Orlando Shakespeare Theater's PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Begins Tonight

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF presents Peter and the Starcatcher from tonight, December 2, 2015 - January 3, 2016 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the musical play is a wildly theatrical and innovative retelling of how a nameless orphan came to be The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Tickets to Peter and the Starcatcher are available now by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, visiting www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

Nominated for nine Tony Awards, Peter and the Starcatcher serves as a prequel to J. M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy by providing a deeper understanding of the events leading to an orphan becoming the infamous Peter Pan. In the play, young starcatcher apprentice Molly Aster enlists the help of three orphan boys to return a trunk of precious starstuff to her father. Pursued by a mustached pirate captain, a giant crocodile, and angry mollusks, the children must come face to face with the scariest enemy of all-their looming adulthood.

"We're over the moon to be presenting this fun prequel to a timeless family story during the holiday season," said Artistic Director Jim Helsinger. "If you've ever wondered how Peter learned to fly or how Captain Hook really lost his hand, you will fall in love with Peter and the Starcatcher. Audiences from age 8 to 98 will be enchanted by the show's storytelling and mesmerizing stagecraft."

Peter and the Starcatcher features a dozen actors playing over 100 roles. Stephen James Anthony returns to Orlando Shakes as Peter, following his performance as Smike in 2014's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Additional credits include War Horse and Skylight (Broadway), The Grand Manner (Off-Broadway), The Glory of Living (Revolve Productions), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Queens Garden Stage), and Charlotte's Web (Theaterworks USA).

Orlando Shakes newcomer Katrina Michaels joins the cast as the spunky Molly Aster. Most recently, she was seen as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Broward Stage Door Theatre. Additional credits include Tribes (Florida Repertory Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Millbrook Playhouse), and Siren's Den (West Village Musical Theatre Festival).

Also new to Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Perry Ojeda takes on the villainous role of Black Stache. He appeared as Gaby in Broadway's On the Town. Other credits include National Tours of Camelot, Blood Brothers, and Jekyll & Hyde, as well as Off-Broadway's Die, Mommie, Die! and The West End's Dolly West's Kitchen.

Additional casting includes Mark Ferrera as Smee (Bad Dog and The Merry Wives of Windsor), Paul Bernardo as Lord Leonard Aster (A Christmas Carol and Julius Caesar), Chris Mixon as Alf (The Merry Wives of Windsor and To Kill a Mockingbird), Stephen Lima as Grempkin/Mack (Henry V), Topher Embrey as Ted, James Putnam as Prentiss, Larry Daggett as Mrs. Bumbrake, Mark Rimer as Bill Slank/Hawking Clam, and Kenny Babel as Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

Director Michael Carleton's Orlando Shakes directing credits include last season's A Christmas Carol, as well as Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker, Macbeth, Frankenstein..., and Woman in Black. He served as Artistic Director of Cape May Stage in NJ (2000 - 2008), and as Producing Artistic Director of the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival (2008 - 2011).

Musical Director/Show Pianist Lulu Picart acted as Music Director for Mad Cow Theatre's 2011 production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Performance credits include Disenchanted! (New York and Orlando), Wit (American Stage Theatre Company), The Rocky Horror Show (American Stage Theatre Company), and Man of La Mancha (freeFall Theatre Company).

Choreographer Kim Ball has previously choreographed A Night in New Orleans: A Magic Tree House Adventure, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and Miss Nelson is Missing for Orlando Shakes. Additional choreography credits include Oklahoma! (Daytona Playhouse), Shrek! The Musical (Orlando REP), and Hairspray (Athens Theatre).

The Orlando Shakes artistic team also includes Set Designer Bert Scott, Lighting Designer Eric T. Haugen, Costume Designer Jack Smith, and Sound Designer Britt Sandusky.

Peter and the Starcatcher is presented by Holland & Knight.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of www.power2give.org/centralflorida, and the collaborative Campaign for the Arts. Orlando Shakespeare Theater is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

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