Florida Studio Theatre Presents PETER PAN

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) opens its third annual Children's Theatre Season with Peter Pan, an imaginative interpretation of J.M. Barrie's timeless classic. Children and families will travel to the magical island of Neverland, where there are no parents or chores, and fairies and pirates rule. Peter Pan will be performed on FST's Keating Mainstage for the general public on select weekends starting October 13. Subscriptions to the four-show Children's Theatre Series are available for ONLY $20-just $5 per show. In addition to Peter Pan, the four-show subscription package also includes Deck the Halls: Home for the Holidays, Snow White, and A Beary Big Adventure & Other Winning Plays. Single tickets are also available for just $10. Subscriptions and single tickets are available at floridastudiotheatre.org, and through FST's Box Office at 941-366-9000.

While Peter Pan will kick off FST's four-show weekend Children's Theatre series for the general public, it will also inspire the young hearts and minds of school students as the first production of FST's award-winning WRITE A PLAY program. A year-round comprehensive arts integration educational program offering a unique blend of professional plays, exciting theatre experiences, and in-class workshops, FST's WRITE A PLAY program reaches over 39,000 students each year. School groups will travel to Florida Studio Theatre during the school week beginning October 9 to experience the magical adventures of Peter Pan, while pre- and post-show enrichment activities will allow students to more deeply connect with the play, meet the cast, and reflect on what they have seen, heard, and felt. For school bookings, teachers and group leaders should contact FST's Education Group Sales Associate, Hannah Bagnall, at hbagnall@floridastudiotheatre.org.

"At FST, we produce theatre for children for the very same reason we produce theatre for grownups," said Artistic Producing Director Richard Hopkins. "We do it to create the uncreated conscience of the race. The only difference between theatre for adults and theatre for children, as the great Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski said, is that theatre for children must be better!"

Inspired by the timeless classic about a boy and his never-ending childhood adventures on the mythical island of Neverland, Douglas Irvine's adaptation of JM Barrie's enduring story celebrates imagination and storytelling, and will charm audiences, regardless of age. Adults will have the chance to introduce the younger generation to the characters they loved growing up, like Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, a horde of Lost Boys, Nana the dog, and - of course- a very hungry, ticking crocodile.

"Peter Pan is such a classic story that brings together audiences with a special bit of theatre magic," shared Caroline Kaiser, FST's Director of Children's Theatre. "It is a story that 'hooks' us at a young age, and maintains that hold on our imaginations well past childhood. I think it is truly timeless and universal, which makes it a great show for family audiences."

Directing this enchanting tale is FST Associate Artist Jason Cannon, who also directed last season's Children's Theatre productions of Robin Hood, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and The Boy Who Liked Pulling Hair & Other Winning Plays. "Our production is going to reveal a version of Neverland you've never seen before!" shared Cannon. "That's the glory of Neverland-it adapts to pretty much any time and place. The novel and play are very specific about Neverland being a manifestation of each individual's yearnings and fears. In this case, we are using some modern, steampunk-inspired design ideas to build a Neverland that is driven by the various ways time infiltrates and guides our lives."

FST's company of Acting Apprentices will bring the story to life on stage, featuring Kayla Fainer (Mrs. Darling and Smee), Emily Hardesty (Wendy Darling), Austin Howeth (Michael Darling & Others), Erin Paxton (Peter Pan), Ben Southerland (Captain Hook), and Olivia Wilson (Starkey, Twin Lost Boys, & Others).

Starting October 13, Peter Pan will play on weekends for the general public as part of FST's four-show Children's Theatre Season, and on weekdays to school groups as part of FST's award-winning WRITE A PLAY series. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale at floridastudiotheatre.org or 941.366.9000.To book your school field trip, please contact Hannah Bagnall at hbagnall@floridastudiotheatre.org.

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