John Sanders News

Brilliant direction and unforgettable performances compensate for uneven script in Disney's more grown-up play with music.

BroadwayWorld.com reviews the National Tour of 'Peter and the Starcatcher' in Chicago.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Peter' plays Monroe Street, new musicals try out in Wicker Park and Bucktown, 'Evita' lights up Cicero, 'Hot Mikado' jazzes up Rogers Park, The Hypocrites announce a trilogy, three Tony winners start rehearsal here and Las Vegas calls on the Windy City's finest!

"Peter and the Starcatcher" catches more than starstuff with its mosaic style and resourceful staging. Directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers and writer Rick Elice manage to use ladders, flashlights and other pulled-together, everyday items to soar the magic to heights stronger and more believable than ever. Clap if you believe!

Before there was Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy and those two annoying little brothers--there was just a boy who didn't have a name, a few orphan friends, a 'starcatcher' named Molly and a ship named Neverland...

Local author Ridley Pearson, along with Dave Barry, crafted an interesting 'prequel' to the story of Peter Pan with their entertaining novel PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. The stage production of this tale, written by Rick Elice, is a similarly imaginative effort that utilizes a relatively small cast, with just about everyone playing multiple roles, and a frenetic pace that captures the same qualities that distinguished the original work. An engaging touring production with a very talented cast played the Peabody Opera House this weekend (March 7-9, 2014), and it was well worth the trip.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER has all the right ingredients to be a standout production: a solid literary foundation and engaging storyline, a top-notch cast of actors, and some truly inventive props and staging. Unfortunately, these elements never quite come together as cohesively as they should, and the overall presentation suffers from the script's lack of consistent focus.

The five-time Tony Award-winning musical Peter and the Starcatcher makes its Twin Cities premiere in a limited engagement March 11-16, 2014 at the Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave.) in Minneapolis. Written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award?nominee Alex Timbers, tickets are available now in person at the State Theatre Box Office, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. It is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a part of its 2013-14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season.

Ropes become rooms and oceans, people become doors, gloves become birds and some very clever staging, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers.

Like WICKED was a prequel to the 'Wizard of Oz', PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is a prequel to J. M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony Award winning musical play written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers, from today, January 28 to February 16, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Press opening night is Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Origin stories get a headstart. An audience follows deeper a familiar character. Clever, new exposition regarding established plot points is engaging and often delightful. Origin stories can be the flashback episode of a water cooler weekly serial. They can be the other side of a story like WICKED. They can be the how did the super hero discover their super-powers story or a combination of all three like PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. The show, based on Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's book of similar name, calls itself 'a Grownup's Prequel to Peter Pan'. And in it, the devices of the origin story meet a play already propelled by a talented staging, hilarious incongruity, and impressive performances. The National Tour visits Tempe's Gammage Auditorium January 14th through 19th.

Voting is now underway for Seattle! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for San Antonio! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony Award winning musical play written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award?winner Roger Rees and Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers, from January 28 to February 16, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Press opening night is Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Holy Crap! That's really the most emphatic sentiment I can use to describe the internal battles I had when trying to pick my top picks for this past year. There were so many amazing performances and achievements that to pick just one was almost an impossibility (and as you'll see, WAS an impossibility for one category). But the battle is over and it's my distinct pleasure to announce my picks for the 2013 Broadway World Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks, if you prefer).

Voting is now underway for Seattle! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for San Antonio! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for San Antonio! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

The five-time Tony Award-winning 'Peter and the Starcatcher' opened on December 4, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Written by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice('Jersey Boys,' 'The Addams Family') and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nomineeAlex Timbers ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'), 'Peter and the Starcatcher' continues through January 12, 2014. Click below to watch interviews from the opening night party!