Tony Award-Nominated Composer Wayne Barker To Appear At UC Davis

"'Peter and the Starcatcher'" Composer to Appear at UC Davis

Wayne Barker, the Tony Award-nominated composer of Peter and the Starcatcher, will discuss his career and perform his songs and music at UC Davis on Feb. 5. The event takes place in the Arena Theatre, Wright Hall, at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Barker performed for six years with Barry Humphries/Dame Edna Everage, including Broadway's Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance and All About Me, and collaborating with Humphries on lyrics for the productions. He composed and performed the piano scores for the world premiere of Beth Henley's Laugh at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., Joe DiPietro's Hollywood at La Jolla Playhouse, and The Primrose Path and The Great Gatsby at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. His music can also be heard throughout A Little Curious on HBO Family. He has contributed dozens of original arrangements to symphony pops programs, including those presented by the New York Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra and the Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco and St. Louis symphonies.

"The Department of Theatre and Dance is delighted to have Wayne on campus discussing his music for Peter and the Starcatcher, our winter departmental production," said Mindy Cooper, professor of theatre and co-director of the play. "As a top-tier research institution, we are pleased to learn more about his creative process and his influences, ideas, and how he collaborates in a theatrical setting to further the narrative musically."

Barker's appearance is presented by the College of Letters and Science's Department of Theatre and Dance, which is producing Peter and the Starcatcher Feb. 27-29 and March 5-7.

For information about this event and production, visit theatredance.ucdavis.edu.