Palo Alto Players to Present PETER PAN This November

Fly along with that mischievous sprite to the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning. Palo Alto Players continues its 2017-18 Season with one of Broadway's most beloved family musicals, Peter Pan, based on J.M. Barrie's classic story of the boy who refused to grow up.

Peter Pan is directed and choreographed by Janie Scott (Palo Alto Players' Chicago,The Addams Family, and Disney's The Little Mermaid), who starred in the 1980 Broadway revival of Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan, musically directed by Lauren Bevilacqua, and features a cast of 26 local Bay Area actors bringing this magical tale to life.

Peter Pan runs November 3 - 19 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. For information or tickets, visit paplayers.org or call 650.329.0891.

Peter Pan flies into the Lucie Stern just in time for the holidays! Let your imagination soar with Peter Pan and the Darling children all the way to Neverland, but watch out for the loony lost boys, some precocious pirates led by the villainous Captain Hook, and a carnivorous crocodile along the way. One of Broadway's most beloved musicals, Peter Pan has more than a sprinkling of Tinker Bell's fairy dust to muster its magic, with unforgettable songs including "Neverland," "I Won't Grow Up" and "I Gotta Crow." Featuring dazzling flying effects by ZFX, Inc., Palo Alto Players' annual family offering will surely "hook" all those who truly believe.

"Like many people, Peter Pan holds a very special place in my heart," says Artistic Director Patrik Klein. "This is a timeless show that has charmed generations and one that the whole family can enjoy together. I'm thrilled that we were able to entice Broadway veteran Janie Scott to return to Palo Alto Players to mount a spectacular, high-flying 'Pan,' unlike any you have ever seen before!"

Peter Pan Director/Choreographer Janie Scott returns to Palo Alto Players after directing and choreographing last season's box office smash Disney's The Little Mermaid. She has directed and choreographed over 40 productions from New York to Los Angeles, with a resume that spans decades of summer stock, dinner theatre, regional theatre, industrials, and film. Throughout her impressive career, she has worked directly with many musical theatre greats including Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Trevor Nunn, and Michael Bennett. As a performer, she was seen in the original National and International touring companies of A Chorus Line, the Broadway productions of Peter Pan and Merrily We Roll Along, and the original LA Company of Cats. For her choreography of Palo Alto Players' 2015 production of Chicago, Scott received a 2016 Theatre Bay Area Award.

Scott directs a cast of 26 local Bay Area actors. The Peter Pan cast features (in order of appearance):

Wendy Darling: Brittney Mignano

John Darling: Amay Goel

Michael Darling: Billy Hutton

Liza/Warrior: Breanna Van Gastel

Nana/Mullins (Pirate): Eddie Standifer

Mrs. Darling: Gwyneth Price

Mr. Darling/Captain Hook: John Bisceglie

Peter Pan: Corrie Farbstein

Curly (Lost Boy): Zendrex Llado

Twin 1 (Lost Boy): Leandro Bilello

Twin 2 (Lost Boy): Michael Cai

Slightly (Lost Boy)/Jane: Grace Hutton

Tootles (Lost Boy): Logan Montgomery

Nibs (Lost Boy): Justin Lewis

Smee: Shawn Bender

Cecco (Pirate): David Murphy

Starkey (Pirate): Victor Velasquez

Noodler (Pirate): Robert Vetter

Cookson (Pirate): Marc Grossman

Jukes (Pirate): Oklys Pimentel

Tiger Lily: Catrina Contini

Adult: Wendy/Warrior: Rachelle Abbey

Warriors: Alex Cox, Tiffany Jianto, Joshua Lau, Michael Saenz

The creative team also includes music direction by Lauren Bevilacqua, scenic design by Patrick Klein, lighting design by Carolyn A. Foot, costume design by April Bonasera, properties design by Ting Na Wang, sound design by John DiLoreto, stage management by Jeff Grafton, and flying effects provided by ZFX, Inc.

Tickets for Peter Pan can be purchased online at paplayers.org, by phone at 650.329.0891, or by visiting the Box Office (Tuesday through Thursday, 11 am - 4 pm) at the Lucie Stern Theater, located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Performances at the Lucie Stern Theater begin on November 4 and continue through November 19, with a preview performance on November 3. Performance times are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm, with an added special Family Matinee on Saturday, November 18 at 2pm (generously supported by The Rotary Club of Palo Alto). Ticket prices range from $25 to $55. Discounts for seniors, educators, patrons under 30 (including children/students), and military are available for all performances except preview night. Special discounts of 20-25% for groups of 10 or more are also available.

Events taking place during the run of Peter Pan include:

Opening Night AfterGlow Party

Saturday, November 4

Enjoy a post-show champagne reception with drinks and appetizers while meeting the cast, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for that evening's performance.

Post-Show Talkback

Thursday, November 9

Enjoy our Talkback series with Director/Choreographer Janie Scott and members of the cast following the performance, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

Post-Show Designer Talkback

Sunday, November 12

Enjoy our Talkback series with Technical Director Nikolaj Sorensen and members of the design team of the show following the performance, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

Family Matinee Day - Special SATURDAY 2pm Matinee (with support from The Rotary Club of Palo Alto)

Saturday, November 18

Pre-Show Activities and Snacks beginning at 1 pm, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for that afternoon's performance.

In cooperation with The City of Palo Alto, Peter Pan and the shows of the 87th Season of Palo Alto Players are produced at the Lucie Stern Theater, located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California. Use of this facility is made possible through support from The City of Palo Alto, Community Services Department, Division of Arts and Sciences, and from our patrons.

Founded in 1931, Palo Alto Players is the San Francisco Peninsula's first theatre company. Based at the Lucie Stern Theater, built explicitly for Palo Alto Players in 1933, Palo Alto Players produces a season of comedies, dramas, classics, and musicals from September to June. Audiences and participants come from all over the Bay Area to be a part of Palo Alto Players' productions. Palo Alto Players is committed to providing a meaningful theatre experience for both audience and production participants. Intrinsic in this is the belief that theatre benefits the community-at-large and enhances the quality of life of those who are touched by it through education, enlightenment, and enrichment. Palo Alto Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established for public benefit.

For more information about Palo Alto Players and upcoming shows, please visit www.paplayers.org or call the box office at 650.329.0891. Follow Palo Alto Players on Twitter @PaloAltoPlayers or twitter.com/PaloAltoPlayers, on Instagram @PaloAltoPlayers, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PaloAltoPlayers.