Niles West Presents “Wendy & Peter Pan”

From Niles Township High Schools District 219:

February 19, 2020

Niles West Theatre presents “Wendy & Peter Pan,” adapted by Ella Hickson from the book by J.M. Barrie at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on February 21 and 22 in the Black Box Theatre at Niles West High School, 5701 W. Oakton, Skokie. Direct from the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, this modern retelling of the classic Peter Pan tale is told from Wendy’s perspective. The play begins as Wendy meets Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. She and her brothers, John and Michael, fly away with Pan and Tink to Neverland, where they meet with the Lost Boys and battle the evil Captain Hook. This feminist re-working of the story prominently discovers some of the darker themes within the original story. This production is best suited for ages 10 and older, due to moderate mature language and themes.

Commissioned by the RSC, Ella Hickson’s “Wendy & Peter Pan” premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in December 2013. This is an amateur production of this adaptation.

Performances are 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m on Friday, February 21; 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students, senior citizens and children. Call the Box Office at (847) 626-2633 or www.nileswesttheatre.com.There is a free community performance at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 20.

Cast: Nina Cajuste as Wendy Darling; Jake Pranian as Peter Pan; Ella Rousseau as Mrs. Darling and Captain Hook; Henry Gussis as Mr. Darling and Smee; Kiela Broderick as Tink; Janay Moncrief as Tiger Lily; Ian Soriano as John Darling; Levi Irving-Secor as Michael Darling; Ellie Evens as Tom Darling; Joy Boedefeld as Martin; Aaron Razack as Tootles; Anton Tomacic as Nibs; Henry Fleck as Curly; Kelly Kintner as Slightly; Sara Collins as Doc Swain; Charlotte Howard-Check as Knock-Bone Jones; Elizaveta Kolesnik as First Mate and Murt the Bat; and Mia Finnigan as Skylights, Doc Giles and The Crocodile.

Crew Heads: Stage Manager, Maya Patterson; Assistant Director, Lorelei Wernecke; Assistant Costume Designer, Charlie Luz; Assistant Lighting Designer/Master Electrician, Melanie Kerz; Assistant Scenic Designer, Olivia Benitez; Assistant Sound Designer, Brian Bedoya; Assistant Stage Manager, Dashna Benjamin, Assistant Stage Manager, Adam Rutecki; Assistant Technical Director, Mehreen Patel, Charge Paint Lead, Marnie Coresh; House Manager/Publicity, Lorelei Wernecke; Master Carpenter, Colin Bartlett; Shop Foreman, Tanya Spasic; Wardrobe Head, Maddy Foler; and Prop Head, Dashna Benjamin.

Production Crew:

Costume Crew: Layla Ellis, Emily Lim, Lejla Mehmedovic and Enzo Pellicciari.

Lighting Crew: Peyton Ayers, Sarita Akwa-Philbin, Donatello Durso, Evelyn Herbert and Shaino Matino.

Prop Crew: Caitlin Ayers, Aaliyah Kessler and Juliana Vargas.

Scenic Crew: Rose Bilicki, Adam Rutecki and Eva Schultz.

Sound Crew: B.J. Abad, Cerasela Dornan, Leen Hashlamoun, Kathy Lopez, Henry Rousseau and Emily Sproat.

Production Team: Samuel Rosenfeld, Director; Michael Johnson, Technical Director/Scenic Designer; Leah Hummel, Costume Designer; Kimberly Morris, Prop Designer; Charlotte Rathke, Lighting Designer; L.J. Luthringer, Sound Designer; Hannah Luthringer, Production Management; Dave Gonzalez, Fight Choreography; Deanna Sortino, Poster Design; Andy Sinclair, Program Design; Jackie Garvey, Box Office Management; Lisa Bany, Production Assistant and Christian Frieden, Production Assistant.

During the 2019 – 2020 Season, Niles West Theatre will present five productions under the umbrella theme of “Aspirations vs Limitations.” Their mission is to showcase productions that will examine dreaming big and the limitations of reality.

This press release was produced by Niles Township High Schools District 219. The views expressed here are the author’s own.