Cast list announced for upcoming production of 'The Magician’s Elephant'

LACONIA ― Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre in Laconia has completed casting for the New Hampshire premiere of a brand new musical, "The Magician’s Elephant"8 by Nancy Harris and Marc Teitler.

The musical is an adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning novel, which was also recently adapted into an animated film on Netflix. People from all over New Hampshire came out to audition for the show and have a chance to perform on the beautiful Colonial Theatre stage.

“We searched state wide for performers for this challenging and fun new musical, especially for talented teens to play the pivotal leading roles of Peter and Adele," said Director Bryan Halperin. "We were thrilled by the turnout and ecstatic to work with this cast.”

The role of Peter Duchene, the musical’s main protagonist, will be played by Carson Curtis from Brentwood. Curtis is an almost 16-year-old with tons of onstage experience in the professional, community and youth theater scene in NH. Professional appearances include Prescott Park Arts Festival, Palace Theatre, and Rochester Opera House, and he’s worked with Ogunquit, the Palace Teen Company and attended Interlochen Arts Camp among other theater groups.

"I am so excited to be working with Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, and thrilled to be bringing the musical story of 'The Magician’s Elephant' to NH theater audiences for the first time, alongside Charlotte Van Ledtje," said Curtis. 

Van Ledtje, a 12-year-old from Durham, will play Adele. She is a dynamic young performer who has already been featured in professional productions at the Ogunquit Playhouse including this past summer in High Society, at Maine State Musical Theatre, and has played Annie at both the Rochester Opera House and Argyle Theatre in Babylon, New York.

Other more local credits include playing Matilda at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse and appearances with the Palace Theatre and Ovation Theatre Company. Van Ledtje is excited to play Adele because “she’s brave, curious, and full of hope. I love how she believes in magic and possibility, even when things feel uncertain.”

The talented duo will be part of a cast of 56 filled with many familiar faces to the Colonial Stage with Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative. Seven members of the cast will be making their Powerhouse debut. Besides Halperin, rehearsals will be led by production team members Meg King (assistant director and choreographer), Alex Hunton (vocal director), and Dana Gardner (stage manager).

The large cast will help transport guests to the town of Baltese where nothing exciting ever happens. But one day a magician (played by Andrew Gibson, Powerhouse’s Jacob Marley) summons an elephant, which crash lands through the roof of the Opera House and sets off a chain of events too impossible to believe, including helping Peter, a teen boy, search for his long lost younger sister.

Powerhouse has engaged Sherry Gardner to build an (almost) life-sized elephant puppet to be operated by three puppeteers and bring an elephant through the Colonial’s elephant door on Canal Street for the first time in many years. 

Performances will be May 1-3 at the Colonial Theatre, with matinees on both May 2 and 3 to appeal to family audiences. Tickets are on sale now at coloniallaconia.com and powerhousenh.org.

For all the details on Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, auditions, and other events in the 2026 season check out powerhousenh.org or email info@powerhousenh.org.