John Waters has said that his childhood "holy trinity" was Captain Hook, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Rhoda Penmark, the 8 year old serial killer from The Bad Seed. Explains a lot doesn't it? I think, in my childhood, my "holy trinity" was Willy Wonka, Mary Poppins, and Alice of Alice in Wonderland. Explains a lot doesn't it?
As a grown up there were times when it bummed me out that the White Rabbit never came for me. However, I realized that I did get to go on adventures in a magical world. The theatre was my Wonderland. So it's fitting that the first full length show that I'm directing is about Neverland, the gift that J.M. Barrie gave the world many, many years ago.
Most people who know me will tell you that I love musicals (no, but I LOVE musicals). So it is interesting that my favorite piece of theatre of all time is a play with music, not a full fledged musical. But that's one of the most wonderful things about Peter and the Starcatcher. It is a little bit of everything: it is a musical, a farce, a love story, an adventure, a pirate yarn, a fairy tale...all rolled into one. I hope when you watch this incredible thing that we've made tonight, you feel the way that I felt the first time (and every time since) that I saw it: that it is a close to magic as we mortals can get.
Between my freshman and sophmore years of high school I discovered this Barn and it quickly became my favorite place to perform. Then there was a hiatus and there hasn't been a full production on this stage since 2008. It has been a dream of mine since that final production of Seussical all those years ago to bring theatre back to this barn. Well, here we are! There is something special about this place. As you watch this magical show tonight, I hope you feel that too. I hope that we have many more magical nights in this place.
I could not have asked for a better cast to share this story with you. I'm so proud and impressed and grateful to have had this group of people to take this journey with. I hope that you enjoy watching them tonight as much as I do.
"To have faith is to have wings"
With All My Heart, I thank you,
Kevin T. McGee
