Skip to main content

Article: Stars of Stage and Screen to join Peter and the Starcatcher

 

An all-Australian star cast will bring the 5-time Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher to life for the very first time in a reimagined Australian production. The Broadway smash hit will premiere October 2024 at Canberra Theatre Centre, ahead of a national tour.

Peter and the Starcatcher is the untold story of Neverland. Before Neverland there was an Island. Before Captain Hook, a pirate. Before Wendy, her mother Molly. Before Peter, a nameless boy. 

Originally developed by Disney Theatrical Group and written by renowned stage writer and 4-time Tony Award nominee Rick Elice (Water for Elephants, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), with music by Wayne Barker, this all-new production is directed by Helpmann Award-nominated Australian director and Dead Puppet Society co-founder David Morton (Holding Achilles, The Wider Earth).  

The Australian production features a star-studded ensemble cast including Otis Dhanji from blockbuster Aquaman and Netflix hit The Unlisted as Boy / Peter; one of Australia’s most recognisable comedy faces Colin Lane from duo Lano & Woodley as Black Stache; and television star Olivia Deeble, known for roles on Home and Away, More Than This and Secret Society of Second Born Royals, as Molly.

Also featuring in the Peter Pan prequel story is Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, In The Heights) as Fighting Prawn; Paul Capsis (La Cage aux Folles, Head On, The Rocky Horror Show) as Slank and Hawking Clam; Hugh Parker (The Office, The Family Law) as Captain Scott; Morgan Francis (Boy, Lost) as Prentiss; and Alison Whyte (Death of a Salesman, Groundhog Day The Musical, The Dressmaker) as Lord Aster.

Completing the company, which inhabits over 100 characters in this production full of fantasy and adventure, is Leon Cain and Benjin Maza, along with offstage covers James Haxby, Erika Naddei and Natasha Veselinovic, and on-stage musicians Annie Silva-McKnight, James Dobinson and Luke Volker. 

Reimagined for Australian audiences, this highly anticipated version of Peter and the Starcatcher blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, traversing oceans of mystical mermaids and lands of curious creatures. 

This production is a major coup for international Brisbane-based production and design house Dead Puppet Society, led by Creative Director David Morton and Executive Producer Nicholas Paine who, in an Australian first, has been granted a license by Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International (Australasia) to stage a new version of the Tony Award-winning production. Dead Puppet Society is joined in presenting this production of Peter and the Starcatcher by the London-based Glass Half Full Productions, currently with major productions running on both Broadway and the West End; JONES Theatrical Group, the team behind the current Australian tour of Chicago and upcoming Sydney season of Book of Mormon; and Damien Hewitt, co-producer for Girl From The North Country and Liz Kingsman: One Woman Show.

Peter and the Starcatcher is written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. This new Australian production is directed and designed by David Morton with musical direction and additional music by James Dobinson, movement direction by Liesel Zink, lighting design by Ben Hughes, costume design by Anna Cordingley, and sound design by Matthew Erskine. Completing the production team is casting director Michael Topple, creative producer Nicholas Paine and associate director Matt Seery.

Jump on board this theatrical spectacle bursting with 100 unforgettable characters, live music and technical wizardry, and discover the untold story of Neverland.  

Coming to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre from 14 March 2025! 




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Theory of Relativity // Footlights Theatrical

  Written by Jake Goodall If Person A moves along at 3 miles per hour, and Person B trails behind slightly slower at 2 miles per hour, Their paths do not intersect, nonetheless, does B change A's trajectory?  This intriguing question lies at the heart of Footlight Theatricals' latest production, Theory of Relativity, staged at the Pip Theatre, a captivating performance not to be missed in South East Queensland's vibrant theatre scene. Theory of Relativity weaves together a tapestry of seemingly disparate songs, scenes, and monologues, interconnecting to showcase the profound ties that bind humanity. Centered around themes of self-discovery and belonging, the narratives delve into the intricacies of love, identity, and the myriad experiences that shape our existence. From the highs and lows of romantic entanglements to the quirks of allergies, the diverse array of characters invites audiences on an unforgettable journey through the rich tapestry of human connection. Under th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Chicago // Crossroads Live

Get ready to experience All That Jazz in Crossroads Live's production of Chicago at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre! This delectable production is a stunning recreation of the world-renowned Bob Fosse's original show based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins.  Every element of this production was cool and calculated, from the sultry costume design to the impressive lighting, the creative team has clearly worked hard to create this fantastic story. Most of this production is a recreation of the Broadway version giving Australia its very own slice of New York, and Crossroads Live's production lives up to the big white way.  Technical elements were stunning, utilisng patterned lights to create the jail cell, visitors room, and murder the lighting design really helped the audience to understand the setting and place in this bare staged production. In terms of set design, it was minimal, all the action happened in front of a massive bandstand (where the band actually was...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Carrie The Musical - Phoenix Ensemble

  Written by Gabriel Besa We’re back in high school but this time we’re attending Chamberlain High. Here, we meet any high school trope you can think of while also singing and dancing about the high school experience. Carrie: the Musical is based off the Stephen King novel that Phoenix Ensemble then brought to their stage. Phoenix Ensemble is full of creatives that have previously done shows like Footloose, Sweeney Todd, and The Spongebob Musical.  Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it. Set in the present in the small New England town of Chamberlain, Maine, Carrie: The Musical features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award winner Michael Gor...
Post a Comment
Read more