MONROE - Monroe has become a magnet for pirates, from the high school production of "Treasure Island" last fall to the Main Street Monroe main event, Pirates on the Square, coming this summer.
Now, perhaps the best known pirate of all, Captain Hook, along with his arch nemesis, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys, are coming to the Monroe High School stage in Piers Chater Robinson's musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie's book, "Peter Pan," Thursday, Feb. 16, Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19 in the MHS Performing Arts Center.
Director Jennifer Moehn said she chose "Peter Pan the British Musical" in April of 2011 and since has dealt directly with Robinson, via email, during the production.
One of the main differences of the Robinson adaptation compared to other productions is the music, which is more contemporary, Moehn said.
"The music is different than, say, the Disney production. It's more upbeat. And more than any other show, the songs tell part of the story," she said.
The songs have strong high tenor and alto parts, which fits well with casting girls as many of the Lost Boys in this production.
While the production has "something for everybody," Moehn said, "it's especially appropriate for this (high school) age group to do.
"The songs bring out two themes: Why do we want to change people; why can't we accept them for who they are? And, don't forget the inner child in all of us," she added.
Anika Nelson as Peter Pan and Ben Minoque as the dastardly and sometimes comical Hook head up the cast of 30 members, with only seven graduating seniors among them. Nearly 50 students were needed for the crew - stage, make-up, costumes and orchestra - and six adults serve as directors and choreographers.
MHS has entered the Madison Overture Center's Tommy Awards, a program that honors and celebrates excellence in musical theater production among area high school students. "Peter Pan" will be the third annual entry in a row for the school, which has won several awards in acting and production previously.
This year Moehn has also entered "Peter Pan" for a Tommy Award in Community Engagement. To qualify, the production must include community involvement. To that end, Stephen Eliasson stepped in to choreograph the sword-fighting scenes, and fourth-grader Henry Schluesche is cast in the part of Michael, the little brother to Wendy, who is played by Bridget Kelly.
The recent abundance of swashbuckling pirates in Monroe seems so "ironic" to Moehn that she has dubbed the coincidences as "The Year of the Pirates."
The cast is scheduled to reprise their "Peter Pan" characters on the streets of Monroe this summer, during Main Street's Pirates on the Square.
Now, perhaps the best known pirate of all, Captain Hook, along with his arch nemesis, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys, are coming to the Monroe High School stage in Piers Chater Robinson's musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie's book, "Peter Pan," Thursday, Feb. 16, Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19 in the MHS Performing Arts Center.
Director Jennifer Moehn said she chose "Peter Pan the British Musical" in April of 2011 and since has dealt directly with Robinson, via email, during the production.
One of the main differences of the Robinson adaptation compared to other productions is the music, which is more contemporary, Moehn said.
"The music is different than, say, the Disney production. It's more upbeat. And more than any other show, the songs tell part of the story," she said.
The songs have strong high tenor and alto parts, which fits well with casting girls as many of the Lost Boys in this production.
While the production has "something for everybody," Moehn said, "it's especially appropriate for this (high school) age group to do.
"The songs bring out two themes: Why do we want to change people; why can't we accept them for who they are? And, don't forget the inner child in all of us," she added.
Anika Nelson as Peter Pan and Ben Minoque as the dastardly and sometimes comical Hook head up the cast of 30 members, with only seven graduating seniors among them. Nearly 50 students were needed for the crew - stage, make-up, costumes and orchestra - and six adults serve as directors and choreographers.
MHS has entered the Madison Overture Center's Tommy Awards, a program that honors and celebrates excellence in musical theater production among area high school students. "Peter Pan" will be the third annual entry in a row for the school, which has won several awards in acting and production previously.
This year Moehn has also entered "Peter Pan" for a Tommy Award in Community Engagement. To qualify, the production must include community involvement. To that end, Stephen Eliasson stepped in to choreograph the sword-fighting scenes, and fourth-grader Henry Schluesche is cast in the part of Michael, the little brother to Wendy, who is played by Bridget Kelly.
The recent abundance of swashbuckling pirates in Monroe seems so "ironic" to Moehn that she has dubbed the coincidences as "The Year of the Pirates."
The cast is scheduled to reprise their "Peter Pan" characters on the streets of Monroe this summer, during Main Street's Pirates on the Square.