based on the play by James M. Barrie Beck Center for the Arts |
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This production was among the top five best selling shows in Beck Center’s history. |
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Photography by Kathy Sandham and Fred Sternfeld
 Kelly Smith as “Wendy” and John Paul Soto as “Peter Pan” |
| Excerpts from the Cleveland Jewish News Review Reviewed by Fran Heller “something to crow about” ”Director Fred Sternfeld, whose trademark extravaganzas include Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific, does it again with Peter Pan.” ”Sternfeld is a meticulous director, whose casting is unerring and whose attention to detail is a constant source of surprise and pleasure. Equally amazing is the extraordinary discipline, cohesiveness and heart of the 35-member ensemble, only one of whom is an Equity actor.””Peter Pan was the very first show I saw on Broadway, and I have been hooked on the magic of live theater ever since. That magic was brought to sparkling life once again in Sternfeld’s sterling production. Take a child and see the show.” ”Brimming with comedy, song, dance, and high-flying wire acts, the show keeps the younger set … mesmerized” ”all of it is enjoyable.” ”Martín Céspedes’s choreography works wonders” “An ace production team outdoes itself in recreating the enchantment of this beloved classic.” ”What endures is the story’s universal appeal to children.” ”From first to last, John Paul Soto as the eternally youthful Peter Pan owns the show. The exuberant Soto sings, dances and acts with equal ability and agility… priceless” ”Kelly Smith is perfect as Wendy Darling” ”A campy, dandified Michael Mauldin is brilliant as the deliciously malevolent Captain Hook. Mauldin also doubles as Mr. Darling, the children’s much put-upon father, who is little more than a man-child himself.” “Watching the excellent Alexis Generette Floyd as Tiger Lily and her band of Indians fan out like a centipede with perfectly synchronized arm movements is a treat.” ”Other cameo gems include Brendan Sandham as Captain Hook’s skinny sidekick Smee, Maggie Stahl-Floriano as devoted wife and mother Mrs. Darling, Gregory K. White as the protective dog nurse Nana, and Michael Columbro as the slithering Crocodile with an unusual tick in his vocal chords.” “The entire cast is exceptionally fine.” ”The fantasy begins with Ben Needham’s storybook set, which undergoes a total metamorphosis for each of the three acts. Act I takes place in the toy-filled Victorian nursery of the Darling household, including a dog house for Nana, the children’s canine nurse, and a façade of large windows framed by Michael Boll’s starry night. Act II transports the audience to Neverland, the lushly verdant island home of Peter and the Lost Boys, where even the flowers exude a fairy-tale charm. Act III takes place on the pirate ship, which Needham recreates with delightful verisimilitude.” ”Richard B. Ingraham’s comic sound effects don’t miss a trick, from a trapped Tinkerbelle and nattering birds to the watery splash of a pirate jumping ship.” ”Aimee Kluiber’s colorful costumes charm throughout.” “Larry Goodpaster and orchestra give the musical numbers their lively due.” “sterling production” view complete review here or on the Cleveland Jewish News website |
| Rave and Pan 2008 “Best of Cleveland Theatre Awards” by Christine Howey BEST ACTOR—MUSICAL Michael Mauldin, Peter Pan, Beck Center “In the dream role of Captain Hook, Mauldin never missed a chance to chew the scenery, and it was hilarious. This sissy-pirate was a hoot as he luxuriated in his pronunciation of every syllable as he haplessly chased Peter, often creating laughs with just a glance or a single sound.” Winner of a ‘Times Newspaper Tribute Award – Outstanding Theatre 08’ Set Design – Ben Needham
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 Kelly Smith as “Wendy,” Maggie Stahl-Floriano as “Mrs. Darling,” Stephen Sandham as “Michael” and Lincoln Sandham as “John” |
| Excerpts from Cleveland Scene’s recap “Best of ’08 – ’09”
Halftime Report “First on our journey we encounter four performances that illuminated our hearth and our hearts. Happily, two of the performances were promising indicators of a bright future: students from the burgeoning theater departments at Baldwin-Wallace College and Cleveland State University.” “In the Beck Center’s production of the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan, John Paul Soto had the difficult task of filling a role associated for more than a century with charming, boyish actresses and literalizing it as a real boy. Musically and histrionically, Soto defined winsomeness and made every member of the audience long to fly off with him once more to J.M. Barrie’s Neverland.” “Even amid major economic stress, it’s a joy that people still take artistic risks, let alone leave the house. God bless them, indeed, every one.” |
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Production Staff |
