PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Comes to MCCC's Kelsey Theatre

How exactly did Peter Pan and his band of lost boys get to Never-Neverland? And how did Peter become the boy who never grew up? The Pennington Players will provide the answers in the Tony Award-winning "Peter and the Starcatcher," coming to Mercer County Community College's (MCCC's) Kelsey Theatre Fridays, March 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, March 9 and 16 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, March 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.

Kelsey Theatre is located on MCCC's West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. The community is invited to an opening night reception with the cast and crew on March 8.

In this grown-up prequel to J. M. Barrie's timeless novel Peter and Wendy, a young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain's cabin. At sea, the boys are discovered by the precocious Molly, a starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk's cargo is precious, otherworldly starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates led by the fearsome Black Stache, the journey quickly turns into a thrilling adventure.

Based on the 2004 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the play is by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. It was It opened on Broadway in March 2012, was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, and ran for 319 shows.

The cast features Chrissy Johnson of Bordentown as Molly; Steven Brandt of Toms River as Boy/Peter; William Kamps of Burlington as Black Stache; Christina Kosyla of Bordentown as Smee/Greggors; Danny Gleason of Yardley, Pa., as Lord Aster/Grempkin; Jordyn David of Robbinsville as Prentiss; James LeGette of Philadelphia, Pa., as Ted; Kevin Palardy of Hatfield, Pa., as Alf; Matthew Robertson of Yardley, Pa., as Bumbrake/Teacher; Mike Gilch of Asbury Park as Fighting Prawn/Slank; Tyler DiNinno of Robbinsville as Hawking Clam/Mack/Sanchez; and Jordan Schonberger of Princeton as Capt. Scott.

The production team includes Director Jonathan Martin, Producer Frank Ferrara, Musical Director Mike Gilch, Lighting Designer Lenin Cruz, Sound Designer Evan Paine, Set Designer Rachel Langley, and Stage Manager Vicki Kaiser. Costumes are by Anthony Remer.

Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for seniors; and $16 for students/children. They may be purchased online at www.KelseyTheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the theater. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure.