WAKE UP BROADWAY FANS!! It’s 20 DAYS till we kick off the holidays with New York’s legendary MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET for its centennial anniversary….. The 100th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. So many legendary moments of talents who graced the stage of that famed store in Herald Square. To keep you in the mood, we have more legendary performances coming your way on our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN. Are you ready for more?!
At # 20 on our countdown, we are going to take a trip to the place you never have to worry about growing up…. Neverland. To get there, join a brave and enthusiastic boy who reminds us that we need faith, trust, and pixie dust to get there. That boy of course is known as Peter Pan. Based on the beloved story created by J.M. Barrie (who also wrote the book), the musical features a music by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne along with Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green.
From the 1979 telecast, the legendary Sandy Duncan in her iconic portrayal of the title role and the cast bring a little tribal peace to Herald Square in the toe-tapper UGG-A-WUG!
PETER PAN first premiered in England and then later on Broadway in 1904… Originally it was a straight play. At the time there were already successful productions of the play adaptation around the world plus the beloved 1953 Disney animated film version. Just like with the musical today, the original play version had the title character played by a woman
The idea for the musical originally came about when Edwin Lester (producer and founder of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera) got the American rights to adapt the story of PETER PAN as a musical written for actress Mary Martin for Broadway. For its initial production under the direction of acclaimed director and choreographer Jerome Robbins, it started as a Pre-Broadway West Coast tour that initially flopped. However, the creative team continued to develop the show. The score had to be brushed up and several songs needed up be added to the show in order to become a full-scale musical. One of the biggest changes was ending (that is now used today in most productions) based on Barrie’s sequel PETER & WENDY.
Following an additional world premiere out of town tryout in California in the Summer of 1954, the updated original production of PETER PAN officially took off to Broadway. It played the Winter Garden Theatre for a limited run of 154 performances. Under the diection and choreography by the great dJerrome Robbins, the cast featured…
Mary Martin in the title role,
Cyril Ritchard as “Captain Hook” and “Mr. Darling”,
Kathleen Nolan as “Wendy”,
Sondra Lee as “Tiger Lily”,
Robert Harrington as “John”,
Joseph Stanford as “Michael”,
Joe E. Marks as “Mr. Smee”,
Margalo Gillmore as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
In addition, the producers got offered a deal with NBC to have the production be filmed as the first full length Broadway Musical to be filmed for Color TV featuring the full cast. The live TV production went on the air in 1955 and attracted a then-record audience of 65-million viewers. It was a huge success, the production was recaptured again the following year of 1956 and then again in 1960 (which is now available to own on DVD). All 3 live productions (with Mary Martin) were all filmed at NBC Studios with no live audience.
For the original Broadway production on stage, it was nominated and won all 3 of its Tony Awards in 1955 for…..
BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Mary Martin).
BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Cyril Ritchard),
&
BEST STAGE TECHNICIAN (for Richard Roddada).
In addition, Mary Martin also won an Emmy for her performance in the Live TV production.
From there, PETER PAN went on to become a big hit. It went on to be revived 5 times here on Broadway plus tour around the world. The first Broadway revival in 1979 (as seen in the video) at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre running for 554 performances. Under the direction and choreography by Rob Iscove, the cast featured….
Sandy Duncan in the title role,
George Rose as “Captain Hook” and “Mr. Darling”,
Marsha Kramer as “Wendy”,
Maria Pogee as “Tiger Lily”,
Alexander Winter as “John”,
Jonathan Ward as “Michael”,
Arnold Soboloff as “Mr. Smee”,
Beth Flowler as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
That first revival was nominated for 2 Tony Awards in 1980 for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
(for Sandy Duncan). However, it lost both its categories.
Then in 1990, PETER PAN returned back to Broadway’s Lunt Fontanne Theatre for a limited 45 performance engagement. Under the direction of Glenn Casale and choreographed by Patti Colombo, this cast was famously brought to life by….
Cathy Rigby as the title role,
Stephen Hanan as “Captain Hook” and “Mr. Darling”,
Cindy Robinson as “Wendy”,
Holly Irwin as “Tiger Lily”,
Britt West as “John”,
Chad Hutchinson as “Michael”,
Don Potter as “Mr. Smee”,
Lauren Thompson as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
This revival was nominated for 2 Tony Awards in 1990 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Cathy Rigby) but lost both its categories.
By popular demand, the Casale and Colombo created and Rigby led production came back in 1991 but this time played the Minsoff Theatre for 48 performances. Same team included….
Cathy Rigby as the title role,
JK Simmons as “Captain Hook” and “Mr. Darling”,
Cindy Robinson as “Wendy”,
Michelle Schumacher as “Tiger Lily”,
David Burdick as “John”,
Joey Cee as “Michael”,
Don Potter as “Mr. Smee”,
Lauren Thompson as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
The Casale and Colombo created and Rigby led production went on to tour before returning to Broadway in 1998 this time playing the Marquis Theatre for 48 performances. they all came back the following year to the Gershwin Theatre playing 166 performances. Same team had…
Cathy Rigby as the title role,
Paul Schoeffler as “Captain Hook” and “Mr. Darling”,
Elisa Sagardia as “Wendy”,
Dana Solimando as “Tiger Lily”,
Barry Cavanaugh as “John”,
Drake English as “Michael”,
Michael Nostrand as “Mr. Smee”,
Barbara McCulloh as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
This cast would also be filmed during its tour stop in California at La Mirada Theatre. The proshot is now available on DVD.
The later 90s revival would go on to be nominated for a BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL Tony in 1998 but lost the category.
PETER PAN also returned to New York City in 2005 part of a Farewell Tour for Cathy Rigby during the Holiday Season at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. However 6 years later, she didn’t want to give it up just yet and went back playing the role for one final ENCORE at The Garden back in 2011.
Most recently, NBC presented a second major live TV production of PETER PAN back in 2014. Under the direction of Glenn Weiss and Rob Ashford, the cast included…
Allison Williams as the title role,
Christopher Walken as “Captain Hook”,
Taylor Louderman as “Wendy”,
Alanna Saunders as “Tiger Lily”,
Jake Lucas as “John”,
John Allyn as “Michael”,
Christian Borle as “Mr. Smee” and “Mr. Darling”,
Kelli O’Hara as “Mrs. Darling”
& more.
Reviews were mixed but the original broadcast was seen by 9.21 million viewers.
Peter Pan continues to tour across North America plus being performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
Doesn’t this performance make you want to FLY to Neverland?!
If you enjoyed PETER PAN or want to know more epic Family shows, #BookYourTickets for any of our other tours.
#BroadwayAtMacys #Top30Countdown #MacysParade #Thanksgiving #CountdowntoThanksgiving #Top30BroadwayAtMacysCountdown
WATCH PETER PAN’S MACY PARADE PERFORMANCE HERE
https://youtu.be/6vvdFqZzFSY?is=ea-ru1bBFUke7zAx
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