‘Peter Pan’ Takes Flight at the Jewish Community Center


Home > Articles >
‘Peter Pan’ Takes Flight at the Jewish Community Center
The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre stage will be transformed into the magical Neverland this summer with “Peter Pan.” The director and a few in the cast are reuniting to perform this musical about a boy who just doesn’t want to grow up. Nine years ago, Theatre Director Mark Swezey led the show at Shawnee Mission’s Theatre in the Park with local actress Stasha Case playing the lead role. The two have reunited for the CenterSeason production. Case says she played the role of Peter Pan nine years ago, but wondered if she should and could still play the part. “Mark asked me to come in and since we have been friends for years, I knew he would be honest with me. We figured if Cathy Rigby could still be playing the part, I could too.” The musical is also family affair. Her father and sister are pirates. Her niece is a Lost Boy and her husband will be part of the crew. “It’s going to be a great way to spend time together as a family.” Peter Pan’s rival is Captain Hook. The irony is that Case is good friends with actor Greg Butell, who will portray Hook and Mr. Darling. “We have been friends for years. It’s funny, but we have not done a show together and then the first one, we are foes. I am looking forward to it.” Butell says he is excited to take on the role of Hook, opposite Case’s Peter Pan. “I have never played Hook through all my years in theater. It is an iconic role. He’s a villain, but I plan on bringing the comedy to him. He is a slimy, syrupy evil with some fun, flamboyant aspects.” Swezey says a Jewish team composes the musical, “Peter Pan.” Jule Styne, Mark Charlap and Trude Rittman wrote the music. The lyricists included Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Carolyn Leigh and Charlap. “When I started here, we wanted to have shows with Jewish content, playwrights and the like. There is a plethora of shows that fit this criteria.” During the summer, Swezey plans on shows that are family-friendly. They have performed “Honk,” “Oliver,” and “Wizard of Oz.” Next year, the Jewish team of Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken’s musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” is scheduled to take the stage. “’Peter Pan’ is a great adventure and casting Stasha again just stays with the tradition of women playing the role,” Swezey says. “There is something amazing when Peter Pan flies into the nursery for the first time. Then ‘I’m Flying’ is like an aerial ballet. Flying by Foy will come back to help us fly Stasha and the children. It is a magical moment.” Case says she is excited to fly again. “Chip from the company will be back to fly me. He was responsible for me at the Theatre in the Park. I joke about wanting to find my own boyish charm again, but I think my development as an actor will allow me to tap into this childlike quality. And I have an 8-year-old niece to serve as my inspiration. She is honest and brave just like Peter Pan.” As with the Theatre in the Park production, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan will use sign language to communicate. “During that first show, we had two young boys who were hearing impaired and there was a lot of signing. I thought it would be a great way to communicate. Stasha says she is ready once again.” Showtimes: July 11-16, 18, 7:30 p.m. July 12, 19, 2 p.m. Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City 5801 W. 115th St., Ste. 101 Overland Park www.jcckc.org ‘Peter Pan’ Production Benefits Operation Breakthrough The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, known to Kansas Citians as "the theater with a conscience," is conducting a school supply drive in conjunction with the performances of “Peter Pan”. Audiences are urged to join cast members in donating school supplies for children at Operation Breakthrough, a Kansas City non-profit providing childcare and family support services. Founded in 1971, Operation Breakthrough cares for more than 600 children, from infants to age 18, who come from lower-income families. Operation Breakthrough provides day care as well as on-site medical care, mental health services, speech and occupational therapy, tutoring, mentoring, a food pantry and other emergency aid and education for parents. Ticket buyers who bring a package of wide-lined notebook paper and markers for Operation Breakthrough receive $2 off of their ticket purchase. School supplies must be brought at the time of purchase to receive the special discount.

The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre stage will be transformed into the magical Neverland this summer with “Peter Pan.” The director and a few in the cast are reuniting to perform this musical about a boy who just doesn’t want to grow up. Nine years ago, Theatre Director Mark Swezey led the show at Shawnee Mission’s Theatre in the Park with local actress Stasha Case playing the lead role. The two have reunited for the CenterSeason production.

Case says she played the role of Peter Pan nine years ago, but wondered if she should and could still play the part. “Mark asked me to come in and since we have been friends for years, I knew he would be honest with me. We figured if Cathy Rigby could still be playing the part, I could too.” The musical is also family affair. Her father and sister are pirates. Her niece is a Lost Boy and her husband will be part of the crew. “It’s going to be a great way to spend time together as a family.”

Peter Pan’s rival is Captain Hook. The irony is that Case is good friends with actor Greg Butell, who will portray Hook and Mr. Darling. “We have been friends for years. It’s funny, but we have not done a show together and then the first one, we are foes. I am looking forward to it.” Butell says he is excited to take on the role of Hook, opposite Case’s Peter Pan. “I have never played Hook through all my years in theater. It is an iconic role. He’s a villain, but I plan on bringing the comedy to him. He is a slimy, syrupy evil with some fun, flamboyant aspects.”

Swezey says a Jewish team composes the musical, “Peter Pan.” Jule Styne, Mark Charlap and Trude Rittman wrote the music. The lyricists included Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Carolyn Leigh and Charlap. “When I started here, we wanted to have shows with Jewish content, playwrights and the like. There is a plethora of shows that fit this criteria.” During the summer, Swezey plans on shows that are family-friendly. They have performed “Honk,” “Oliver,” and “Wizard of Oz.” Next year, the Jewish team of Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken’s musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” is scheduled to take the stage.

“’Peter Pan’ is a great adventure and casting Stasha again just stays with the tradition of women playing the role,” Swezey says. “There is something amazing when Peter Pan flies into the nursery for the first time. Then ‘I’m Flying’ is like an aerial ballet. Flying by Foy will come back to help us fly Stasha and the children. It is a magical moment.”

Case says she is excited to fly again. “Chip from the company will be back to fly me. He was responsible for me at the Theatre in the Park. I joke about wanting to find my own boyish charm again, but I think my development as an actor will allow me to tap into this childlike quality. And I have an 8-year-old niece to serve as my inspiration. She is honest and brave just like Peter Pan.”

As with the Theatre in the Park production, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan will use sign language to communicate. “During that first show, we had two young boys who were hearing impaired and there was a lot of signing. I thought it would be a great way to communicate. Stasha says she is ready once again.”

Showtimes:
July 11-16, 18, 7:30 p.m.
July 12, 19, 2 p.m.
Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City
5801 W. 115th St., Ste. 101
Overland Park
www.jcckc.org

‘Peter Pan’ Production Benefits Operation Breakthrough

The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, known to Kansas Citians as "the theater with a conscience," is conducting a school supply drive in conjunction with the performances of “Peter Pan”. Audiences are urged to join cast members in donating school supplies for children at Operation Breakthrough, a Kansas City non-profit providing childcare and family support services.

Founded in 1971, Operation Breakthrough cares for more than 600 children, from infants to age 18, who come from lower-income families. Operation Breakthrough provides day care as well as on-site medical care, mental health services, speech and occupational therapy, tutoring, mentoring, a food pantry and other emergency aid and education for parents.

Ticket buyers who bring a package of wide-lined notebook paper and markers for Operation Breakthrough receive $2 off of their ticket purchase. School supplies must be brought at the time of purchase to receive the special discount.