Kean Department of Theatre's PETER PAN to Open 2/20

The Kean University Department of Theatre's 2014-2015 Season continues with the high-flying musical Peter Pan, opening Friday, February 20 in Kean's Wilkins Theatre. Based on the tremendously popular play by Sir James M. Barrie, Peter Pan will be directed by Department of Theatre faculty member Holly Logue with musical direction by Meg Zervoulis, choreography by Michele Mossay, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Morris "Moose" Charlap. The cast of Kean University students also includes two local children - Joshua Hunt of Cranford and Lucas Luchsinger of Elizabeth - who will share the role of Michael Darling.

In this classic tale of Neverland - a place where dreams are born and no one ever grows up - Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night, and with a sprinkle of pixie dust begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, a fierce Native American warrior, a band of bungling pirates, and the villainous Captain Hook.

Kean's production, which began rehearsing in early January, will feature a number of complex flying sequences, according to Ms. Logue. "The characters of Peter, Wendy, Michael, John and Jane will all be flown by the original Peter Pan flying company, Flying by Foy," stated Ms. Logue. "With multiple tracking systems, the Wilkins Theatre has been absolutely transformed to allow for the magic of flight."

Widely considered the premier theatrical flying service in the world, Flying by Foy was established in 1957 by Peter Foy, who famously flew actress Mary Martin as Peter Pan on Broadway in 1954. In the past sixty years, Foy's company has flown thousands of Peter Pans in productions across the globe, including Allison Williams, a star of the HBO hit series "Girls," in NBC's recent television special, "Peter Pan Live."

Kean's production will also benefit from some spectacular fight choreography by legendary fight director Rick Sordelet. A faculty member of the New School for Drama, the Yale School of Drama, and the Neighborhood Playhouse, Mr. Sordelet has staged fights for 65 renowned Broadway productions, including The Scottsboro Boys, The Royal Family, Disney's The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Aida. "With multiple national and international productions, over 1000 episodes of daytime television, and a dozen feature films, the Kean students in Peter Pan have been afforded an unprecedented opportunity to work with a wonderfully high-profile professional in Rick Sordelet," said Ms. Logue.

Peter Pan runs February 20 - 28 in Kean's Wilkins Theatre at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union. Performances are scheduled for Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 21 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, February 25 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m. (followed by a brief Q & A with the cast); Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m. (student matinee) & 8 p.m.; and Saturday, February 28 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Standard tickets are $15, with $12 tickets available for Kean faculty, staff, and alumni, and $10 tickets available for students. To purchase tickets or request a Department of Theatre season brochure, please call the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469), email ticket@kean.edu, or visit http://www.keanstage.com/.

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