News Bureau Chicago Playworks and The Theatre School Showcase Seasons Open with Spectacular New Production of Peter Pan October 24-December 6

For Immediate Release
October 1, 1997

The Theatre School, DePaul University, opens its 1997-98 Chicago Playworks and Theatre School Showcase seasons with PETER PAN October 24 - December 6, 1997, at DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. The musical, based on the play by James M. Barrie, features music by Mark Charlap, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, additional music by Jule Styne and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

Peter Pan is directed by Susan Leigh, with musical direction by Mark Elliott, scenic design by Erin Kehr, costume design by Tim Mazurek, lighting design by John P. Marovich, special effects design by Samantha M. Zimmer and sound design by Jeffrey Webb.

Peter Pan is determined never to grow up. One magical evening, he befriends a girl named Wendy and her two brothers and takes off with them to his home in Neverland. There Wendy agrees to care for Peter and his band of Lost Boys. But a jealous Tinkerbell and the dastardly villain Captain Hook have other ideas, and Peter must use all his wits to save his friends. Beloved by generations, the story of Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinkerbell and their adventures in Neverland is given bold new life by Ms. Leigh, who sets the action in Chicago, 1997. "One modern view of Neverland might be to have the Loop all to yourself--no adults, no rules--just other friends and a lot of magic," says Ms. Leigh. "I hope the set brings in just enough of a cityscape to spur audiences to imagine their own urban vision of Neverland."

For nine seasons The Theatre School has presented Chicago Playworks and Theatre School Showcase productions in repertory at the Merle Reskin Theatre. This fall, the school breaks that scheduling tradition and presents Peter Pan alone, allowing unprecedented training and design opportunities. The play features Flying by Foy -- five characters will fly -- and state-of-the-art special effects. Four complete sets, dozens of costumes, 25 actors and nearly 100 members of production staff and crew will bring the story to life over 32 performances.

Ms. Leigh's vision of Peter Pan presents all the magic and spectacle of the play's past incarnations, with a twist. "The songs, the story, the thrill of the flying, the special relationships of the characters and their desire to never grow up are all intact," she says. "But we've given it a new look and feel, to bring this classic to today's youth in a way they can truly understand the message."

Founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925, The Theatre School is the premiere theatre conservatory in the Midwest and one of the best in the United States. Throughout its history, the school has provided Chicago audiences with first-rate affordable entertainment. Plays are directed by the faculty of the school and performed and designed by students in the professional training program.

On September 28, Chicago Playworks was honored by the Illinois Theatre Association with the Children's Theatre Award, for outstanding contribution to children's theatre over its 72-year history. As the city's oldest continuously operating children's theatre, its productions have been the first theatre experience for generations of Chicago's young people. David L. Avcollie, a Professor of Acting and head of the Acting Program at The Theatre School, is Artistic Director of Chicago Playworks.

Director SUSAN LEIGH is an Associate Professor who teaches Acting, Voice and Speech at The Theatre School. Her Chicago directing credits include False Admissions and A Child's Christmas in Wales for Impulse Theatre Company, Machinal and Bold Girls at Eclipse Theatre Company, And a Nightingale Sang at Shattered Globe Theatre, and the Best of the Fest award-winning production of Athol Fugard's The Coat at the 1993 Bailiwick Director's Festival, among others. Credits at The Theatre School include Snow White and Rose Red, The Women, Macbeth and Stage Door. Ms. Leigh was the founding Artistic Director of Impulse Theatre Company and is on the Board of the League of Chicago Theatres.

Musical director MARK ELLIOTT is Composer-in-Residence and teaches Musical Theatre Performance at The Theatre School. At the school he composed music for The Good Woman of Setzuan, Cinderella and The Bourgeois Gentleman and served as musical director for Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods and Lock Up Your Daughters, among others. He has also been the Resident Music Director at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and has provided musical direction for more than 50 productions and written scores for more than 20 shows during his career.

Scenic Designer ERIN KEHR is an advanced student in the school's Scenic Design Program. He most recently designed sets for The Theatre School Showcase production of A Bright Room Called Day. Costume Designer TIM MAZUREK is an advanced student in the Costume Design Program whose recent credits include last fall's popular Chicago Playworks production of Charlotte's Web. Lighting Designer JOHN P. MAROVICH, an advanced student in the Lighting Design Program, designed lighting for Chicago Playworks' Tuck Everlasting last season. Special Effects Designer SAMANTHA M. ZIMMER, also an advanced student in the Lighting Design Program, designed lighting for Chicago Playworks' Bridge to Terabithia. Sound Designer JEFFREY WEBB is Resident Sound Designer and Director of Technical Operations at DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre.

Performances of Peter Pan are Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m.; Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m., October 24 - December 6, 1997. A special holiday week features additional performances at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3 and Friday, December 5.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no performances on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday,October 31; Saturday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 20; Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, November 25; Thursday, November 27; Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Performances are held at DePaul University's Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. Discount parking is available with coupons from the Box Office.

Weekend performance tickets (Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday) are $10; $6 for children age 12 and younger; $2.00 for children 18 months and younger. Weekday performance tickets are $6. Group rates are available for 15 or more people. Seniors (over 60), DePaul employees and alumni, and college students receive a discount on regular prices. Seating is reserved for weekend performances, general admission for weekday performances. Season subscriptions are available. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

Dinner Packages at the Chicago Hilton and Towers Pavilion Restaurant are available through the Box Office: $17.50 for adults; $9.75 for children age 12 and under.

SPECIAL EVENTS: 1) An Ice Cream Social and post-show discussion with the cast follows the performance on Sunday, November 2, at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. Tickets are $2.50 and are available through the Box Office. 2) The Theatre School and the 1997 Chicago Humanities Festival present a bonus event: "Peter Pan: A Flying Lesson" on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Merle Reskin Theatre. The flying workshop, conducted by Dean John Ransford Watts and Ms. Leigh, is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Chicago Humanities Festival at (312) 422-5350. 3) A Pre-show Talk with Ms. Leigh will take place on Sunday, November 9, from 1:15 pm. - 1:45 p.m. at the Merle Reskin Theatre. Admission is free. Call the Box Office for details.

Further information about Peter Pan and The Theatre School is available via the Internet on The Theatre School's World Wide Web site, located at http://theatreschool.depaul.edu. The "Official Peter Pan Web Site" has been created by Killian Gray, a 13-year-old student at Lincoln Park High School. It is linked through The Theatre School's Web site or may be directly accessed at http://condor.depaul.edu/~sleigh1. The Peter Pan Web site features an on-line version of the production Teacher Guide, photos and biographies of the cast and a chat room for fans of the play and production, among other highlights.

Chicago Playworks, founded as the Goodman Children's Theatre in 1925, is a member of ASSITTEJ/USA, American Arts Alliance for Theatre and Education, Illinois Alliance for Arts Education, League of Chicago Theatres and Illinois Arts Alliance.