PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Flying to Penny Seats' Summer Home at West Park

The Penny Seats Theatre Company has announced that Peter and the Starcatcher, the second show of its seventh summer season, will open on Thursday, July 13th. The story is a clever and imaginative prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale, Peter Pan. This will be Penny Seats' first outdoor twilight show, with all performances beginning at 8:00 p.m.

This Tony-winning play by Rick Elice, based on the best-selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is directed by Phil Simmons who serves on the theatre faculty at Eastern Michigan University, with music direction by Rebecca Biber.

The show tells the story of how a miserable orphan becomes The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). Peter and the Starcatcher is a theatrical adaptation where cast members switch in and out of roles constantly, becoming part of the piratical world they weave, and creating magic along the way.

The show will star BrenDan Kelly in the role of Peter along with Kristin McSweeney, Kimberly Alley, Tyler Calhoun, Anthony Petrucci, Keith Kalinowski, Deborah Secord, John DeMerell, Ali Ghannam, Eddie Rothermel, Jeff Stringer, and Matt Cameron as the wicked pirate Black Stache. The group will perform at Ann Arbor's West Park, in the band shell area, The Penny Seats' habitual summer home.

"This show is nothing short of magic," says Penny Seats Executive Director Lauren London. "It combines so many elements that make theatre delightful: it relies on imagination, it relies on teamwork, it makes good points while laughing at itself, and it's charmingly self-referential without being cloying. I can't think of a better show for our summer season." Director Phil Simmons adds, "the imagination is key here. Props are improvised and don't match, and many actors play several completely random roles: pirates, orphans, narcissistic would-be villains, mollusks, fish-turned-to-people, etc. But ultimately, this story is about real people with real feelings, and that is where the power of this piece lies."

Performances are July 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29. All shows begin at 8:00pm. More information, and advance tickets (available at a discount), are available at www.pennyseats.org or by phone at (734) 926-5346. Door tickets will also be available.

Founded in 2010, we're performers and players, minimalists and penny-pinchers. We think theatre should be fun and stirring, not stuffy or repetitive. We believe going to a show should not break the bank. And we find Michigan summer evenings beautiful. Thus, we produce dramas and comedies, musicals and original adaptations, classics and works by up-and-coming playwrights. We also provide cabaret shows, acting classes, and wacky improv evenings. And you can see any of our shows for the same price as a movie ticket.

For more information about The Penny Seats call at 734-926-5346 or visit: www.pennyseats.org.