BWW Exclusive Interview: PETER PAN LIVE's Taylor Louderman on Playing Wendy Darling & More

Taylor Louderman will soon star as Wendy Darling in NBC's highly anticipated live broadcast of PETER PAN, airing Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The actress made her Broadway debut in 2012's BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL as head cheerleader Campbell and has starred in touring productions of "Annie," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and "Aida." Most recently, the Wisconsin native portrayed 'Sandy' in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of "Grease."

Today, Louderman took time out from rehearsals for PETER PAN LIVE! to speak exclusively with BWW about learning to fly, the new original song she will perform in the show and what she is most looking forward to when the cameras go live on December 4th!

Were you familiar with the musical stage version of Peter Pan prior to your casting?

Yes, I had done the show in community theater where I played Wendy.

Oh, so you've even played the role before.

Yes, there are several different versions of PETER PAN I believe that may tell a slightly different story, but the stage musical is pretty much the same. So yes, I was familiar with the show.

And did you have any hesitations about accepting the role based on the live aspect of the project?

Absolutely not! [laughing] Well I guess, sure, if you want to recall last year's 'Sound of Music', and how difficult it was to conquer. But despite maybe a few reviews, it really was a great success. And aside from that, to be able to bring live theater to homes across the United States, you know, to people who may not have the opportunity to see a Broadway show, that I think is the most exciting part for me. To be a part of that, and tell a great story to kids at the same time.

You made your Broadway debut in BRING IT ON and it's funny that both that role and this one involve some daring stunts up in the air.

Yeah, yeah, whether it's cheerleading or fairy dust, I like to fly! The flying is really cool and definitely a technical aspect that can go wrong in live theater. So it's equally exciting and thrilling and maybe a little scary.

Were you able to use any of the technical skills you learned from BRING IT ON for this production, or is it a completely different kind of flying?

Well, with BRING IT ON, I really have to give most of the credit to the people who lifted me up. In cheerleading, a lot of the work is from the guys lifting you and my body would just have to stay straight, or firm or tight. And with the flying in PETER PAN, again that harness and that string does a lot of the work and I just have to stay tight so that it looks like I'm doing all the work. I don't think I can take credit for either one!

I think you're probably being modest.

Oh I don't know, but it does certainly look like a lot of fun if I work it right, and it definitely is.

Another similarity with BRING IT ON is that you are once again working with [composer] Amanda Green.

Yes, she is so lovely and her father worked on the music for the original PETER PAN, and so to bring her in for this, I just think it's remarkable. She officially wrote new music for the show, for two of the characters and one of those songs I get to sing. It's really special that I worked with her on my first Broadway show and now my first big TV break.

I read that the new song is called 'Only Pretend.' Can you tell us a little bit about the number and at what point in the show it is performed?

Well, Wendy has this big crush on Peter Pan, and Peter doesn't really like her in that way. But he wants to take Wendy out to explore the dangers of Neverland so she can understand that it's not all fun and games, and takes her on a boat ride in this beautiful lagoon full of beautiful mermaids. So of course, Wendy thinks it's a date, so she sings a little bit in frustration about not knowing Peter's feelings since she's getting mixed signals. But also, the song is about experiencing love for the very first time and having romantic feelings. So it's a really beautiful song and the set really supports it. I hope everyone will enjoy it.

Oh I'm really looking forward to that. Do you think this experience is going to be at all similar to performing in front of a theater audience, or do you feel it will be something completely different?

I think it will be completely different, but in terms of how I approach it, I have to do what I know best which is rehearsing as if it were in front of a live theater audience. Because the show is written that way, the story needs that same kind of energy. It's kind of been like trial and error for me. It's been hard trying to figure out, okay do I want to know where the camera is looking right now? Do I want to know what the audience is seeing right now? And part of me is saying, 'well no because you want to give 100% at all times, whether the camera is on you or not', but on the other hand, I think, 'oh, but I need my reaction to this moment to be captured in terms of storytelling.' So it is like a balance of acknowledging that the cameras are there, yet still performing this musical theater story. It's been difficult, but I think it will be very rewarding.

I think people honestly cannot appreciate the challenges you are all taking on with this project.

Yes, it is really interesting because I come from middle America where people don't really see a lot of live theater and what they're used to is TV with all the editing and special effects. So yes, I'm not so sure that everyone will be watching it understanding what it really, truly is. So all we can do is hope!

Christian Borle, who plays Wendy's father Mr. Darling, was also part of NBC's Sound of Music Live broadcast last year. Did he have any advice to share with you about the process?

