Say “Good-bye and good riddance” to the long Wisconsin winter with a dreamy trip to Never Land at Whitewater Middle School’s production of “Peter Pan Jr.,” slated Thursday and Friday, April 10-11 at 7 p.m. in the Whitewater High School Auditorium.
The Thursday, April 10, show is “Pay What You Can,” with suggested donations of $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. On Friday, April 11, tickets will cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Children five and under can attend for free both nights.
Like its namesake, Peter Pan is a tale that never ages. Wendy Darling loves to tell stories to her brothers, Michael and John but when her father announces she must move out of the nursery, Peter Pan comes to visit the children and whisks them away to Never Land. Their adventure introduces them to the Lost Boys, Mermaids, Indians and even the infamous pirate, Captain Hook.
Based on the Disney film and J.M. Barrie’s enchanting play, Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. is a modern version of the timeless tale about a boy who wouldn’t grow up with no flying required! The score includes new arrangements of classic Disney songs, such as “Following the Leader,” “You Can Fly,” “The Second Star to the Right” and “Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me.”
Whitewater Middle School’s plays are an integral part of the theater program in the Whitewater Unified School District, according to Jim McCulloch, who directs the Whitewater High School fall and spring plays, as well as the Summer School Playhouse production. He also provides support to the WMS musicals.
McCulloch said they are important because they “give kids their first opportunity to work on a production from the beginning. Many young actors learn the basics of acting and stage directions which will help them as they continue up to the high school level with productions that become more elaborate and with more extreme demands for the actors. The WMS backstage crew also have important responsibilities that they need to learn at a young age through the teamwork and cooperation it takes to put together the backstage elements which are critical for the success of any production.”
The cast and technical support crew, more than 50 strong, include: Trinity Astin, Chelsea Baker, Allisan Barrett, Caleb Bols, Savannah Boss, Henry Bresser, Colin Chenoweth, Joe Creanza, Caroline Crowley, Tommy Cushman, Lydia Wiley Deal, Arturo Franco, Ipek Goktepe, Jillian Harkness, Lauren Harkness, Casi Hernandez, Josie Hintz, Betsy Hixson, Haley Hoag, Jeremy Hoesley, Morgan Janovec, Cally Julson, Rylee Karins, Meikayla Korf, David Kromholtz, Weston Lema, Autumn Lesar, Romeo Manriquez, Hunter Martin, Elliott McCulloch, Angie McKelvery, Gehrig Monday, Connor Murray, Mirian Navejas, Tessa Papke, Maci Parrish, Jaden Pfinder, McKenna Riley, Anna Rodriguez, Charissa Rothamer, Bianca Sanshez, Gabe Schemmel, Nicole Sedmak, Rayvin Sharp, Gwen Smith, Odessa Sonn, Caty Strait, Emma Stutzman, Lani Toth, Travis Winger, Catherine Yang, Brianna Zimdars, Caitlyn Zimdars and Jacob Zuehlke.
Whitewater High School is located at 534 S. Elizabeth St., Whitewater.
