I would like to welcome you to our show and thank you for supporting our HTC Theatre Program. We are so excited to be performing the production of Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. for you! This year more than 80 people came together in collaboration to prepare this show; cast members, stage and technical crew, students volunteering to work on anything from promotional materials to sets, and adults who love theater and enjoy helping to create a magical experience for our students. I am once again truly grateful for the opportunity to work on such a professionally fulfilling and rewarding project.
I chose Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. based on J.M. Barrie's novel Peter Pan as the musical this year because I felt like our group needed a light hearted musical to work on. Also, Peter Pan delivers a powerful message that I believe our youth today need to hear.
“To live would be an awfully big adventure.” (J.M.Barrie, novel Peter Pan)
This message is clear throughout the show and is how Peter lives his life. He tells the Darling children “all the world needs is faith, trust and a sprinkle of pixie dust!” (J.M.Barrie, novel Peter Pan; Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.) Life is an adventure, and although Peter doesn’t always carry the right attitude, he teaches the Darling children to simply believe. Our students at HT are incredibly fortunate to live in a community that supports and believes in them. We encourage our small town youth to dream big and we all from time to time sprinkle pixie dust on them, helping them to realize their goals.
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.” (J.M. Barrie, novel Peter Pan)
As Peter’s character develops, he realizes that he can’t always be the hero in his own story. Our students learn they too cannot be the hero in their journey throughout this process. The theatre company must rely on and encourage each other to “fly," supporting the group in any way they can. I am profoundly inspired by them at every rehearsal. We have successfully brought together a wide range of students from the 6th to the 12th grade, who bring with them various talents and skills.
