Peter Pan's Flight to Philly

Ms. Rigby, in her mid fifties! will be passing on her harness after 2,600 flights in the farewell Tour of McCoy Rigby's celebrated production of Peter Pan.

This lush production leaps from the stage right into your heart and with a solid cast and lavish set designs, there's nothing left to chance. Director Glenn Casale has remained true to one of America's favorite adventure tales with enough imagination to leave wide eyed children in awe and grownups wishing that they could fly.

Olympic star Cathy Rigby has been on stage for over twenty years from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to national tours of Annie Get Your Gun, Meet Me in St. Louis, Paint Your Wagon and They're Playing Our Song. Recently seen as the Cat in the Hat in Seussical, Rigby admits Peter Pan has been one of her greatest gifts in her theatrical career, describing the tour as being "like one last chance before giving up your child."

Based on several chapters that appeared in James M. Barrie's 1902 novel "The Little White Bird," the play Peter Pan was first performed in London in 1904. Many remarkable women have flown in the green tights, from Maude Adams (1905), Eve LeGallienne (1928), Jean Arthur (1950), Mary Martin (1954), Sandy Duncan (1979) and Cathy Rigby (1998-present).

This timeless story is about the three Darling children as they fly away from their nursery to the magical Neverland for high adventurers with villainous pirates, a crafty crocodile, a lively little fairy named Tinkerbell and the evil Captain Hook.

Keeping this century old staging fresh and bold proves little challenge for the competent creative team of Patti Columbo, who has choreographed inaugural galas for presidents, Radio City Music Hall and international tours of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rock Concert. Flying designer Paul Rubin whose credits include Broadway's Wicked, Dance of the Vampires, LaJolla's production of Dracula as well as 300 different productions of Peter Pan in 6 different countries add to the awesome flights and movement of an energetic supporting cast that entertains and delights young and old.

An outstanding performance is delivered by Howard McGillin who plays Captain Hook as a loveable scoundrel that is neither too scary for little ones or too boring for the grownups. A far stretch from McGillin's role as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, he once again summons the boos and hisses from the crowd as he hams up every scene delightfully.

The score is a joint effort by Moose Charlap, Carolyn Leigh, Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green featuring such classic favorites as "I Gotta Crow", "Neverland," "I Won't Grow Up," and "I'm Flying."

Rigby's involvement with this Peter Pan is truly a family affair as she works in the cast with 3 of her children, a nephew and daughter-in-law, Dana Solimando as Tiger Lily. In addition Ms. Rigby is married to producer Tom McCoy.

After 100 years of pixie dust and crowing this solid dynamic production still holds all the magic for a new generation of the young and young at heart.

Peter Pan played at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia from March 22-27,

For upcoming shows visit: http://www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway 

For Peter Pan tour information visit:/showinfo.cfm?showid=401

 

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