This holiday season, Arden Children’s Theatre invites families to embark on a magical adventure with a wildly imaginative adaptation of the timeless classic Peter Pan. Directed by Obie and Barrymore Award winner Whit MacLaughlin, Douglas Irvine’s imaginative adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan brings the timeless story to life in a vibrant production for audiences ages six and up.
With captivating staging and dynamic performances, the production invites young audiences to journey to Neverland, where they’ll encounter beloved and notorious characters, including Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell, and Captain Hook. Peter Pan unfolds on the Arden’s 360-person F. Otto Haas Stage (40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA) with previews beginning Nov. 27, opening night Dec. 7, with performances through Jan. 19.
A longtime collaborator with the Arden, MacLaughlin has directed more than 20 productions, including world-class Arden Children’s Theatre’s Charlotte’s Web, A Year with Frog and Toad, and last season’s The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), which was nominated for six Barrymore Awards including Outstanding Overall Production of a Play. MacLaughlin recently directed Charlotte’s Web overseas with the National Theatre of Turkey for audiences in cities, including Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir.
Peter Pan features six Philadelphia-based actors: Jo Vito Ramirez (they/them), Campbell O’Hare (she/her), Lee Minora (she/her), Jessica Money (she/her), Adam Howard (he/him), and J. Hernandez (he/him), the cast combines to play more than a dozen characters throughout the two-hour production.
Set against a cityscape backdrop, the adaptation of Peter Pan immerses audiences in a dreamlike world where the classic tale of adventure and wonder unfolds with modern touches and dynamic visual storytelling. The reimagined production opens with Wendy (Campbell O’Hare), now grown up and sharing her memories of meeting Peter Pan with her daughter, Jane (Jessica Money). As Wendy begins the tale, she takes the audience back to her childhood, reliving the moment she and her brother Michael (Adam Howard) left their London nursery to embark on an adventure with Peter Pan. Together, they soar to the fantastical island of Neverland, where pirates, fairies, and adventure await.
If You Go:
Peter Pan begins Nov. 27, opens Dec. 7, and runs through Jan. 19. Single ticket prices vary by performance and start at $35. Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street).