Madonna Catholic students to stage ‘Peter Pan Jr.’
The musical will be presented at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ringgold High School auditorium.
Pirates are practicing sword fights, Lost Boys are learning dance numbers and somewhere backstage, Peter Pan is getting ready to fly.
Madonna Catholic Regional School will bring “Peter Pan Jr.” to the stage at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ringgold High School Auditorium, 1 Ram Drive, Monongahela.
General admission tickets are $10, while senior citizens and students can attend for $8. Proceeds from the performance will benefit Madonna’s Fine Arts Program.
Under the direction of musical and vocal director Karlie DiFonso, choreographer Katie Bialko and stage managers Katie Bialko and Mary Alcorn, students have been working since January to bring the beloved musical to life.
Based on the classic story, “Peter Pan Jr.” follows Peter Pan and Tinker Bell as they whisk Wendy, John and Michael Darling away to Neverland, where they meet the Lost Boys, face off against Captain Hook and his crew and learn that growing up does not mean losing the wonder of childhood.
“When selecting a show each year, one of my top priorities is finding something that fits our cast size,” Di-Fonso said. “With more than half of our students signing up to be part of the musical, it’s important to choose a production that allows everyone to be included. Peter Pan Jr. felt like the perfect choice, its themes of never growing up and celebrating the innocence of childhood reflect the spirit and energy of our students.”
The production features several well-known musical numbers, including “I Gotta Crow,” Peter Pan’s energetic anthem, and “Never Grow Up,” a quieter song that captures the heart of the story.
“Some of my favorite moments in the show come from the scenes with the Lost Boys, they bring so much energy and charm, and they’re adorable,” DiFonso said. “‘Never Grow Up’ is a standout number for me and always puts a smile on my face. The students have loved every part of the show, but one moment they’re especially excited about is singing ‘I Gotta Crow,’ which is another fun highlight.”
DiFonso said one of the biggest priorities in creating the show was making sure the audience immediately recognizes some of the story’s iconic characters.
“We really wanted to have the signature looks of Peter Pan, Hook and Smee, so those were for sure musthave pieces,” she said.
Just as important as the costumes is the set, which will transform the auditorium stage into Neverland.
“The sets are going to be amazing,” DiFonso said. “I have two wonderful parents, Anna and Ashley, who volunteer their time and talents to make our sets come to life. They take my vision and add their ideas and turn it into magic. They are truly so creative, and the show would not be complete without their amazing work.”
Anna Dickey and Ashley D’Emidio serve as the show’s set leads.
DiFonso believes the audience may be most surprised by the range of talent on stage.
“What will surprise our audience most is the incredible talent within our cast,” she said. “Our performers range from kindergarten through eighth grade, including both leads and ensemble members, all bringing something special to the stage. Since early January, they’ve dedicated themselves to this production with remarkable commitment. Time and again, they show up with a level of confidence and courage that even we as adults can find inspiring.” For DiFonso, watching students grow throughout rehearsals has been the most rewarding part.
“The best part of this year’s show is the same as in years past, working with the students and watching them truly grow,” she said. “Seeing them take on their characters and make each role their own is incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like the excitement they feel when they’ve mastered a song or a scene, or watching their nerves at the beginning transform into confidence week by week.
“Working alongside my two coworkers each week is truly one of the highlights of the process. I couldn’t do this without Katie and Mary, their dedication and support mean so much. Collaborating together to create something special makes the experience even more meaningful, and we hope these are memories our students will carry with them for a very long time.”
Cast members for ‘Peter Pan Jr.’
Cast members are Toby Griffith (Peter Pan); Audrina Satterfield (Wendy); Kyler Thomson (John); Kellan Hega (Michael); Sophia Foster (Liza); Raegan Dickey (Nana); Ethan Swan (Mr. Darling); Caden Pham (Mrs. Darling); Delianey Jericho (Tinker Bell); Lorenzo DiFonso (Slightly); Braxton Hill (Nibs); Gabriel Leezer (Curley); Max Pirsarski (Twin #1); Leo Lindley (Twin #2); Desmond Brown (Tootles); Knox Scales (Captain Hook); Jaxon Barnot (Smee); Tobias Zippay (Jukes); Alex Thompson (Starkey); Brinlee Jones (Cecco); Gracie Lovett (Tiger Lily); Cecilia Hyatt (Small Brave Girl); Peighton Schottenheimer (Brave Girl #1); Annalina Pearson (Brave Girl #2) and Jameson Thaxton (Crocodile).
Lost Boys are Lorenzo DiFosno, Braxton Hill, Geno Strickland, Ethan Swan, Leo Lindley, Max Pirasrski, Gabriel Leezer, Remi Dickey, Desmond Brown, Paxton Costa, Reid Hyatt and Everett Spate.
Brave Girls are Peighton Schottenheimer, Mya Lindley, Annalina Pearson, Raegan Sutek, Delainey Jericho, Bailee Hill, Cecilia Hyatt, Ava Imbrogno, Bailee Lovett, Reagan Dickey, Harley Lovett, Cypress Kevech, Emannuelle Kevech, Giavanna Flament, Ellie Woods and Raelynn Wittman.
Pirates are Alex Thompson, Tobias Zippay, Caden Pham, Jaxson Barnot, Sophia Foster, Monte Woodsen, Ryan Strickland, Maria O’Brien, Zoe Sweeney, Brynlee Hill, Niko D’Emidio, Veronika Macpherson, Steven Nguyen, Brinlee Jones and Moana Spahr.
Stage crew members are Michael Clauto, Gabe Palcic, Jameson Thaxton, Avery Rodriguez, Evelyn Necciai and Logan Dickey.
