Serra Catholic High School to present ‘Peter Pan,’ Broadway’s timeless musical
The spring musical will debut 7 p.m. Friday.
Anything is possible with a bit of pixie dust.
Serra Catholic High School students are ready to prove dreams do come true as they prepare to take the stage for the debut of “Peter Pan.”
Show times are set for 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the high school, 200 Hershey Drive, McKeesport.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and anyone younger than 18. They can be purchased online at https://www.serrahs.org/ apps/form/PeterPanTickets2025.
Tickets are good for one performance, but specific show times do not need to be selected to pay in advance.
Guests will also be able to purchase tickets at the door depending on availability.
Guests will be whisked away to a place where dreams are born and no one ever grows up – a friendly reminder that we are all children at heart.
Director Jesse Bush said he chose “Peter Pan” this year to give students a chance to perform a more whimsical and lighthearted show.
“I wanted to choose a more lighthearted show since the previous two years have been darker-themed shows with Addams Family and Little Shop of Horrors,” Bush said.
Auditions were held in December and more than 30 student were cast before Christmas break.
Students have worked hard to tell the story of Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, who visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars.
For the characters, and students who play them, it’s the adventure of a lifetime that tells the story of two pals, who come face to face with a ticking crocodile, the fierce Brave Girls, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
Featuring the iconic songs like “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land,” the show is sure to bring out your inner child.
Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale, “Peter Pan” is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favorites of all time and has been adapted for young performers ready to bring their own magic to the stage.
With hundreds of hours of time and effort put in by students to get into character, costumes will help bring everything to life.
“All of the costuming is great, from Captain Hook to the Lost Boys to all of the animal characters like the dog, ostrich and crocodile, there’s some really fun costumes,” Bush said.
There’s several special effects throughout the show like hazers, fog machines, lighting effects and a host of special props for Tinkerbell that all help bring the magic to the show.
The sets, which are very dynamic, were hand-made by Bush and his father, Mitch.
“My dad is a very talented craftsman, and we built them together,” Bush said. “There’s some very unique sets this season.
“Our Neverland is double- sided. One side is the Neverland jungle and it spins around and it’s the underground where the Lost Boys live. Captain Hook’s ship has a slide for the plank. There’s a lot of great set pieces.”
Students are more than ready to bring Broadway’s timeless classic musical to the stage for their friends, family and community.
For Bush, he is ready to see them shine – and sparkle – and knows they are eager to make their debut.
“I love working with the students,” Bush said. “I’ve also really enjoyed working with the elementary students involved in our production this year. They are students from our surrounding Catholic schools and they are the perfect age to portray the lost boys and Darling children.”
It’s the first year younger students have been asked to audition and participate. Students in third through eighth grade will appear on stage this year, and it’s been just as rewarding for their older castmates.
Never grow up
From seasoned student actors to youngsters and newcomers, they are eager and ready to bring a bit of magic to the stage in their performances.
Junior Lyndsay Chirdon has taken her role of Peter Pan seriously.
Though she’s participated in the past two spring musicals, Peter is different than any role she has played before – it’s her first lead.
As such, she has learned how different it is to be center stage for an entire production.
“Playing Peter Pan is completely different from my past characters because this is my first lead role,” she said. “In the past, I have memorized a lot of the dances and lines just during practice, but this role has been more demanding. I have been practicing for Peter Pan in private lessons and many hours in my room.”
She has overcome hurdles to bring the essence of Peter Pan to life – which included having a lot of conversations with herself – and knowing when to give her voice a break.
“One of the challenges I have experienced with this role are all my scenes with Tinker Bell,” she said. “In the musical, Tinker Bell is just a sound effect, so anytime I have a scene with her, I have to basically memorize a conversation with myself. Another challenge I have had, is simply feeling vocally tired. There is a lot of belting in this show and I have to know what my limits are when I am practicing.”
Her favorite part of playing Peter Pan, though, is being able to laugh – on purpose.
“One of my favorite parts about Peter Pan is how much I get to laugh on stage,” she said. “Peter Pan is a reckless, arrogant, playful character. A lot of times it is written in the script for me to laugh, but most of the time it ends up becoming real laughter on stage.”
Peter Pan is a lot different than she is in real life.
“Peter Pan is completely different from how I actually act in my life, so it is so fun to get to become an entirely different person on stage,” she said.
Chirdon and her castmates have worked hard to make magic the audience is sure to feel as they watch.
“My favorite part about this year’s show is the magic that comes with it,” she said. “(The) past two productions have been more comedic and dark. Peter Pan is completely different and there is so much joy and magic in the show. I love that I get to put on a magical and kid friendly show. I think all the kids who come to see the show are going to have a blast.”
Captain Hook is being played by senior Michael O’Brien.
It’s his last show as a Serra Catholic student.
His role as “Hook” has given him an opportunity to bring a very different type of character to life.
