Magical Neverland Brings ‘Peter Pan’ To Life

By Tanjua Damon

Summer Theater Connections presented a marvelous production of Peter Pan the weekend of August 10-11 at Newtown High School. The cast and crew created a magical presentation that took children and adults into the world of Neverland.

Former Newtown High School student Kathleen Mooney, who is now a senior at Fairfield University, directed the production. She did a great job pulling a group of over 145 students together and putting a production together in six weeks.

The main characters — Katie Fuller as Peter Pan, Jessica Harris as Wendy, Megan Chen as Hook, Emil Walston as Smee, Stephen Petrovich as John, Patrick Dunseith as Michael and the rest of the cast did a great job entertaining the audience during the three presentations of the play.

Tom and Cherie Swetts did a fabulous job directing campers in acting, scene building and understanding the theater process with the students who came from surrounding towns. This is the third year of Summer Theater Connections, a program that is sponsored by Education Connection, Newtown Continuing Education and Newtown High School.

The following also played roles during the production: Liza was portrayed by Julia Lysaght; Nana, Amie Walston; Mrs Darling, Amber Finlayson; Mr Darling, Chris Miller; Slightly, Mike Miller; Tootles, Jennifer Snow; Curly, Samantha Mitchell; Nibs, Kayla Koschel; first twin, Jason Graves; second twin, Doug Graves; crocodile, Greg Gordon; Tiger Lily, Amanda Eventoff; Starkey, Janine Pixley; Cecco, Tyler von Oy; Noodler, Leslie Greenfield; Mullins, Clarence Charles; Jukes, Matt Amaral; and Jane, Meg Mark.

The Lost Boys were played by Kathryn Clair, Max Friedman, Carrie Gallagher, Craig M. Juergens, Sara Brittain, and Corey Stokes.

Pirates were portrayed by Lisa Alberico, Matt Amaral, Kristen Amodeo, Jessica Braun, Katherine Danziger, Kendal Deakin, Kristin DeFilippe, Mallory Escott, Amanda Fishman, Leslie Greenfield, Sara Harris, Drew Kelkres, Corey Lalime, Meg Mark, Chris Miller, Maryann Nguyen, Megan O’Connor, John Orzechowski, Lauren Parrish, Janine Pixley, John Polchowski, Ryan Tallent, Tyler von Oy,  Crasheena Ward and Amie Walston.

Indian dance soloists were  Ashley Gentile, Julia Lysaght, Kristen Medeiros, Marina Salom and Emily Tomasiewicz.

Indians included Laura Bender, Kathryn Black, Stefania Bogues, Katie DeSimone, Robin DiPerrio, Kathryn Ebert, Amber Finlayson, Ginelle Gaulin-McKenzie, Katie Harris, Samantha Hirt, Hilary Moskowitz, Meridith Palo, Diana Rawson, Brianna Stelzel, Desiree Stelzel and Shacolbri Williams.

Production crews did a great job with the set and lighting for the performance. They included set construction – Michael Agius, Dan Amodeo, Jeremy Barczak, Brian Bonacci, Croy Carlin, Kate Donahue, Ryan Gentile, Sean Gerety, Dan Henry, Richard Innis, Greg Jurman, Paul Kastner, Adam Konneger, Katie Mayer, Robert Mayer, Victor Nguyen, John Polchowski, Brian Rowe, Nick Summo and Josh Tamarkin.

The painting crew was Mary Kate Addyman, Chelsea Bloxsom, Pamela Lynn Henry, Katie Mayer, Robert Mayer, Nick Summo, Jenny Urfer and Crasheena Ward. Flying crew members were Matt Amaral, Chris Bassett. Daniel Amodeo, Chris Fendt, Travis Finlayson, Daniel Henry, Mike Sobo and Ryan Walker.

The running crew was Michael Agius, Daniel Amodeo, Jeremy Barczak, Croy Carlin, Clinton Cerveniski, Sean Gerety and Jeremy Mitchell. The lighting designers were Greg Jurman, Katie Mayer, John Polchowski, Josh Tamarkin.

The lighting crew members were Brian Bonacci, Ryan Gentile, Richard Innis, Greg Jurman, Katie Mayer, Jeremy Mitchell, Victor Nguyen, John Polchowski and John Tamarkin. Members of the sound crew were Chris Bassett, Chelsea Bloxsom, Kate Donahue, Pamela Lynn Henry, Adam Konneker and Nick Summo.

The costume crew was Michelle Black, Robin DiPerrio, Katie DeSimmone, Deirdre Dougherty, Eileen Dunseith, Beth English, Beth Leety, Brittany McClure, Hillary Moskowitz, Christie Polchowski, Cara Salom, Gloria von Oy and  Shacolbri Williams. The playbill crew members were Dan Cruson, Beth English and Cherie Swetts.

The dance captains were Leslie Greenfield and Emily Tomasciewicz and Leslie Greenfield. And the pit orchestra included Leah Blewitt, Lauren Carbonell, James Delasala, Phil Demand, Geoff DiBeneditto, Dierdre Dougherty, Chris Espy, John Espy, Jen Haghpanah, Elliot Isaacson, Kari Levinson, Julie Mark, Jenni Omasta, Christina Palmer, James R. Palmer, John Pantan, Michael J. Rostafin, Andrew Sirois, Maggie Tomasiewicz and Tiffany Wolfe.