Constellation Theatre Company to Stage PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

Constellation Theatre Company will present Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice, directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer from February 9 - March 12 at SOURCE 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC.

Tickets are $20 - $45 and can be purchased online at www.ConstellationTheatre.org or over the phone by calling 202-204-7741.

Peter and the Starcatcher is a mesmerizing, grownup prequel to the treasured story of Peter Pan. An orphan boy without a name joins forces with Molly, an apprentice Starcatcher who has been charged with protecting a precious stash of starstuff on the good ship Neverland. They work together to escape the clutches of the dread pirate Black Stache and find themselves marooned on a not-so-deserted island filled with otherworldly enchantments and exhilarating danger around every turn. Using clever wordplay, daring ensemble movement, and live music, this imaginative journey features swordfights, shipwrecks, mermaids, and the secret to eternal youth. Our multitalented ensemble of thirteen actors portrays more than fifty unforgettable characters, all on a journey to answer the century-old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? Both magical and hilarious, this fantasy will make your imagination take flight.

As demonstrated by last year's runaway hit Avenue Q - which was nominated for 14 Helen Hayes Awards and won 7, including Best Musical - Constellation excels at bringing epic design, live music, and larger-than-life action to an intimate space. Artistic Director Allison Arkell Stockman and Managing Director A.J. Guban (who has also been the Scenic and Lighting Designer for almost all of Constellation's shows, including Peter and the Starcatcher) are thrilled to bring this high-flying production to the 100-seat Source theatre. The audience will be seated in a three-quarter thrust, allowing them to be truly up-close and personal with the action.

Adapted from a bestselling children's novel of a similar name by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatcher debuted in 2009 at the La Jolla Playhouse in California as part of an arrangement with Disney Theatrical. It was re-staged Off-Broadway in 2011 and opened on Broadway April 15, 2012 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Peter and the Starcatcher was nominated for nine Tony Awards - more than any new American play in Broadway history - including Best Play and Best Original Score. Charles Isherwood of the New York Times raved, "This show never stops flying!"

Constellation is thrilled to welcome back Kathryn Chase Bryer as Director for Peter and the Starcatcher. Bryer, who directed Scapin for Constellation in 2012, is no stranger to oceanic adventures - her critically acclaimed production of The Little Mermaid was a box office hit last summer at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD, where she is Associate Artistic Director. Bryer recently expressed her excitement to be working with Constellation again, stating, "I hope that Peter and the Starcatcher causes us all to find the 'lost child' inside ourselves as we watch Peter find his name, his home, and his family. Constellation is not afraid to tell epic stories with talented people and limited resources, and I am proud to be a part of this mission."

Bryer is joined by an outstanding creative team of Constellation favorites and newcomers: Helen Hayes Award-winner and Princess Grace Foundation recipient Kendra Rai (Journey to the West, The Fire and The Rain, Scapin) designs costumes for pirates, orphans, and a stunning chorus of mermaids; Kelly and Mollye Maxner, who won last year's Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography in a Play for Occupied Territories at Theater Alliance, choreograph epic battles and spectacular moments of flight; Deborah Jacobson, a frequent collaborator with Bryer, serves as Music Director; and Matthew Aldwin McGee, who was the Puppet Coach for Avenue Q and performed onstage in this fall's production of Urinetown, rounds out the creative team as Puppets & Props Designer.

Dallas Tolentino, who cartwheeled his way into audience's hearts as the Monkey King in last season's Journey to the West, plays the nameless orphan boy who becomes The Boy Who Never Grew Up. Megan Graves (Taking Steps) is the plucky and precocious Molly, who befriends Peter and leads their motley crew to victory. Michael John Casey (Three Sisters, Arms and the Man) takes on the role of Black Stache, a poetic, malapropism-prone pirate determined to become the world's most feared villain; Matt Dewberry, last seen as Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, plays his faithful first mate Smee. Constellation favorite Matt Schleigh (The Love of the Nightingale) joins those actors making their Constellation debuts: Jordan Campbell, Ian Anthony Coleman, Kevin M. Collins, Kamau Mitchell, Keith Richards, Christopher Richardson, John Sygar, Alex Vernon, and understudies Zach Brewster-Geisz, Tiziano D'Affuso, and Madeline Key.

Constellation Theatre Company tells big, powerful stories in an intimate space. We spark curiosity and imagination with plays from all over the world that feature visual spectacle, original music, dynamic movement and a passionate acting ensemble. We draw from the genres of fantasy, farce, and epic adventure to transport our audiences to dramatic worlds where the action is larger than life.

IF YOU GO:

Constellation Theatre Company presents

Peter and the Starcatcher
A play by Rick Elice
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Music by Wayne Barker

Press opening: Sunday, February 12 at 7 PM. By Invitation Only.
Regular Run: February 9 - March 12, 2017
Run Time: 2 hours, plus one intermission

At Source Theatre 1835 14th St. NW, Washington DC 20009

For tickets ($20-45) or information, visit www.ConstellationTheatre.org or call 202-204-7741.

Note: Recommended for ages 10 and up.

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