A Piece of Neverland Comes to DuPage Children's Museum

On July 15, 2011 DuPage Children's Museum welcomed cast members from the threesixty° production of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan for a special Members-only preview of selections from the show and some special interactions staged just for the Museum audience.  Now playing at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center, DCM Members watched a scene between Peter and Wendy, admired the puppetry of Nana the Dog and sang and danced along with the Pirate Band.   

“We were thrilled to be a showcase opportunity for this incredibly talented, Chicago-based production,” said Alison Segebarth, Director of Marketing and Membership at DuPage Children's Museum.  “The performance was not only a perk for Members, but an accessible way to introduce professional theater to our young audience.”

As the performance opened, the audience met Peter Pan, who was desperately trying to re-attach his shadow to his body, and Wendy, a bright-eyed young girl with an imagination as vast as the London night sky.  The scene left audiences wondering if the pair would ever find Tinkerbell. 

Next, Peter Pan’s puppeteer Joshua Holden gave audiences a short lesson on playing with puppets and brought Nana the Dog to life making her walk, wiggle her ears and interact with all her new friends.  To cap off the performance, the Pirate Band took the stage.  They performed four songs, including one from the show, a sing-along, a Beatles classic and an original piece.  

“We couldn’t be happier with the cast’s performance,” said Segebarth.  “Not only were they wonderful performers, they interacted with the children flawlessly.” 

After the performance, cast members graciously chatted, signed autographs and posed for pictures with the audience.  Everyone got a chance to pet Nana the Dog, too.   

Peter Pan is playing at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center through August 21, 2011.  For more information on tickets, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com.