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CEDAR CITY — The Utah Shakespeare Festival officially opens next week following its most successful season yet. This season, it's premiering a show you can't see anywhere else except Broadway.
The Tony Award-winning "Peter and the Starcatcher" is the story of a boy before he became Peter Pan.
The production is described online as "a wildly theatrical, hilarious, and imaginative story of how an orphan came to be Peter Pan, the captain got his hook, and a young girl inspired everyone to believe."
The adventure begins on board the ship Neverland when three orphans are kidnapped by pirates. But the trio bonds with a girl named Molly and hides a trunk full of star stuff.
Disney Theatrics gave the production rights to only one company in the country — the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
In the theater world, this production is a "get." Disney Theatrics gave the production rights to only one company in the country — the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
"They're now holding all the rights for anyone else because there's a national tour going out," said R. Scott Phillips, executive director of the festival. "There's even talk of a motion picture being done on it. So, we are fortunate."
Brian Vaughn, the festival's co-artistic director, said, "It's been a huge adventure putting it together just because of the size and scope and the theatricality. It's unlike anything I've ever worked on. It's going to be a real treat for our patrons."
- Summer season runs Monday through Saturday, June 24 to Aug. 30
- Fall season runs Sept. 18 to Oct. 19
- "Peter and the Starcatcher" runs during both seasons and on weekends in between
- Located on SUU campus in Cedar City
- Cost: $16 to $72 per show. Shows are less expensive Monday through Wednesday. The green show is free.
- More information and tickets at bard.org
William Shakespeare used magic to inspire the imaginations of audiences 400 years ago and it still works today. Rick Elice, playwright for "Peter and the Starcatcher," does the same and wows modern-day audiences.
"The actors were fantastic," said Las Vegas resident Carmen Ross after watching a preview performance this week.
Another audience member, Joan Aten, agreed.
"I knew nothing about the story or the play other than the little bits I'd heard. It was just fabulous," she said.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival officially opens July 1 and runs through Oct. 19. "Peter and the Starcatcher" plays in both the summer and fall seasons.
