Photo Flash: threesixty's PETER PAN Set for OC Premiere, 9/28

What has become the central hub of Orange County's most notable theater arts venues will soon add a new, massive structure in the coming weeks. Occupying the open field adjacent to the beautiful glass structure of the Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, a large tent will soon rise up to be the temporary Southern California home of a unique theatrical experience.

threesixty° entertainment, in collaboration with the Orange County Performing Arts Center, is presenting the spectacular new threesixty° stage production of PETER PAN, J M Barrie's classic story performed in a state-of-the-art theater pavilion for a limited engagement, with previews starting on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, and with an official opening night set for Sunday, October 3, 2010. Conceived by an award-winning creative team and featuring 22 actors, stunning puppets, epic music, dazzling flying sequences and the world's first 360-degree CGI theater set, PETER PAN promises to be an extraordinary experience.

OCPAC will be the sole exclusive presenters of the production in the Los Angeles and Orange County area.

The threesixty° PETER PAN first captivated audiences in London, where it started performances on May 26, 2009 in Kensington Gardens, where J M Barrie was first inspired to write the story. It played a 16-week sold-out engagement to 200,000 people-including a Royal Gala for the Prince's Trust for Children and the Arts, attended by their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (Prince Charles and Camilla). In addition, an impressive parade of international celebrities enthusiastically attended with their families throughout the summer.

The U.S. premiere was April 27, 2010 at Ferry Park on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. The engagement continues there through September 5 before coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

This completely-immersive show is designed to wow the senses: the entire interior of the tent is lit with more than 15,000 square feet of Hi-Resolution video-three times the size of IMAX® screens-so that both cast and audience are immersed in a CGI Neverland. When Peter and Wendy fly to Neverland, the audience flies with them over 400 square miles of virtual London and beyond. threesixty° entertainment, a theatrical Production Company based in London with Charlie Burnell and Matthew Churchill as principals, commissioned a first class creative team to develop this production of PETER PAN.

One of the most striking elements of this new production is the setting in which it is presented. The threesixty° Theatre, allows for performance "in the round" in a 1,300-seat theater-tent, which will stand beside the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (on the future site of the Orange County Museum of Art) at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Special behind-the-scenes "Into Neverland" tours will be available weekly throughout the run.

Audiences begin the journey even before the performance commences. PETER PAN is accompanied a behind the scenes "Into Neverland" tour and a free "100 Years of Peter Pan" exhibit. Theater patrons are encouraged as well to enhance their trip to Neverland with food and beverage available in the Pavilion.

The cast of PETER PAN features members of the original London production joined by American actors, making it a truly international company. Among the original London cast members are Nate Fallows as Peter Pan, Abby Ford as Wendy Darling, Itxaso Moreno as Tinker Bell and featuring Jonathan Hyde as Capt. Hook/Mr. Darling.

Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up was created by Scottish novelist and playwright J M Barrie. One night, Peter flies into the London nursery of the Darling children, Wendy, John and Michael, teaches them to fly and leads them to the magical Neverland, "second to the right and straight on till morning", where they live with Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys and meet the notorious Captain Hook.

The tale of Peter Pan has been adapted many times including the Walt Disney animated film and a Broadway musical. However, it was not until this 2009 production, presented by threesixty° entertainment, that a production was performed in London's Kensington Gardens, where J M Barrie was first inspired to create him and where the original statue of Peter Pan has stood since 1912. This 21st century PETER PAN mixes history and magic in equal measure to present a Peter Pan story for adults and children alike.

The threesixty° production of PETER PAN, directed by Ben Harrison and designed by William Dudley, is adapted by Tanya Ronder from the Barrie story, with music composed by Benjamin Wallfisch. Dudley has received more theatre awards and accolades than any theatre artist save Judi Dench in the United Kingdom. Choreography is by Fleur Darkin, sound design by Gregory Clarke, lighting design by Mark Henderson, fight direction by Nicholas Hall, puppetry design by Sue Buckmaster and illusions by Paul Kieve. By arrangement with the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and Samuel French Limited, this production of PETER PAN is produced by Charlie Burnell and Mat Churchill for threesixty° entertainment.

Robert Butters, threesixty° producer, said, "The Orange County Performing Arts Center, one of the premier arts organizations in North America, is our ideal partner for bringing PETER PAN to Southern California. This engagement will be the only stop in Los Angeles and Orange County as part of our U.S Tour and we are excited to bring this production to one of the great performing arts centers in the United States."

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Preview performances: September 28 and 29 at 7 p.m., September 30 at 6 p.m., Friday, October 1 at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 2 at 1p.m. and 6 p.m., and October 3 at 12:30 p.m.

Opening Night: Sunday, October 3 at 6 p.m.

Regular Performances, through December 5, 2010:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Sundays at 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

There will not be a performance on Thanksgiving Day, November 25. There will be a special matinee performance on Friday, November 26 at 1 p.m. in addition to the evening performance at 7 p.m.

Tickets to see PETER PAN are priced $30 to $75. Premium ticket packages are also available, and include admission to the performance, drink voucher, souvenir brochure, PETER PAN audio book and PETER PAN memorabilia. Tickets can be purchased online at OCPAC.org, in-person at the Center's Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, or by calling 714.556.2787.

For more information about PETER PAN, please visit www.peterpantheshow.com.

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