Yeah, I have asked him for advice such as, do you take into consideration that there will be cameras around, do you alter your performance because of that? And he basically said, 'no, you don't, you do your thing and when the cameras come into the scene you'll feel it, and you'll know.' As an actor we have instincts and I hope my instincts regarding those cameras being there will help. So he's been a really great guide for me. And he's so lovely, and he's such a dork both on screen and off screen, and I mean that in a great way! He and Kelli [O'Hara] both have been so great to work with and watch and learn from.

Yes, and speaking of the cast, there are so many talented actors involved. What has that experience been like?

Well, it's been a wild ride. Everybody has a different process really. I mean Christopher Walken and Allison Williams both have such different processes and those are both different from those of us in the theater world. When you rehearse a Broadway show you get two months of rehearsal, while in TV it's a much shorter process. So with Allison and Christopher, you have to respect that for them it's just very different and the same for us with the cameras and whatnot.

But they have all been so welcoming. I mean Christopher is such a hoot! He's hilarious. He's always improvising in the scene and even when the cameras are not rolling he's just making jokes, it's a lot of fun. And Allison is very hands-on and teaching me about camera terminology and other things. I really feel like one of the best things about this experience has been learning from such great performers.

Finally, what are you most looking forward to on December 4th when the show goes live in front of TV audiences across the country?

Hmm, that's a good question! I think really just talking to my family afterwards. You know I come from a really small town and I just want to tell people that things are always possible, even when your resources may be slim, so I think that's what I'm most looking forward to. And hopefully another job, I mean gosh, as an actor you just really want to be employed, that's really all we can hope for.

Well the show is going to be fantastic and you can already feel the excitement building.

Well thank you, we are all excited as well!

And I'm sure we will be seeing you back on Broadway very soon!

Oh I hope so. That would be great!

About PETER PAN LIVE!:

Allison Williams will portray Peter Pan in the highly anticipated PETER PAN LIVE on NBC.The 'Girls' star takes on the role of the boy who refuses to grow up and who is forced to confront the villainous Captain Hook, played by Oscar winner Christopher Walken when the J.M. Barrie's classic musical comes to NBC on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will executive produce the broadcast. The duo are accomplished in both television and film, having earned 103 Emmy nominations. They were the driving force behind several stage-to-screen musicals, including the film version of "Hairspray" and TV adaptation of "Cinderella," as well as executive producing the NBCdrama "Smash," which earned a Golden Globe nomination. They were also nominated for a Tony Award in 2011 for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and also produced the revival of "Promises, Promises" to the Broadway stage in 2010. In addition, the duo executive produced the 2002 Oscar-winning film "Chicago."

Emmy nominated for "The Sound of Music Live!," director Rob Ashford won an Emmy as a choreographer for the "81st Annual Academy Awards" and earned a Directors Guild of America nomination for "The Sound of Music Live!" He won a Tony for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 2002 and has received nominations for seven other productions, including "Cry-Baby," "The Wedding Singer" and "Evita."

Glenn Weiss, who will serve as director for live television, has won 10 Emmys as both a director and executive producer on the TONY AWARDS telecasts. He has also won five DGA Awards for his work on the Tonys.

Musical director David Chase was Emmy nominated for "The Sound of Music Live!" and is one of the busiest music directors working on Broadway today. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013 for the cast album of the show "Nice Work If You Can Get It." He has an extensive Broadway resume, collaborating on such productions as "Damn Yankees," "Billy Elliot: The Musical" and "The Music Man." His current projects include "Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella" and he will serve as music supervisor for "Finding Neverland," which is inspired by the Johnny Depp film and will arrive on Broadway in March.

Always sought after on Broadway for his incredible sets, production designer Derek McLane is an Emmy winner for his work on the 2014 Oscar telecast and was nominated for the 2013 Oscars broadcast. He also won a Tony in 2009 for the play "33 Variations" and has three other nominations. His vast array of credits include the revivals of "Grease," "Barefoot in the Park" and "Ragtime," and original productions of "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo," "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical."

Costume designer Catherine Zuber is a seven-time Tony winner for her efforts on such productions as "The Light in the Piazza," "The Coast of Utopia" and "The Royal Family." Her voluminous credits include the revivals of "The Rose Tattoo," "The Twelfth Night" and "South Pacific," as well as original productions of "Doubt," "Cry-Baby" and "The Bridges of Madison County." She will also serve as costume designer for the upcoming revival of "The King and I."

Lighting designer Robert A. Dickinson has won 19 Emmys for his work on such projects as the Olympic Games, and several telecasts of both THE GRAMMYS and Oscars.

Peter Pan Photos: Virginia Sherwood/Patrick Randak//NBC

Bring It On: The Musical photo credit: Craig Schwartz