'Peter Pan' flies in to Geneva High School stage
Get ready for a highflying adventure.
Geneva High School will present "Peter Pan," the musical adaptation of Sir J.M. Barrie's 1904 play. The show is about the adventures of Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 19-21, at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave.
The show is directed by Roxanne Curtis with choreography by Kyle Donahue, a pit orchestra conducted by Pat Frederick, and a production crew led by Mary Toledano.
"I thought 'Peter Pan' would be a show that had appeal for all ages and was family friendly," Curtis said. "Shows that we've done recently have had darker themes - 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Jekyll and Hyde,' 'Urinetown' - and I believe this will be a nice switch."
Cast members seem to agree with her.
"Peter Pan was always one of my favorite Disney movies, and a lot of people know the story," said Natalie Carberry, who plays Slightly, one of the Lost Boys. "There's a lot of whimsy involved in a show when characters refuse to grow up. You have boisterous lost boys fighting silly pirates and a young girl mothering them all. It's just a really fun show to put on.
"My freshman and sophomore musicals were not very lighthearted ones ('Fiddler on the Roof' and 'Jekyll and Hyde'), so a show like this is bound to be refreshing for everybody."
The lighthearted mood has been enjoyable for other cast members as well.
"I enjoyed the rehearsals in the beginning because nobody knew their lines and we would mess up and try out new ideas and have fun," said TJ Farrell, who is playing Mr. Darling and Kango the pirate.
Each production brings its own unique challenges, and "Peter Pan" is no exception.
"The flying aspect is a huge challenge," Curtis said.
Students began flying for the first time this past weekend. The crew and cast has been trained and spent a great deal of time "with fairy dust, harnesses, and courage," according to Curtis.
Flying equipment and training is provided by Hall Associates Flying FX in DeKalb.
"The cast, crew, and pit orchestra have been working extremely hard, and they would love to perform for a sold-out audience each night," Curtis said. She's a teacher at the school and began directing the musical portion of GHS musicals 25 years ago. She's been the stage and music director for 15 years.
Natalie Carberry has enjoyed all the work it's taken to perfect her character and performance.
"I would say my favorite thing about playing a lost boy is the freedom," Carberry said. "Each lost boy has an individual personality and quirks, and it was really fun to play around with my character, Slightly. Also running and dancing around the stage in a posse like ours has been so much fun for me. And because I'm a 16-year-old girl, attempting to capture a young boy onstage has been an absolute blast of a challenge for me."
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for children, students through high school, and senior citizens. All seating is reserved.
Geneva High School performances are popular and often sell out, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. To order tickets, email ghsboxoffice@gmail.com. You will receive confirmation of your order. If available, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door. The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. the evening of each show. For details, call Debbie Hanson at (630) 463-3838.
If you go
What: Geneva High School's production of "Peter Pan"
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 19-21
Where: Geneva High School auditorium, 416 McKinley Ave.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors
Details: To order tickets, email ghsboxoffice@gmail.com, or call Debbie Hanson at (630) 463-3838.