WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 30, 2022 — West Liberty University students will present the Tony Award-winning play, “Peter and the Starcatcher” this December. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 – 3 and 3 p.m., Dec. 4.

Directed by WLU Theater Director Michael Aulick, the production includes 19 students in the cast and crew, not to mention additional students working in shops and backstage work.

“There are probably more than 100 students who have worked, performed or helped in some way to create the show. Please join us for an enjoyable performance,” said Aulick.  

Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be “The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up” or Peter Pan. A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, and written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker.

According to MTI Shows.com, a young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo.

At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is “starstuff,” a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands.

When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.

The cast/crew includes:

• Odessa Hores is playing Smee and is the Musical Director/Vocal Coach.
• Calian Byard is playing Lord Aster and handles props and some assistant director duties.
• Dan White is playing Boy (Peter) and fight choreographer/captain.
• Roman Hicks is playing Prentiss and is doing work as lighting designer
• Paige Fields is playing Molly and is a choreographer and assisted in stage movement. 
• Isabella Costantini is playing Mack and is designing hair and makeup 
• Len Batson is playing Alf and designed and made the mermaid costumes. 
• Georgia Richardson is playing Slank and serving as dialect coach.
• Benjamin Mounsey is playing Teddy and the puppet designer/builder. 
• Merritt Craft is a member of the ensemble and performs public relations duties.
• Fiona Ruston is member of the ensemble and assists with costumes.
• Kris Marosz is designing sound and running the board for the show.  
• Joel Nau is playing Blackstache.
• Shannon Shiflett is playing Mrs. Betty Brumbake. 
• Greyson Grimmett is playing Robert Falcon Scott. 
• Teirron Griffin is playing Gremkin and Hawking Clam. 
• Bennett Cassatta is an ensemble member and Gremkin understudy.
• Daisy Deaton is an ensemble member and Molly understudy. 
• Jordan Derring is the student stage manager.

Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Douglas McCall is mentoring the musical director and is the accompanist, along with Jason Sivert on percussion.

Assistant Professor of Theater Meta Lasch has mentored most of the student work and has produced a number of the scenic and/or costume elements.  

Please purchase tickets online at: wlupeter.brownpapertickets.com. Or call the box office at 304.336.8277 to make reservations (opens one hour prior to curtain).  

Ticket Prices:

• $12.50 – General Admission 
• $10.00 – Seniors and WLU faculty/staff 
• $8.00 – Child/Student (non-WLU) 
• $5.00 – WLU Student

For more information on the Theatre Department, please visit the College of Liberal and Creative Arts website or call 304-336-8006. For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB or visit westliberty.edu.