Tickets are selling quickly for Heartwood Theater’s “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a fun-for-the-family Peter Pan legend, with great music, hilarious antics, and an abundance of innovation. Colorful, clever and always moving with great force, this gem runs on delightful old-fashioned stagecraft.
“Even in early rehearsals,” notes Director Griff Braley, “we’ve seen high energy and lots of laughter. The script is clever - very tongue in cheek - and the staging bits incorporate layers of movement, sound, dialogue and action. The ensemble is a great mix of professional, college and high school actors, which works perfectly for the relationships inside the play. We're having a ton of fun prepping the production, and audiences will most certainly enjoy adventuring with us.”
Part of Heartwood’s longevity and success has been achieved by combining professional actors, several of whom return each summer to teach students and act, with local professional and adult actors, college students and even a few high school drama students. This production showcases a perfect example of such hybrid casting, with two New York actors, three Midcoast adult actors, five Lincoln Academy grads now in college and two Lincoln Academy high school students.
Tommy Macdonell has returned to Heartwood this summer, coaching in the Broadway Summer Camp and acting in “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Audiences first enjoyed Tommy with his outstanding portrayal of Dicken, in “The Secret Garden,” summertime 2018. “It’s been four years since I was involved at Heartwood, and once I discovered the company was doing “Starcatcher” this summer, I jumped at the opportunity to return! I’m glad I did, because it has been an absolute treasure, working to bring life to Black Stache (his character), every day. The true treasure, though, has been working with the ensemble to create the fluidity and movement of this piece, together.”
Seven evening performances are scheduled in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy (81 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle) at 7:30 on July 28-30 and Aug. 3-6. Ticket sales are heating up, sellouts are expected, and reservations are strongly advised.
Reserve by emailing info@heartwoodtheater.org or phoning 563-1373. Student tickets (through college) are a nominal $5, sponsored by Peapod Jewelry & First National Wealth Management; all adult tickets are $30.
“Peter and the Starcatcher” is sponsored by Moody’s Diner and Heartwood’s longstanding Season Sponsor, Bath Savings Institution.
Based on the best-selling novels by Dave Barry and Ridley Parson, this play by Rick Elice was conceived for the stage by directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, with music by Wayner Barker. Presented with special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI).
