Peter Pan flys into Brewery Arts Center

Join the Brewery Arts Center and Western Nevada Performing Arts Company as they delve into the magical world of swashbuckling pirates, fairies and boys who never grow up.

The fairy tale "Ballet of Peter Pan" will be presented Oct. 28, 29, and 30 at 7 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center.

Peter Pan is a classic story based on a 1904 play by Scottish author Sir James M. Barries about a boy who runs away to Never-Never land and refuses to grow up.

One day Peter loses his shadow and ends up with his tiny sidekick, Tinker Bell the fairy, in the London nursery of Wendy, Michael and John Darling. He persuades the children to come on a magical journey to his home. With a little bit of pixie dust and a dose of happy thoughts, the crew flies to Never-Never Land.

They find an enchanted land and have many adventures with the Lost Boys, the Indian princess Tiger Lilly a tick-tocking crocodile and the evil Captain Hook. Hook is as intent on defeating Peter Pan as he is on escaping the crocodile who bit off one of the pirate's hands.

The tale has been professionally choreographed to the music of Carmon DeLeone, conductor of the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra.

It has recently been performed by the Cincinnati Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet and by Ballet West with reviews that rave about the touching and yet powerful music as well as the fun that was experienced.

Flying by Foy of Las Vegas developed the stage technology that allows Peter Pan performers all over the world to fly about the stage. For the first time Carson City's Community Center stage will be equipped for flying, and all performers were taught to fly by Flying by Foy's Chip Christensen.

This production will be performed by more than 40 talented children and young adults selected from a June area-wide open audition.

Traditionally Peter is always played by a female in theater productions of Peter Pan. Carson's production holds to tradition with Nicole Miller of Carson City in the lead roll Thursday and Saturday and Georgie Wright of Minden as Peter on Friday.

Wendy will be played by Rachel Chipp of Gardnerville Thursday and Saturday and by Katelyn Berger of Carson City on Friday. John will be played by Shelby Francoeur of Carson City and Michael, the youngest of the Darling children will be played by Keagan Chipp of Gardnerville on Thursday and Saturday and by Emma Jacquette of Carson City on Friday.

Hook will be played by Alisha Kaskie of Carson City and Hook's first mate Smee will be played by Katelyn Harris of Gardnerville. Erica Chipp of Gardnerville will preform as Tinker Bell, and princess Tiger Lily will be preformed by Laura Dale of Carson City on Thursday and Saturday and by Allie Williams on Friday.

"I am in awe at the caliber of talent we have available to us in this area," Choreographer Gina Kaskie-Davis said. "This is one of the most exciting and challenging ballets to choreograph and an even more challenging one to dance."

Kaskie-Davis studied ballet in England and has extensive experience in musical theater. She will be assisted by Rosine Bena who danced professionally with the world famous Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Peninsula Ballet Theatre.

"Working on 'Peter Pan' has been an interesting and exciting project because not only do the dancers have to be precise in their movements, but they must be able to act at the same time," Bena said. "It is a lively and humorous ballet and these talented persons are pulling it off extremely well."

General Admission tickets are $12. Brewery Arts Center members and seniors are $10 and children under 10 are $6. A family rate for two adults and up to five children will be $50.

For information on the ballet call 883-1976 or 882-7485.