Geneva High School is Flying High with Peter Pan

On the evenings of March 19, 20 and 21, the students of Geneva High School will present PETER PAN, the musical adaptation of Sir J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play. The show is about the adventures of Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up. “I thought Peter Pan would be a show that had appeal for all ages and was family friendly,” says director Roxanne Curtis. “Shows that we’ve done recently have had darker themes—Sweeney Todd, Jekyll and Hyde, Urinetown—and I believe this will be a nice switch.”

TJ Farrell, who plays Mr. Darling and Kargo the pirate, especially enjoyed the early rehearsals. “Nobody knew their lines and we would mess up and try out new ideas and have fun,” he says. Natalie Carberry is also having a good time with her portrayal of Slightly, one of the Lost Boys. “Because I’m a sixteen-year-old girl, attempting to capture a young boy onstage has been an absolute blast of a challenge for me,” says Carberry. “You have boisterous Lost Boys fighting silly pirates and a young girl mothering them all. It’s just a really fun show to put on.”

Each production brings its own unique challenges, and Peter Pan is no exception. “The flying aspect is a huge challenge,” Curtis says. Students began flying for the first time this past weekend. The crew and cast has been trained and spent a great deal of time “with fairy dust, harnesses, and courage!” according to Curtis.

Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 19, 20 & 21 at 7:30pm in the Geneva High School auditorium at 416 McKinley Avenue. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for children, students through high school, and senior citizens. All seating is reserved.

Geneva High School performances are popular and often sell out, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. To order tickets, e-mail ghsboxoffice@gmail.com. You will receive confirmation of your order. If available, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door. The box office will open at 6:30 pm the evening of each show.

The original 1954 Broadway production of Peter Pan earned a number of Tony Awards and features music by “Moose” Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show is directed by Roxanne Curtis with choreography by Kyle Donahue, a pit orchestra conducted by Pat Frederick, and a production crew led by Mary Toledano.

Photo credit: John Downey. Pictured (left to right): Cameron Graber as Smee and Zane Shaw as Captain Hook.