SCP/Theatricks director, Webster Crocker, has announced the cast for the 2006/2007 season opener "Peter Pan the musical". From nearly 120 adults and children who auditioned for "Peter Pan", a cast of 55 has been selected.
Heading the cast in the title role is Jordan Hancock. Hancock is a veteran of the Theatricks program, both onstage and backstage. Most recently she was assistant director for "Winnie the Pooh". Also during the 2005/2006 season Hancock played the role of Jo in "Little Women" and had several roles in "Beauty and the Beast" that started off the 2005/2006 season.
The Darling children who will learn how to fly and travel to Neverland are Rachel Hebert as Wendy, Jon Reynolds as John, and Anna Nall as Michael.
Hebert has been involved in "Beauty and the Beast", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Cinderella", "Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Wizard of Oz". In addition, she has been in Sherman High School's musicals "Guys and Dolls", "Music Man" and "Oklahoma". Reynolds most recent production was "Winnie the Pooh", where he played the title role. He was also in "Beauty and the Beast" and had the title role in "Pinocchio". Reynolds has also been in "Seussical", and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".
Nall is also a veteran of the stage. Her most recent production was in SCP's summer musical of "Annie" where she played one of the orphans.
Cast in the dual roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook is Harris Tooley. Tooley has extensive experience on the stage. He was last seen in "Beauty and the Beast". Prior to that role he was in "Treasure Island", "Seussical", "Pinocchio", "Cinderella", "James and the Giant Peach", and several other productions.
Theresa Matthews has been cast as Mrs. Darling and one of the Indian maidens. Matthews is new to Theatricks productions, but has been in several SCP productions. She was in "You Can't Take it With You".
Rounding out the Darling household is Liza, played by Sarah Stell. Stell will also perform as one of the Indian maidens. Stell is a veteran of many Theatricks productions, including "Beauty and the Beast", "The Ransom of Red Chief", "The Boxcar Children", and "Bridge to Terabithia".
Cast as Captain Hook's sidekick, Smee, is Curry Whitmire. This is Whitmire's second appearance in "Peter Pan". In the Theatricks production of "Peter Pan in 2000, Whitmire played the role of John Darling. Since that time, Whitmire has performed in Theatricks productions of "Wizard of Oz", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Pinocchio". Whitmire also has had leading roles in the Sherman High School productions of "Oklahoma", "Music Man" and "Guys and Dolls".
Leading the cast of Indians will be Vanae Taul in the role of Tiger Lily. Vanae has performed in many productions with Denison High School "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Seussical", "Grease", but this is her first time to perform for Theatricks.
Tiger Lily's band of Indians includes Paige Armstrong, Deborah Barrax, Jordyn Bristow, Samantha Crocker, Kaylea Daubenspeck, Lauren Fanning, Ellie Gundersheimer, Madeline Hayes, Malerie Nelson, Carly Ortel, Bailey Page, Taylor Peck, Sheridan Scott, and Allie Syler.
In Neverland Peter Pan leads a group of Lost Boys. This group of boys and girls is composed of both veteran actors and newcomers to the Theatricks stage. The Lost boys will be played by Justin Ailshire, Joshua Bayless, Brittani Crocker, Caleb Crocker, Ashley Hicks, Townsend Jambor, Quinten Layman, Elizabeth Leanch, Landry Luker, Ellie Margolis, Jake Merritt, Libby Reynolds, Don Rhoads, Hannah Sanza Taylor Scribner, and Natalia Wojciechowska.
Assisting Captain Hook in his attempts to remove Peter Pan from Neverland are his notorious band of Pirates. These parts will be played by Will Armstrong, Daniel Clark, Drew Crocker, Zeke Dolezalek, Dallas Fleck, Jerry Gundersheimer, Josh Harris, Steve Jonse, Kris Lemons, Taylor Nall, Tom Rawson, Willy Stell, Keith Syler, Eric Wiese, and Tristan Wiese.
The parts of Nana the dog and the Crocodile will be played by Josh Harris and Austin Hicks. This ensemble is being directed by Karen Tooley. This is Tooley's third occasion as director of a Theatricks production. Her directorial debut of a Theatricks production was "Scrooge" in 2001 followed by "James and the Giant Peach" in 2003. Tooley also has extensive experience both onstage and backstage in Theatricks productions.
Webster Crocker is the Technical Director and Producer of "Peter Pan". ZFX, the famous flying troupe responsible for flying other famous Peter Pans, will be handling all the flying effects. Crocker will be coordinating all the technical aspects of "Peter Pan" with ZFX.
The production staff includes Cheryl Lewis as music instructor; Fred Freeman as orchestra conductor; Amy Dean as choreographer; Krystina Burns as assistant director; Cathy Sauls is rehearsal pianist; and Tammi Daubenspeck and Betty Harper are the costumers assisted by Karen Schuth and Josh Harris. Krystina Burns is the Supporting Cast member who is assisting the director as Assistant Director for PETER PAN, this is her first time to do so.
Cathy Sauls has been with Theatricks the longest through many Theatricks musicals. Fred Freeman began his stint with Theatricks during SCROOGE, Cheryl Lewis has worked on SEUSSICAL and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and Amy Dean came aboard on JOESPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Tammi Daubenspeck and Betty Harper have been Theatricks costumers for many shows now with some of the more spectacular being JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, SEUSSICAL, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and many others. Karen Schuth is known for her work on costumes for SCP Mainstage like THE KING AND I, MY FAIR LADY, and ANNIE. "Peter Pan" is sponsored by the Ailshire family and Outreach Health Services. TexomaCare Pediatrics is sponsoring Tinkerbell, a laser light.
"Peter Pan" will be part of a weekend of events on September 8, 9, and 10.
"Peter Pan" will be performed at the renovated Kidd Key auditorium that weekend and will be produced in conjunction with the Sherman Tourism Department, Texoma 11 and the Sherman Arts Festival. Tickets will go on sale August 14, 2006 at the SCP Theatricks box office, the Sherman Tourism Department, and the Sherman Chamber of Commerce. Tickets will be $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, and $6 for students and children. Theatricks season ticket holders will get first opportunity at the choice seats. For additional information contact Webster Crocker at (903) 893-8525 or via email. Theatricks 2006-2007 season is sponsored by Caskey Orthodontics.