Peter Pan Comes To Monroe, Connecticut

Monroe Middle School’s drama department will reach new heights as young actors fly up to the auditorium’s rafters this weekend with the opening of its spring musical Peter Pan. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 19, 20, 21 at 7:30 and Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 at 2 pm. To order tickets, go to jhpeterpan.com.

Director David Halliwell said that although this isn’t the first time that Monroe’s young actors have floated above the stage, this year’s production was staged by Flying by Foy, the company responsible for Broadway shows and the most recent production of Peter Pan starring Allison Williams.

“In the past, we’ve only flown Peter and he only went up and down using our regular scenery system,” Mr. Halliwell explained. “For this production, Flying by Foy has installed a multi-track system.”

Several lead actors will be hoisted high into the air and Sean Gaynor, as Peter Pan, will move diagonally as well as up and down.

During the five Monroe performances, adult crew members, including some of the actors’ parents, were trained by Flying by Foy to lift and suspend the actors in the air.

Sean, 13, a seventh grade students at STEM, admitted he was, at first, apprehensive to fly.

“At first, I was really scared,” he said. “But, once I got going, it was really fun.”

Peter Pan marks Sean’s first leading role onstage. He has been a member of the ensemble for six productions led by David and his wife, Susan, the company’s producer. He’s now looking forward to singing, dancing and flying several times during this show.

“Singing while flying is not as hard as I thought it would be,” he said.

Justin Cavone, as John Darling, said he couldn’t wait until it was his turn to fly during rehearsal after he saw Sean having so much fun. “He looked like he was having the time of his life,” Justin said.

With ten-years of dance training at Monroe Dance Academy (owned by Peter Pan’s choreographer Judy Abbatiello), Katie Zimmer also feels comfortable performing high in the air.

As Wendy Darling, Katie, a sixth grader at Jockey Hollow, said, “It’s a lot of fun!”

Katie first appeared onstage a few seasons ago as the youngest orphan, Molly, in the Halliwell’s production of “Annie.”

Katie recently traveled to New York City for two call-back auditions for the Broadway musical, “Matilda.” She plans to continue to pursue performing both locally and professionally.

Zosia Kocab, a sixth grader at STEM, portrays the Darling’s youngest sibling, Michael. Like Katie, Zosia’s dance background and extensive training in gymnastics helped her master the aerial movements. For the past four years, Zosia has studied ballroom dance at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Peter Pan is her first musical theater show.

“I was auditioning for any type of role and when the cast list came in, I was so excited to find out I was ‘Michael’ and that I would be able to fly,” Zosia said.

Tackling the challenging role of the villainous Captain Hook, eighth grade student Jackson Kelman was also pleased with the show’s casting.

“This is a departure from the comedic Cowardly Lion I played in The Wizard of Oz last year,” Jackson said, smiling. “I’m not used to getting super serious and devious.”

Jackson said that he didn’t have any interest in performing live theater until he auditioned for his first middle school show at the beginning of sixth grade.

“I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it and now I really love it,” Jackson said. “I love the rush you get onstage and I love that you can turn all of these emotions that you may be having back into creating a character.”

Mr. Halliwell is excited to share Peter Pan with local audiences of all ages. There are 68 students in the cast and 22 students working backstage. The technical crew are Brooke Burling, set designer; Judy Abbatiello, choreography; Gabrielle Brazauskas, music director; Susan Russell, costume designer, and props, Noel Macfadyen.

“It’s a classic show,” Mr. Halliwell noted. “We’re proud of this production and I think the community is going to enjoy it as well.”

Registration has begun for the Halliwell’s Two Planks Theater Company’s summer camp and theater-in-the-park productions. Young people ages nine to 18 are invited to sign up for a intensive theater workshop and audition for Hairspray. Adult actors are invited to audition for the musical Avenue Q in early June. For more information, go to www.twoplankstheater.org.