My Chicago Theatre Debut~ Peter Pan!
Happy New Year everyone!! I celebrated the New Year with my Peter Pan cast, as we closed our show today. Music Theater Works' Peter Pan ran from December 23, 2017- January 1st, 2018 at the Cahn Auditorium in Wilmette, IL. I was ecstatic to make my Chicago-land theatre debut as a dancing indian and Tiger Lily Understudy. The production was put on by Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works), directed by the amazing Rudy Hogenmiller.
Peter Pan holds a very special place in my heart- it was the very first theatre production I watched as a young girl, back in Hawaii. The production was put on by a local community theatre in Honoulu Hawaii, Diamond Head Theatre in 2003, and I remember watching the entire show with my mouth gaping open and eyes jumping out of my head, so entranced by the magic of theatre. I was so inspired that when Diamond Head Theatre announced in 2008 that they were doing Peter Pan again, my nervous but determined 15 year old self auditioned and was absolutely blessed to be cast in my first community theatre show. It's crazy to think that 9 years have past since then- I was ecstatic to return to Neverland again in 2017.
I greatly appreciated the re-imagining of the Indians in the show- we were all literal flowers since Tiger Lily is a flower. For example, a snapdragon, sunflower, crocus, and lily, were some of the flowers demonstrated in our costume designs. I played a "Daisy" Indian with zebra print leggings and daisy petals around my neck. It was a very physically demanding show with lots of dancing and jumping and tumbling (making good use of my circus skills!). But that's what I LIVE for. I had an amazing time with this wonderful, talented cast of people!! Until we fly again to Neverland~
Reviews of the show can be found here:
-"★★★★★! This is the BEST” Peter Pan” I have ever seen”!
Alan Bresloff (Around the Town Chicago)
http://www.aroundthetownchicago.com/theatre-reviews/peter-pan-3/
-"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Peter Pan is a magical afternoon of entertainment for the young and the young at heart."
Steve Bellinger (Picture This Post)
http://www.picturethispost.com/music-theatre-works-peter-pan/
-"Residing in Evanston for just a brief stay, this new production is perfect in every way. Every member of Mr. Hogenmiller’s energetic ensemble is engaging and entertaining. Highly Recommended."Colin Douglas (Chicago Theater Review)
-"There’s PETER PAN, (the movie, the Broadway play, the television shows) and then there’s PETER PAN, the best production of PETER PAN I have ever enjoyed, playing now through January 1, 2018 at Music Theater Works in Evanston, Illinois.The ensemble cast excelled, all equally talented and engaging."
Barbara Keer (Splash Magazines Chicago)
http://chicago.splashmags.com/index.php/2017/12/27/peter-pan-review-a-terrific-show/
