PETER PAN to Fly to Music Theater Works This Winter

Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) presents PETER PANat Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, December 23, 2017 through January 1, 2018.

The family classic about the boy who won't grow up includes the songs "I Gotta Crow," "I Won't Grow Up," "I'm Flying" and "Neverland," accompanied by a full orchestra.

PETER PAN is directed by Music Theater Works artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller, conducted by music director Roger L. Bingaman and choreographed by Clayton Cross.

The cast for PETER PAN includes Aubrey Adams (Peter Pan), Larry Adams (Mr. Darling/ Captain Hook), Elizabeth Stenholt (Wendy Darling/Jane), Anna Marie Abbate (Tiger Lily) and Cary Lovett (Smee).

The design/production team is Adam Veness (scenic), Robert S. Kuhn (costumes), Andrew H. Meyers (lighting), Aaron Quick (sound), Matthew Silar (stage manager) and Katie Beeks (production manager).

PETER PAN is Music Theater Works' final production of 2017. The 2018 season will be THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (June 9-17), ANYTHING GOES (August 18-26) the concert performance Judy Garland: COME RAIN OR COME SHINE starring Angela Ingersoll (October 5-14) and INTO THE WOODS (December 22-31).

2018 subscription tickets are now available. Tickets for PETER PAN start at $34. Ages 25 and younger are half price. To order tickets, or for more information, call the Music Theater Works box office at (847) 920-5360 or order online 24 hours a day at www.MusicTheaterWorks.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Rudy Hogenmiller (Director), artistic director of Music Theater Works, has directed and choreographed many productions for the company including Duke Ellington'S GREATEST HITS, GYPSY, CANDIDE, DIE FLEDERMAUS, LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU: Jule Styne'S GREATEST HITS, MAME, MY FAIR LADY, GUYS AND DOLLS, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE FANTASTICKS, THE MERRY WIDOW, Cole Porter'S GREATEST HITS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, H.M.S. PINAFORE, OLIVER!, MAN OF LA MANCHA, CAMELOT, BRIGADOON, HELLO, DOLLY!, THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, KISS ME, KATE, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE MIKADO and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Hogenmiller was seen on stage in 2014 as Mr. Applegate in DAMN YANKEES, and as the Emcee in CABARET in 2013. He has been recognized with six Joseph Jefferson Awards and 17 nominations for best direction and choreography in Chicago, and has been a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers for more than 35 years.

Roger L. Bingaman (Music Director and Conductor) conducts the full orchestra. Bingaman made his first appearance on the Music Theater Works podium in 1997, conducting THE MERRY WIDOW. Since then he has conducted many productions, including GYPSY, CANDIDE, DIE FLEDERMAUS, MAME, MY FAIR LADY, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE FANTASTICKS, CABARET, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, H.M.S. PINAFORE, OLIVER!, CAMELOT, THE STUDENT PRINCE, BRIGADOON, HELLO, DOLLY! CAROUSEL, and THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD, as well as THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, THE MUSIC MAN, IOLANTHE, GIGI, OKLAHOMA!, BITTER SWEET, KISS ME, KATE, 110 IN THE SHADE, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY and BEAUTIFUL HELEN OF TROY. Bingaman has been director of the apprentice program and chorus master for the Sarasota Opera since 1998.

CLAYTON CROSS (Choreographer and Nana/Crocodile) choreographed GYPSY (and played Tulsa), CANDIDE, MAME, MY FAIR LADY and GUYS AND DOLLS at Music Theater Works, where he also played the Mute in THE FANTASTICKS and was a featured dancer in DAMN YANKEES. Cross served for five years as artistic advisor, board member and choreographer for Renegade Dance Architects, and continues to consult and contribute choreography to the Capitol One Bowl's ALL AMERICAN HALFTIME SHOW. He is a master teacher for M.A. Dance, a Texas-based traveling convention circuit, where he has worked and judged for the past 17 years. Throughout his 20-year career as a dancer, Cross has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Frank Chaves, Paul Taylor, and Ann Reinking. He was featured in EVERY DANCER HAS A STORY, a PBS special about the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for nine seasons and toured nationally and internationally. Originally from Midland, Texas, Cross received his early training from La Petite Dance Company, Coleman Academy, and the Midland Community Theatre. He holds a BFA in ballet and modern dance from Texas Christian University.

