Learn Peter Pan's origin story in Powerhouse Theatre's production of 'Peter and the Starcatcher’

LACONIA — Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative will perform the Tony Award-winning play “Peter and the Starcatcher,” running Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is based on a five-book series of the same name, serving as a prequel to the story of Peter Pan, popularized by the 1953 Disney film and various retellings and recreations. As the musical “Wicked” is to “The Wizard of Oz,” this play set to music tells the story of what made Peter Pan and Captain Hook the characters people know and love.

“It's what I would call an origin story,” director Bryan Halperin said. “It's sort of a comedic version of how an orphan boy named Peter became Peter Pan.”

Halperin has been directing productions in the Lakes Region since moving to the area in 2004. Halperin previously directed this show with a cast of children, and it's his first time directing it with an adult cast.

“This show is just a super fun, creative sandbox for people to jump into and play together,” Halperin said. “Even though I have experience with the show, this is an entirely new production, and I can find so many more nuances and fun things [when working] with adults. [These actors] understand that even though the show feels sort of improvised and silly, it's actually very precise and deliberately structured through the rehearsal process.”

The show stars Maci Johnson as Boy, Emma Molloy as Molly, and Joel Iwaskiewicz as Black Stache, along with Garrison Barron, Michael Costa, Jennifer Cote, Deidre Cullen, Katie Duncan, Jim Gocha, Tess Hodges, Rachel Hunton, David Nelson, Kyle Sidders, Lorienne Valovanie, and Phil Dunbridge, who makes his debut with Powerhouse theater company.

“We dove right into that work early on,” Iwaskiewicz said. “There's really very little downtime for anybody in the cast, no matter what role they're playing. But I think it has just enriched the whole experience, and really helped everybody buy in, and feel an immense sense of pride in just how strong this creation is, that we've been able to achieve together.”

Iwaskiewicz, a frequent Powerhouse performer along with his wife Laura, is playing another version of Captain Hook in Powerhouse Theatre's second October production, “Hook’s Tale,” Oct. 17-18. "Hook’s Tale” portrays Hook as the wrongfully accused protagonist who wants to clear his name.

“Captain Hook has been one of my favorite characters since I was a little kid,” Iwaskiewicz said. “It's such a fun role to step into. He's a complete diva, and the script just invites an actor to make as many big choices as possible. He just wants someone like Peter, who’s at his level, to give him a good run for his money.”

Iwaskiewicz admires how “zany and hilarious” the production is, while still staying true to the original story.

“It’s a comedy, and yet still so incredibly nostalgic and heartfelt in the way so many of us remember the tale of Peter Pan to be,” Iwaskiewicz said. “You get a behind-the-scenes glimpse imagining the origin stories of all of these characters.”

Iwaskiewicz emphasized how collaborative the actors have been in working with each other in the rehearsal process, as the show involves a lot of physical scenes and "intricate staging.”

“It's a true ensemble experience,” Iwaskiewicz said. “We have one actor joining us who's new to Powerhouse, otherwise everybody has been involved in numerous productions before. So, it was a group that knew each other well, and was ready to hit the ground running, which the show needed. Everybody was just ready to throw themselves in from Day 1.”

With opening night approaching, Halperin expressed his excitement seeing the show “really come together,” and hopes the audience will feel connected with the production.

“I think that the enthusiasm that the performers have for playing this show is really what's gonna inspire and excite the audience,” Halperin said. “It's an opportunity for audiences to see a story that will feel familiar to them, but with a brand new plot [that will] add new layers to what they know about these characters.”

Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative is the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre. Other shows performed this season were “Shrek The Musical,” “The Play That Goes Wrong,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Performances of “Peter and the Starcatcher” at the Colonial Theatre are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. For tickets, visit coloniallaconia.com or powerhousenh.org/starcatcher.

Colonial Theatre is located at 609 Main St.

“You already love these characters, and love this world of Neverland. So, come find out how it came to be,” Halperin said.