PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Begins Performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre

The acclaimed new American play PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice, directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Drama Desk Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), begins preview performances on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) tonight.

The cast, led by Adam Chanler-Berat as Boy, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Molly and Christian Borle as Black Stache, also features Teddy Bergman, Arnie Burton, Matt D'Amico, Kevin Del Aguila, Carson Elrod, Greg Hildreth, Rick Holmes, Isaiah Johnson, David Rossmer, Betsy Hogg, Orville Mendoza, Jason Ralph and John Sanders.

Based on The New York Times best selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatcher is described as "an innovative and imaginative new play, in which a company of twelve actors plays some 50 characters, all on a journey to answer the century-old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up? This epic origin story of one of popular culture's most enduring and beloved characters proves that an audience's imagination can be the most captivating place in the world."

Peter and the Starcatcher opened to rave reviews last March in its premiere Off Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop. The sold out run was extended by popular demand and set a record for the highest grossing single day in NYTW's history. The production went on to receive five Drama Desk nominations (and a win for Outstanding Music in a Play); two Obie Awards (for Direction and Design) and two Lucille Lortel Awards (for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Choreography).

The show began its journey to the stage in 2003 when Disney Theatrical Productions president Thomas Schumacher discovered the first Barry and Pearson book while it was still in galleys, and its development has been shepherded by DTP ever since. With just a few scenes outlined, the project received its first lab in 2007 at Williamstown Theatre Festival under the direction of Rees and Timbers. A full length version of the play was then written by Elice and developed in a Page to Stage production at La Jolla Playhouse in the winter of 2009. Following further revisions, the play received its first fully staged production with the spring 2011 run at NYTW.

The entire creative team reunites for the Broadway production of Peter and the Starcatcher and includes: Wayne Barker (Music), Steven Hoggett (Movement), Marco Paguia (Music Direction), Donyale Werle (Scenic Design), Paloma Young (Costume Design), Jeff Croiter (Lighting Design) and Darron L. West (Sound Design).

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