Behind the Scenes of a Peter Pan Production

By TÉA KOUDSI | Junior Reporter

Thank you for joining us for our spring production of Peter Pan!  I would like to thank Lydia Medeiros for being the best director in the world; Todd Lanker for being an awesome “flyer” for Peter Pan, and being the best assistant director; Christina Harrel for helping us work through our songs even when it was tough; and Lauren Decierdo for teaching us our awesome choreography.

I would also like to thank our “flyers” Jesse Aston, Jimmy Carter, and Omid Heidari for carrying Wendy, John and Michael so it looked like they were actually flying.  The last two people I want to thank are Amanda Fuerst for being our sound engineer and Shawn Decierdo for making our awesome sets!

This was a very fun experience for me and all the other actors and actresses, too!  Here are some quotes from some of our main characters:

Q: Why did you decide to do the play?

A: I love to sing and love to act.  And who wouldn’t want to be Tinkerbell?-Grace Holscher, Tinkerbell

A: When I was a little boy I would dress up in Peter Pan and Captain Hook costumes and wear them everywhere, including to preschool. I watched the movie at least 100 times.-Caleb Polaha, Captain Hook

A: Because I wanted to see what it would feel like to perform on stage.-Micah Polaha, Peter Pan

Q: Were you nervous, scared or excited?

A: Excited, because I love to be in front of an audience.-Grace Holscher, Tinkerbell

A: I was super excited but, because I had a cold, I was worried about coughing on stage.-Stella Brien, Wendy

A: I was excited because you’re not that scared once you’ve done a few plays. You kind of get over being nervous and let the excitement take over.-Kyley McClung, Mrs. Darling

Q: What was your favorite part about performing/the performance?

A: Being able to feel like I was in Neverland and seeing all our hard work come to life.-Stella Brien, Wendy

A: My favorite part was just having fun! You meet new people, play new things, form friendships, and you’re part of a team. The end result is all worth it!-Kyley McClung, Mrs. Darling

A: I loved the costumes and getting to perform in front of an audience on stage.-Sophie Slator, Tiger Lily

A: I really liked playing Captain Hook and the feeling I got performing in front of my family and friends.-Caleb Polaha, Captain Hook

A: My first entrance on stage. The feeling of being on the stage for the first time in front of everyone as Peter Pan. That was pretty awesome!-Micah Polaha, Peter Pan

Q: What was your least favorite part?

A: I hated having to die in the end.  But I came back to life, so it turned out great.-Grace Holscher, Tinkerbell

A: Not having more performances.-Micah Polaha, Peter Pan.

Q: Do you think you will do the school play next year?

A: I guess it depends on the play they choose, but I will definitely do it again sometime. I loved working with our teacher and director Mrs. Medeiros.-Micah Polaha, Peter Pan

Q: What was your favorite and least favorite part about directing Peter Pan?

A: There were so many wonderful, joyful, funny moments during this whole year that made me smile and thankful for my job–frustrating moments too, let’s keep it real. There are 40 kids in that rehearsal room. But I have to say, one of my favorite parts of putting up a play (especially with children) is that first entrance at their first performance.  After all the hard work, the late nights, the drills in rehearsal, the tears, the fear that they’ll never learn their lines, and the dress rehearsal where you swear you’ll never do this again, and then they enter the theater in that opening number with huge smiles on their faces, swords in their hands and pixie dust in their hair and you see them perform in front of an audience for the first time–it’s simply magical. They’re magical. Letting it all go and getting to watch them fly (literally) on their own–that’s the best part.–Lydia Medeiros, director, Peter Pan