The theater department will bring Peter and the Starcatcher to the stage, offering audiences a new and imaginative take on the origins of Peter Pan. Performed by a cast of dedicated student actors and brought to life by the tech crew, this Tony Award-winning play blends humor, heart and adventure. Beyond the magic, the production highlights the importance of theater.
The audience will notice some similarities between the story of Peter Pan and the play as it unfolds. Peter and the Starcatcher is distinct in that every person plays a significant role in the storyline, as each character evolves into a well-known character from the Peter Pan universe.
“It’s an ensemble piece, so there’s a lot of creativity and imagination. It’s really an interesting story to prequel Peter Pan. So it’s really fun how everything kind of evolves,” theatre director, Grif Sadow said.
For a production to be stage-ready, it requires dedication from everyone involved. Actors need to perfect their lines, technicians must have everything set up, and directors must ensure everything is polished. The months leading up to the production’s stage are filled with long hours of work.
Sadow explained that the cast and crew rehearse “Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” and as opening night approaches, “we go later in the evening, some Saturdays.” Although the process is time-consuming, most would agree that the final performance makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Each production comes with its own set of challenges, depending on what the play requires. Peter and the Starcatcher heavily relies on imagination, which challenges the actors to perform both what the audience can see and what they can’t.
Freshman Jesse Kurtz, a lead in the play explained that due to the imagination factor the most difficult part for the actors is having the right body language and being expensive enough in order to accurately present the storyline.
This play features a diverse range of characters that require clear differentiation for the audience; this is left to the technicians. This play has more than just physical props; implied props are also an integral part of the story. It’s the tech’s job to make sure that these props are understood by the audience. Due to this, the audience would struggle to see the whole story without tech.
“Non-acting roles add to the story the actors are telling,” Afton Boren, a junior tech leader, explained. “The actors very much could perform on stage with just themselves, and many great performances are like that. But, tech adds to the story. Every costume, prop, set piece, light and sound is a technical element. We help make the story come to life and feel more real to the audience.”
The themes are what guide the storylines of a play. These themes are designed to resonate with the audience even after the curtains close. Although the audience’s interpretations of the story may differ, the core ideas remain the same.
“Follow your dreams. Anyone can grow and change. There are things on the journey that the universe kind of dictates, but there are a lot of things that you have control over in the choices that you make and never give up on finding your destiny,” this is what Sadow wants the audience to take away from this play.
Peter and the Starcatcher is sure to be an exciting play due to its valuable ideals, imaginative storyline and hardworking staff. This group has invested months of late rehearsals, commitment and creativity in preparing the finalized product and is almost ready to share their passion and energy with the audience. Catch the performances on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. and 7-8, 13-15 at 7 p.m., and see how Stillwater’s students turn imagination into magic under the lights.