“I have participated in three shows before this, that being ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘The Addams Family,’ in which my only prominently featured role was Lurch,” he said. “This role is the complete opposite. With Lurch, I felt like I had to be stiff and slow, without energy. With Hook, I am parading around on stage screaming and all around just being larger than life instead of a character that doesn’t show much emotion.”
He put in a lot of time to make sure he got “Hook”just right.
“My biggest challenge has got to be the mannerisms of Hook, and the singing portions,” he said. “I feel like to become Hook I had to work hard to really see how he acts, not only in different versions of the musical but even different movies (from) the original animated version (to) Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal in the movie ‘Hook’ to really try to embody this character the best I could.
“I also had trouble with parts of the songs just because I do not sing very often outside of musical, but I think I have managed to make it work out.”
O’Brien said he likes being able to leave it all on a stage.
“My favorite parts are the larger than life aspects of Hook, like the idea that in one moment I could be terrified for my life with the Croc to suddenly being in charge of a situation and a threatening character.
“I feel like this gives me a lot of breathing room in who I want this character to be. (I’ve been) really am able to add myself to it.”
Sophomore Payton Normandy has taken on the role of Wendy Darling.
She’s only been in one other musical at Serra Catholic.
Last year, she played an ancestor in the “Addams Family” but she isn’t new to the stage.
“Before attending Serra (Catholic), I played Anna in “Frozen” and Fiona in “Shrek” at Mary Of Nazareth Catholic School,” she said. “I was also Olaf in “Frozen” at Mon River Arts.”
The accent of her character in this performance was tough at first.
“This is the first role I’ve played where I have needed an accent so it is very challenging, but, I have great people around me that help so much,” she said. “My favorite part about Wendy is how she speaks her mind. Whatever is happening she says exactly how she feels or asks the exact question she wants.”
Wendy is a lot different than other roles Normandy has played, largely because of the leadership role her character takes.
It’s been fun, especially with so many younger students involved.
“Wendy Darling is a different role because she is their mother, so she is also a leader. Being Wendy has been nothing but fun for so many reasons,” she said. “Getting the opportunity to work with the younger kids makes this role so much fun.”
Sophomore Jada Lawson also had to perfect an accent this year to play Tiger Lily.
Lawson has been involved in five other shows, but her character in “Peter Pan” is different.
Not only because of the accent, but the dancing that came along with her role.
Still, she has taken time to learn her character and is confident in what she will be able to deliver for the audience this weekend.
She has related to traits her character brings to the story.
“My favorite part about Tiger Lily is her leadership and braveness,” she said.
Freshman Sullivan Muzy has only been in one musical.
Last year, he played an ancestor in the “Addams Family” but is now ready to take on a more leading role as he portrays John Darling this year.
“John is very different from an ancestor, because one, he’s still alive and he is British,” he said. “..the British accent, sometimes, without even noticing, I forget it all together. So that has been a challenge.”
Still, he has worked through it with help from his cast mates overcoming similar obstacles, and is excited to be more involved when the curtain rises.
“Playing John is that I get to be part of many of the major scenes,” he said. “For me, my favorite part of this year’s show has to be the cast. I’ve really enjoyed seeing how my fellow cast mates portray their characters.”
Cast and crew
Cast members are: Payton Normandy as Wendy Darling; Sullivan Muzy as John Darling; Erin Genton as Liza (the maid); Brody Wick as Michael Darling; Olivia Naylor as Nana (the family dog); Cassandra Lake as Mrs. Darling; Michael O’Brien as Mr.Darling/Captain Hook; Via Svitek as Tinkerbell; Lyndsay Chirdon as Peter Pan; Catherine Erfort as The Ostrich; Tucker Craig as Slightly; Haley Churchfield as Tootles; Isaac Langer as Curly; Jillian Straka as Nibs; Allison Shaffer as 1st Twin, Elizabeth Wunderley as 2nd Twin and Alessia Palombo as 3rd Twin; Emilia Capasso as Mr. Smee; Andrew Clauto as The Crocodile; Jada Lawson as Tiger Lily; Cassandra Lake as Starkey; Victor Navish as Cecco; Amy Dodds as Noodler; Xavier Miller as Jukes; and Anastasia Miller as Jane.
High school ensemble members: Emilia Capasso, Amy Dodds, Catherine Erfort, Erin Genton, Cassandra Lake, Victor Navish, Olivia Naylor and Sara Robertson.
The middle school ensemble comprises: Haley Churchfield, Ryder Craig, Tucker Craig, Jaxon Fettis, Owen Firda, James Jackson III, Isaac Langer, Colton Maseth, Colton Matthews, Anastasia Miller, Alessia Palombo, Allison Shaffer, Jillian Straka, Brody Wick and Elizabeth Wunderley.
Stage crew members are: Amanda Bendel, Andrew Clauto, Lucia Dunn, Legend Jenkins, Jacob Matthews, Xavier Miller, Chloe Soyke, Ricky Spicuzza and Via Svitek.
Production staff members: Jesse Bush, director; Cassie Fedor, choreographer; Jimmy Fedor, stage crew; and Red Baughman, sound and lighting.