AUBREY ADAMS (Peter Pan) makes her Music Theater Works debut. Chicago area appearances include MY FAIR LADY at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and MAMMA MIA! (dance captain), WEST SIDE STORY (Anybodys) A CHRISTMAS STORY (dance captain), OKLAHOMA (Ado Annie u/s), LES MISERABLES (Eponine u/s/dance captain), and THE WHO'S TOMMY at Paramount Theatre. Regional credits include CATS (Rumpleteazer), 42ND STREET (Ethel), GREASE (Patty Simcox), HAIRSPRAY (Tammy), THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, RENT, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and EVITA at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 (Violet), THE PRODUCERS, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, and THE MUSIC MAN at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Recent choreography credits include URINETOWN (BoHo Theatre Company) and BONNIE & CLYDE (Kokandy Theatre Company).

Larry Adams (Mr. Darling/Captain Hook) was last seen at Music Theater Works in LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU: Jule Styne'S GREATEST HITS. Other appearances with the company include SOUTH PACIFIC (Emile de Becque), THE MERRY WIDOW (Danilo), KISS ME, KATE (Fred Graham), 110 IN THE SHADE (Starbuck), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Captain von Trapp), THE MUSIC MAN (Harold Hill), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Fredrik), and I DO! I DO! (Michael). Other Chicago credits include Drury Lane, Goodman, Marriott, Writers Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Paramount, Theatre at the Center and Victory Gardens. Regionally, he performed at Fulton Theatre in SWEENEY TODD, on Broadway in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and off-Broadway in THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS and PHOTO-OP. Larry was honored by Chicago magazine in its "Best of Chicago" issue. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, and a proud member of Actors' Equity.

Elizabeth Stenholt (Wendy Darling/Jane) makes her Music Theater Works debut. Chicago area credits include Caril Fugate in LOVE KILLS (Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre), Thomasina in ARCADIA (Writers Theatre), Thea/Wendla understudy in SPRING AWAKENING (Marriott Theatre), Emily Covington in DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA (First Folio Theatre), Party Goer/Zoe understudy in AIRLINE HIGHWAY (Steppenwolf Theatre), Morse Braithwaite in ONE FLEA SPARE (Eclipse Theatre Company), Victoria Roubideaux in PLAINSONG (Signal Ensemble Theatre), Laurie in BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (The Raven and Fox Valley Repertory Theatre), the title role in CINDERELLA (Chicago Kids Company) and Juliet in scenes from ROMEO AND JULIET for Loyola University Chicago's 27th Annual Law & Literature lecture series, SHAKESPEARE AND THE LAW.

ANNA MARIE ABBATE (Tiger Lily) makes her Music Theater Works debut. She is a 2015 graduate of Millikin University with a B.A. in theater with a dance minor. She was recently seen at Northbrook Theatre in THE PAJAMA GAME, directed by three-time Jeff Award winner Dominic Missimi. She appeared in a University of Illinois dance workshop led by SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE star Sonya Teyah, and choreographed HONK! at Devonshire Cultural Center. At Millikin, she choreographed the collegiate premiere of LOVE KILLS, THE MUSICAL, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, and EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL. Other appearances include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Hodel) and GUYS AND DOLLS (Hot Box girl) at Wilmette Center for the Arts, and SCROOGE THE MUSICAL (Belle) at Prairie Lakes Theatre.

CARY LOVETT (Smee) returns to Music Theater Works, where he was Vanderdendur in CANDIDE, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in GUYS AND DOLLS, Mr. Bumble in OLIVER!, Sancho Panza in MAN OF LA MANCHA, and Alfred P. Doolittle in both the 2017 and 2009 productions of MY FAIR LADY. During the past 30 years Lovett has moved from male ingénue (Lt. Cable in SOUTH PACIFIC at Drury Lane Evergreen Park) to leading man (Jean Valjean understudy in LES MISERABLES on the third national tour) into the wonderful grab bag of character roles. He has performed with the Grant Park Symphony Chorus and the acclaimed vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella, and can be heard singing throughout the Chicago area as a cantor at numerous churches.

Music Theater Works' (formerly Light Opera Works) mission is to produce and present musical theater from a variety of world traditions, to engage the community through educational and outreach programs and to train artists in musical theater.

Photo Credit: Rich Foreman

To post a comment, you must register and login.