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Director — Fred Sternfeld
Musical Staging & Choreography — Martin Cespedes Music Director — Larry Goodpaster Scenic Design — Ben Needham Costume Design — Aimee Kluiber Light Design – Michael Boll Sound Designer – Richard Ingraham Stage Manager – Diana D’Alessandro Assistant Stage Managers – Rachel Budin, Tony Weishar Assistant Director – Randi Sternfeld Dance Captain – Sarah Clare Technical Director — Joe Carmola Fight Choreographer / Props — John C. Davis Flying — ZFX Flying Effects Special Effects — Woodie Anderson Dialect Coach – Beth McGee |
 Santino Russo as “Tootles,” Nick Hyland as “Slightly,” Douglas Puskas as “Nibs,” Alex Dilallo as “Twin 1,” John Paul Soto as “Peter Pan,” Billy Lawrence as “Curley,” Jesse Markowitz as “Twin 2,” Stephen Sandham as “Michael” and Lincoln Sandham as “John” |
Excerpts from Christine Howey’s review From her “Rave and Pan” online blog ”this production fairly sizzles with professionalism, in the air and on the ground”“very well acted” ”come(s) across with freshness and verve under the direction of Fred Sternfeld” ”Managing a large and very young cast, he succeeds in making the scenes with the lost boys and the pirates snap with excitement and spontaneous energy” ”director Sternfeld knows how to nail the beats so the story never loses focus and even the smallest kids in the audience can follow the plot and remain engrossed” ”This is helped along in no small way by the casting of John Paul Soto as Peter. In a role that is often taken by a woman, who then has to try to butch up, Soto is naturally all-male and he brings a startlingly direct and unabashedly macho perspective to Peter. In other words, this Peter never seems to be a boy who’s a bit light in his leafy loafers” ”The inventive choreography by Martin Cespedes is even better than his usually stellar work, turning often ho-hum dance interludes, such as the first appearance of the Indians, into must-watch sequences” ”The star of the show, however, is Michael Mauldin as both uptight Mr. Darling and snarky Captain Hook. Chewing the scenery with such maniacal delight that he may require extensive dental work after the run, Mauldin luxuriates in every syllable of Hook’s lines and spoken “songs.” ”Mauldin often creates laughs with just a glance or a single sound” ”…ably supported by Brendan Sandham as his first lieutenant Smee. Thin as a bent wire coat hanger, Sandham has perfect timing as he grovels and flinches under the gaze of his captain.” ”As Tiger Lilly, the agile leader of the Indians, Alexis Generette Floyd is athletic and adorable.” ”all the pirates as well as all the lost boys acquit themselves well and with unrelenting vigor.” “sublimely designed and staged” |
 Eric Fancher as “Noodler,” Bob Abelman as “Starkey,” Tim Allen as “Murphy,” Stephen Sandham as “Michael,” Clayton Sandham as “Boris,” Brian Altman as “Mullins,” Michael Mauldin as “Captain Hook,” Gregory White as “Cecco” and Brendan Sandham as “Smee” |
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CAST OF CHARACTERS Wendy Darling – Kelly Smith John Darling – Lincoln Sandham Nana – Gregory K. WhiteMichael Darling – Stephen SandhamLiza – Rachel Fichter Peter Pan – John Paul Soto Crocodile – Michael Columbro Lion – Evan Wilhelms Kangaroo – John Peters Ostrich – Maggie Stahl-Floriano
Slightly – Nick Hyland Tootles – Santino RussoNibs – Douglas Puskas Curly – Billy Lawrence1st Twin – Alex Dilallo 2nd Twin – Jesse Markowitz
Bill Jukes – Trey Gilpin Starkey – Bob Abelman Mullins – Brian Altman Noodler – Eric Fancher McLeish – Clayton Sandham Hans – Aaron D. Elersich Murphy – Tim Allen The Indians Tiger Lily – Alexis Floyd Older Wendy – Lindsey Sandham Jane – Natalie Welch * member – Actors Equity Association
Understudies Peter Pan – Nicholas Hyland |
 Kelly Smith as “Wendy” and John Paul Soto as “Peter Pan” |
| Excerpts from the Cool Cleveland review… by Thomas Mulready “HOT” “a revelation” “a primo production by director Fred Sternfeld” “you can always count on a sharp, professional production from Fred Sternfeld, who directed this remarkable re-visioning of Peter Pan” “a hit for the whole family” “outrageous Captain Hook, played to perfection by Michael Mauldin … lifts the show into the fly space” “terrific costumes by Aimee Kluiber” “perfect lighting by Michael Boll” “a Peter Pan that really flies, drawing gasps from the audience” ” “inspired choreography in every scene by Martin Cespedes” “the entire cast earning every bit of the audience’s ravishing applause” |
| Excerpts from the Lakewood Observer review… by Susan Fenske ”So what was so great about Peter Pan? Everything…family entertainment, good for the soul, elaborate and beautiful scenery, magic, great music and children of all ages will love it.” “cast of colorful characters” ”The little ones in the audience at the matinee I attended were very obedient and attentive. Maybe that’s a testament to how endearing the story of Peter Pan is. Not to mention, who can resist the mesmerizing affects of pirates, Indians, alligators, lost boys and the ubiquitous Tinkerbell. “ “John Paul Soto does a fantastic job conveying the nonconformist ways of the boy who never grew up” ”Wendy, ever the nurturer, is playing charmingly by Kelly Smith.” “magic” View complete review here or on the Lakewood Observer website |
