ATHENS, Ohio — Tantrum Theater brings to life the story of “the boy who wouldn’t grow up” in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” currently showing for Athens County families and students.
Presenting at the Ohio University Forum Theater, at 9 S. College St., the 120-minute show started its run on Nov. 5 and will continue through Nov. 21. Tickets are $12–26. There is one 15-minute intermission in the show. There are three tiers of tickets available.
The Nov. 14–15 2 p.m. shows will feature a talk-back after the performance, or a Q&A section with the performers.
Written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker, the Tony Award-winning play prequels James Matthew Barrie’s classic novel and play “Peter Pan.” Barrie’s play initially premiered in 1904 in London.
“Peter and the Starcatcher” is set in Neverland and features beloved characters from the original “Peter Pan,” including Black Stache, who later becomes Captain Hook, and teenage Molly Aster, who grows to become Wendy Daring’s mother.
Tantrum Theater’s portrayal features a cast of 20 Ohio University musical theater students, faculty and visiting professionals. Many of the students play multiple roles as the theatre transforms into the magical land of Neverland.
“[The play] is about finding joy and love in newfound families and friendships,” Brendon Fox, the director of the play, said. “I think it’s going to give people a couple of hours to escape into Neverland and pirate ships, and give a sense of adventure. I think we can all use some of that at the moment.”
Brendon Fox, a guest artist at Tantrum Theater, is the artistic director at Peterborough Players, a 93-year-old summer theater in New Hampshire.
“Tantrum Theater is unique in that they are able to bring in professional directors, designers, actors to work alongside the students and staff, and so there is an educational component to it, but there’s a level of rigor and intensity,” Fox said. “Bringing in best practices from the professional world, so that the students, the young artists and early career artists who are working on the show get to have experience working alongside more experienced professionals.”
The cast’s array of artists in different parts of their careers helps portray the show’s eclectic characters, as well.
“These characters take up a lot of space,” Fox said. “They’re 12 feet tall. They’re very vivid, high def, and I think what’s fun is to work with each of the students to find their version of that, and to embrace being bold. “
Erik Gratton, who plays Black Stache, visits the theater from New York. Gratton previously played Buddy in “Elf” on Broadway, Olaf the snowman in “Frozen,” and Shrek. Playing the armless captain has been a dream of Gratton’s for over 15 years.
“The idea of playing a big, broad comedic cartoon character that we’re all familiar with is kind of a challenge that I enjoy,” he said.
Working with students alongside other professionals has made this experience different compared to others for Gratton, as well.
“It’s always incredible as a professional to come back and work on a project with students as opposed to teaching them,” Gratton said. “When you’re working together on something that you’re going to present on stage as equals, it really does kind of fill me with the same kind of energy and optimism and joy that students tend to bring to a project like this.”
For Ellie Clark, the artistic director of Tantrum Theater, the show seemed like a perfect opportunity to include a wide cast of students and a colorful learning opportunity.
“A huge part of the show is intergenerational,” Clark said. “There’s the adults and there’s the kids. You know, the orphans and the pirates. So because of the intergenerational component of the story, it gives us a lot of opportunities to give opportunities to professors, professionals, and students.”
Rachel Cornish, the interim producing director of Tantrum Theater, worked alongside Clark to cast professionals in the production. The two traveled to New York for auditions, bringing back talent to join as well as mentor musical theater students.
“It’’s a really interesting thing to be able to bring those folks into our community and allow this collaboration between artisans, artists that are learning their craft, and folks that have been more seasoned in their professional careers,” Cornish said.
Gratton said the show’s intergenerationality is important thematically.
“This show has a lot to say about family, about humans helping each other for the sake of helping each other, and the inherent goodness of living a life like that,” Gratton said. “It also has a lot to say about children making mistakes and being guided and being open and having a lot to teach adults as well.”
