February 11, 2020

For the last two weekends in February, Drexel University’s URBN Annex Black Box Theater is home to the Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company production of Peter and the Starcatcher, the Peter Pan prequel play with music. The second production of the 2019-2020 season (following the world premiere fall production of musical ALiEN8), Peter and the Starcatcher tells the story of how Peter became Pan, taking audiences on Peter’s first journey to Neverland using a cast of 13 actors to play almost 100 different characters. The show follows star-catching apprentice Molly Aster and her father as they travel across the ocean with the Queen’s star stuff. Things do not go as planned when her father meets Black Stache, a pirate that will do anything for star stuff, and when Molly meets Peter and his orphan friends, crossing paths and changing one another’s lives forever.

The play, written by Rick Elice, is based on the original novel written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The show also includes music by Wayne Baker and ran on Broadway in 2012, winning five Tony Awards including Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design for a Play. Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company’s production is directed by Jesse Berstein and choreographed by Peter Andrew Danzig. The production team also includes Jamison Foreman as Music Director, Andrew Thompson as Scenic Designer, Jillian Keys as Costume Designer, Alyssandra Docherty as Lighting Designer, John Stovicek as Sound Designer, and Properties by Avista Custom Theatrical Services, LLC.

When discussing his motivation and ideas for Peter and the Starcatcher, director Jesse Berstein explains “the driving force behind my direction is an exploration of 'play.' What does it mean -- for young adults preparing to enter the 'real world' (and for those of us in the thick of it) -- to engage life with a sense of play?” Bernstein goes onto say “our collaborations and our process -- with the designers, the actors, with the space and costumes we're creating -- are all driven by that same sense of fun” and that “through wordplay, music, physicality and the sheer joy of performance, we invite the audience to participate in the game we're playing on-stage -- and consider how that game can be continued out into the 'real world.’"

For more information about the show and tickets, visit the Drexel Department of Performing Arts website.

About Drexel University’s Co-Op Theatre

Drexel University’s Co-Op Theatre Company is a resident theater company that produces shows as part of the Theater Program at Drexel University and is sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts. Under the advisement and direction of Theater Program faculty, including Artistic Director, Nick Anselmo, students from all over the University can get a hands-on experience running a theater company at a professional level by serving in various artistic, administrative, and production roles of Co-Op Theatre Company productions. Student roles include: Assistant to the Producing Director, General Manager, Social Media Director, Production Manager, Assistant Technical Director, and Director of Marketing, along with other key production positions. Many students, especially those in Entertainment and Arts Management, choose to fill one of these administrative positions as their culminating senior project.

About Drexel University’s Department of Performing Arts

The Drexel University Department of Performing Arts is a dedicated community of artists, faculty and staff committed to providing a quality education in dance, music, and theater. The Department looks to expand students' knowledge and skills through academic course work, rigorous technical training, experiences with professional artists, innovative community outreach, and outstanding performance opportunities. The Department of Performing Arts is home to the dance, music and theatre programs at Drexel, including a dance major and eight minors. It is also home to over 20 performing ensembles including the Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company. For more information, visit http://drexel.edu/performingarts.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
A PLAY BY Rick Elice
MUSIC BY Wayne Barker
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

CAST
STACHE, Paul Ciaccia Iii
GREMPKIN / SÁNCHEZ / OTHERS, Vida Manalang
MRS. BUMBRAKE, Max Gallagher
MOLLY, Caroline Juelke
BOY / PETER, Rohin Verma
MACK / FIGHTING PRAWN, Alek Wasserman
SLANK / HAWKING CLAM, Jake Lucas
ALF, Mason Radis
SMEE, Liv Shoup
PRENTISS, Will Kraft
ASTER, Gary Bowman, Jr.
CAPTAIN SCOTT, Sydny Hansen
TED, Patrick Henderson
WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT BY, C.J. Nave

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN TEAM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Nick Anselmo
DIRECTOR, Jesse Bernstien
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Jessica Doheny
GENERAL MANAGER, Margaux Cattelona
PRODUCTION MANAGER, Paul Jerue
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER, Yoni Carver
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, Chris Totora
SCENIC DESIGNER, Andrew Thompson
COSTUME DESIGNER, Jillian Keys
LIGHTING DESIGNER, Alyssandra Docherty
PROPS MASTER, Amanda Hatch
SOUND DESIGNER, John Stovicek
PUPPET DESIGNER, Zach Santoro
FIGHT AND MOVEMENT CHOREOGRAPHER, Peter Andrew Danzig
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER, Iz Hadala
MUSICAL CONDUCTOR, Nick Place
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/VOCAL COACH, Jamison Foreman

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 20th (preview) @ 8:00 PM
Friday, February 21st (opening) @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 22nd @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 22nd @ 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 23rd @ 2:00 PM
Thursday, February 27th @ 8:00 PM
Friday, February 28th @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 29th @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 29th (closing) @ 8:00 PM

Black Box Theater
URBN Annex
3401 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

TICKETS $20 General Admission, $15 Non-Drexel Students, $10 Drexel Students
Tickets are available for purchase at www.drexelperformingarts.com, or in person at the box office starting one hour before show time.