 Brendan Sandham as “Smee” and Michael Mauldin as “Captain Hook” |
| The RealNeo Review – an online news source by Evelyn Kiefer “fresh, creative and fun” ”The performance I attended seemed to captivate the audience. Despite the audience being about half children under twelve years of age there was barely a sound to be heard during the three acts. My son sat silently watching with great interest” “A few times he could not contain his excitement and had to comment or ask a question. He was particularly impressed by Captain Hook’s hook.” “it was well worth the trip.” “One of the most creative aspects of the musical is the casting of Peter Pan. John Paul Soto is … entirely believable as a boy who refuses to grow up. Wendy and the other Darling children are very real and developed characters. Michael Darling, played by Stephen Sandham is particularly adorable.” “One of my favorite aspects of The Beck Center’s Peter Pan is the Indians. I have always been embarrassed by the ugly racist caricatures in the Disney movie, but In this version the Indians are more like Amazons. Tiger Lily, dressed in a sexy red and yellow costume leads a band of female warriors. Tiger Lily, played by Alexis Generette Floyd is more of a tigress than a princess in peril. Her performance is outstanding!” ”Captain Hook is a wonderfully grotesque and detestable villain complete with makeup, frock coat and lace. “ ”The sets were very well done too. The bedroom in the Darling home was very Victorian London complete with a a large window that opened to a night sky and twinkling stars. It was not hard for me to suspend belief so it must have looked very real to the children in the audience.” ”At the end of the performance Claes asked if we could watch it again.” |
 Alexis Floyd as “Tiger Lily” and Erin DiLauro, Jana Marie Burkhardt, Holly Harris, Kate Buddenhagen, Kelsey Smith, Sarah Clare, Tia Karaplis as the “Indians” |
| A few audience comments“My students, who went to the preview, loved the show. Most have never been to musical theatre, many have never been to professional theatre prior to my course, some do not care for live theatre whatsoever. They all adored your “Peter Pan,” saying things like “I was transported to this world within the first few minutes,” and “I kept looking for Hook to appear on stage, because I loved everything about him.” They loved the casting of Peter, loved the set, loved the choreography, and left humming the music – the sure sign of success. I heard nothing but wonderful things from opening night. My daughter, who has a great eye for performance, loved everything about the show. I’ve never heard her be so glowing about any production”
“Oh and congrats on Peter Pan! The show was pretty magical and it let me revisit why I love Peter Pan so much. I hope the show is selling and going well, hopefully I will get to see it again. Tell the cast what a fabulous job they did on Thursday and how impressed I was when I saw the show. I’m so proud to say I know some of the people in the cast :)” “I had a really wonderful time watching/hearing “Peter Pan’ on opening night. Your performances took me away and I actually forgot my troubles while the show was running. Thanks to all! Kick some theatrical butt and have a great run!! “I went today with my daughter & we LOVED it!” “Peter Pan at the Beck Center is professional theater at its best. It totally transported me to that extraordinary place where one forgets one is watching a play; I was living and breathing the story along with the characters. It reaches that rare intersection where fantasy and reality meet, the line between childlike wonder and real-world truth becomes blurred and the willing suspension of disbelief is not only willing, but absolutely surrenders. Not only that, but it’s a damn entertaining piece of theater! I may be, in some respects, maybe, kind of, just a little bit biased in my opinion and in the reporting of it. But aren’t we all? We all come to the theater, or any piece of art, with our own expectations, likes and dislikes, and preconceived notions. That’s what makes this whole business so human and exciting. But I loved the show – I was even teary at the end – and I just thought I’d share that with you here. Please see it, if you can still get tickets.” “I took my daughter to PP 12/6 and she was in awe. We had 3rd row seats, and she loved it!!! If Bob (who was fantastic) heard a little voice yelling…and I mean yelling “I love Captain Hook! He’s my friend! I’m over here, Captain Hook!” it was my daughter. What a show. Thanks for the tip that it was coming!!” “I wanted you to know… I saw Pan last night and it was TRULY wonderful.” |
 John Paul Soto as “Peter Pan” |