and Daisuke Tsuji.

The design and creative team includes Michael B. Raiford, scenic design; Angela Balogh Calin, costume design; Jaymi Lee Smith, lighting design; and Michael K. Hooker, sound design. The production manager is Jackie S. Hill and the stage manager is Jennifer Ellen Butler.

Peter and the Starcatcher is generously supported by Honorary Producers Alan and Olivia Slutzky and Bette and Wylie Aitken. The Corporate Honorary Producers are Haskell & White, LLP and MUFG Union Bank. The media partner is KPCC 89.3.

Tickets start at $22. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, fulltime educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Tickets: May be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the Box Office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances run May 8-June 7. Ticket prices start at $22. Low-priced previews run May 8-14.

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