Company of Fools' PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Begins 12/18

This December Company of Fools (COF), a proud part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, invites you to set sail with a wildly theatrical, hilarious and innovative retelling of how a miserable orphan came to be Peter Pan! COF is one of the first theatres outside of New York to receive the rights to this Broadway hit and will present 13 public performances of this family-friendly adventure from December 18 through January 3 (recommended for children ages 8 and up).

Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice is based on the 2004 children's novel of a similar name, co-written by humorist Dave Barry and suspense writer Ridley Pearson. The book and play function as an origin story for the character of Peter Pan and a prologue to the events in J.M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy (the original work of Peter Pan). Set Designer Joe Lavigne has, once again, created a magical set that resembles a Victorian ship yard that allows the actors plenty of opportunity to run, climb, swing, jump and roll from location to location.

The cast, under the direction of Core Company Artist John Glenn, features local Company actors Andrew Alburger, Scott Creighton and Richard Rush as well as guest actors Neil Brookshire, Chris Canfield, Suzanne Gray, David Janeski, Per Janson, Loren Jones, David Kepner, Cameron Needham and Norman Payne. Rounding out the creative team are Jay Ryan (Guest Light Designer) and K.O. Ogilvie (Stage Manager).

Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's Peter and the Starcatcher was adapted for the stage by playwright Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family). Directors Roger Rees (Nicholas Nickelby, Waiting for Godot) and Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Pee-Wee Herman Show) first brought the story to life on stage at La Jolla Playhouse, before a successful off-Broadway run at New York Theatre Workshop. The play then moved on Broadway to the Brooke Atkinson Theatre. It opened on April 15, 2012 and featured nearly all of the Off-Broadway cast. The production closed on January 20, 2013 after 319 regular performances, but re-opened at New World Stages Off-Broadway soon after on March 18, 2013. After nearly three straight years in NYC, Peter and the Starcatcher closed on January 12, 2014. A national tour of the show also started in Denver on August 15, 2013, and is currently running to this day.

In addition to 13 public performances, COF will also offer four sold-out student matinees for elementary and middle school student groups (grades 3 and up) from across the Wood River Valley. Approximately 1,000 students will attend these special performances. Company of Fools began offering students matinees in 1999. Over the years, the response to these matinees has been overwhelmingly positive. To date, the program has enabled more than 16,200 students to experience to the magic of live theatre.

Grab your satchel, your lifejacket and your imagination and reserve your Peter and the Starcatcher tickets today. Tickets are $35 for full price, $25 for seniors and Sun Valley Center for the Arts members and $15 for students (18 and under). Additional ticket options include the Pay-What-You-Feel night (Thursday, December 18), 10 for $10 and Educator Day (Sunday, December 28) and a special group rate (groups of six or more receive $25 tickets-a $10 savings if you are not a member of The Center). Tickets may be purchased online at companyoffools.org, by phone at 208-578-9122 or at the Liberty Theatre box office starting one hour prior to curtain. Company of Fools box office is located at the Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main Street in Hailey, with hours from 10 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. All seats are reserved, except for our "Pay What you Feel" preview.

Peter and the Starcatcher is generously sponsored by Linda and Bill Potter and Barbara and Stanley Zax with support from Marcia and Don Liebich, Papoose Club, Power Engineers and Hailey Rotary. The sponsors of COF's 19th season are High Country Fusion and Scott Miley Roofing and media sponsor The Weekly Sun.

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