Natchez Little Theatre and NLT’s 2015 Summer Youth Workshop are proud to present Disney’s beloved musical classic, “Peter Pan.” A 1953 American animated fantasy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney and based on the play “Peter Pan” by J. M. Barrie, was the 14th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.

The stage musical is faithful to the 1953 film with music and lyrics by Sammy Cahn, Sammy Fain, Michael Tumes, Xavier Atencio, George Burns, Jack Lawrence, Frank Churchill, Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Oliver Wallace and Ray Kelley. Book and additional lyrics are by David Zellnik.

“Peter Pan” is a modern version of the timeless tale about a boy who wouldn’t grow up. Wendy Darling, played by Caroline Bennett, loves to tell stories to her brothers, Michael and John, played by Luke Hargis and Tyler Merriett. But when her father, played by Tyler Brown, announces she must move out of the nursery, Peter Pan, played by Roarke Brown, comes to visit the children and whisks them away to Never Land with the help of Tinker Bell played by Anabella Laird, and her fellow fairies: Sassy Denker, Abbie Dill, Liza Gregg, Cierra Lescault and Julia Smith.

Their adventure introduces them to the Lost Boys played by Adair Carey, Bailey Brown, Eli Brown, Dillan Byrd, Lizzie Fife and Trenton Robinson; Mermaids: Sassy Denker, Abbie Dill, Liza Gregg, Addison Laird, Cierra Lescault and Julia Smith; Indians: Terrence Robinson as Chief Tiger Bamboo, Jasmine Jackson as Princess Tiger Lily, Journey Bridges, Symone Thomas and Zacoreya Hooper; and even infamous Pirates: Michael Ware as Captain Hook, Matt Spring as Smee, Tyler Brown, Hannah Hargis, Addison Laird, Avery McMillin, Taylor Spring and Gabrielle Richardson.

“Peter Pan” would not be complete without faithful Nana, the dog, played by Hannah Hargis, and the ever-hungry Crocodile portrayed convincingly by Patty Jo Hickman.

Filled with musical adventure and a beloved hero, “Peter Pan” is a magical story that the family will love! Making his NLT directing debut is Michael Ware, NLT’s first African-American director. Assisting Michael with the directing is Shemeka Ware, who in addition served as, and the talented Terrence Robinson as the show’s musical director. Sets were designed by Michael Ware and constructed by Morgan Mizell with Michael’s assistance. Costumes have been designed and constructed by Sarah Freeman Carey.

“Peter Pan” runs at Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street, Thursday through Sunday. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Thursday; at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and the final performance is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. All tickets are $10 per person regardless of age. Call NLT at 601-442-2233 for reservations or purchase your tickets online to avoid the box office lines at natcheztheatre.org.

Don’t miss this joyful opportunity to celebrate young local talent and support Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre, a charitable non-profit organization and the 2015 Natchez Attraction of the Year!

 

Layne Taylor is the artistic and executive director of the Natchez Little Theatre.