playbill vip

We were all once children, but we all must grow up, right?  Peter Pan, Jr. takes us on an adventure to a world where we never have to grow old.  Where each day, there is an opportunity to play, learn and even fly!   My hope is, when we do grow up, we do so without losing our ability to dream, to imagine, and to believe.  All you have to do is look past the second star to the right.

One of my biggest concerns when Peter Pan, Jr. was chosen as our 15 th production was flying.  I knew our stage and budget were much too small for actual flying so, we asked for the assistance of Brian Pistone, Christian Hochenberger and the Shawnee TV Tech Crew.  They were very gracious in allowing us to not only use their studio to film our “flying” scenes, but Neeta alum Darren West also did the directing, editing and producing of the clip.  I also relied heavily on Steve Lottes, our technical guru.  His lighting, sound ideas, suggestions and experience make him a tremendous resource.  His crew, as always, does a great job with the lights/sound/effects.

People ask me “what do producers do”?  Well, the answer to that changes depending on the day because they do A LOT.  Traci Dunn and Debbie Hamilton are two people I couldn’t do this without.  They are seasoned veterans who make this show possible.; from making arrangements with the school, promoting the show, keeping me on schedule, costumes and limitless creative ideas...I would be lost without them.  Heather Edwards runs a tight ship keeping the front of house operating smoothly and the extra goodies flowing.  She's a veteran to our production crew and continues to handle the pre-show crowds with ease so I can focus on preparing our kids to take the stage.

I basically have two left feet, lucky for me Hannah Pulliam has done nearly 100% of the choreography.  She is a junior in high school and Neeta alum who has returned to help us  for the third year to do choreography.  She works hard, and it means a lot to me that she takes so much time out of her busy schedule to come and work with me and the 54 kids in our show.

My Stage Manager, Brigid Bandomer, helps keep me sane.  In addition to training the stage crew, choreographing scene changes, props, curtain cues and wrangling children in the wings, she also organizes volunteers, and assists me at rehearsals, all while going back to work and furthering her education.

And to my mentor, Laurel Hutt Thomas, I thank you for being there to answer my questions, vent my frustrations and generally be my friend who can understand all that it takes to Direct a show!

Peter Pan, Jr. will be the final production not only for the 8^th graders, but also for two very special people of our ”family”, who have given countless hours of their time;  Nancy DiYenno, as she has done for many years, took her personal time to work with the kids after school and taught them the vocal score.  She is retiring in June, and will be greatly missed. Jenn Pulliam has designed her final Neeta set.  Jenn’s creative talents will be sorely missed.  She makes set design seem effortless and is great at putting the ideas in my head first on paper and then making them come to life.

Neeta Theater is a volunteer run program.   I thank the countless volunteers  from the bottom of my heart for your efforts and devotion to the arts, and to these 54 wonderful kids who worked hard & made it fun!  They really are a great group of kids.  None of it would be possible without them!  I am so proud of what we have accomplished.    

                                       
~ BRENDA ELLICOTT