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With a cast of 75 students, two performances were held this past weekend at Valhalla Middle/High School auditorium. The students began rehearsals in early March.
The play is about a magical young boy who flies into a family’s home, prompting the children to follow him back to his home in Neverland, where the kids there always stay young. However, when Peter Pan’s enemy Captain Hook causes troubles, they want to return home. “We had some super kids playing the main parts,” said Director Bill Wright, a teacher at Valhalla’s Kensico School. “They all had a great time with it and we’re excited for our performances.” Along with the large cast, the play also had a stage crew of 13, along with two high school students acting as stage managers. In addition, there is also a slew of high school students who assisted with acting and building the stage. There are also some students from Kensico who helped, as well as one from Virginia Road Elementary School. “We’re lucky here,” said Wright. “There are people from all across the District helping us produce this wonderful play. The level of involvement is incredible.”
He noted that directing the middle school play is always a treat for him because he gets to work with his former students. As a third-grade teacher, Wright taught many of the middle school students that he is now directing in “Peter Pan,” and is happy to reconnect with them in a different way.
“It’s wonderful for me because I know these guys already,” he said. “It’s great to be able to work with them at a different part of their lives and to be able to create something together. It’s a unique opportunity.”
Wright worked alongside musical director Deborah Woodard and choreographer Juliette Soricelli.
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