Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Peter Pan (A Play), newly adapted by Amanda Denhert from the books by J.M. Barrie and directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production runs October 20 - December 12, 2010 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.
Nationally-known director Amanda Dehnert (Trinity Rep, Arena Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival) will direct her adaptation of Peter Pan, the classic tale from J.M. Barrie's books of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Playful and darkly comic, Dehnert's adaptation brings innovative theatricality, aerial arts, and a soulful understanding of yearning and regret to this legendary childhood adventure of pirates, fairies and fantasy.

The world premiere adaptation captures the delight and innocence and fears of childhood- the simultaneous sensations of both amazement and terror when suddenly flying; the panicked prospect of confronting the worst fears and nightmares; the safety of having a home and a bed to return to at the end of the long, adventurous night. These same qualities inform many Lookingglass plays- and are even written into its mission as a Company.

Artistic Director Andrew White comments, "This play is partly about what it is to be a child; to believe in flight and impossible things; and the delirious, delicious thrill of playing at fighting and dying. It's about the sheer delight of play, that all-out visceral kind of play that we've all experienced as kids, where you throw your whole body into the battle, dive onto the grass and somersault and come up and fight some more. But it's also about becoming a grownup and a parent, and how some kids can't wait to grow up and others refuse to become a grownup. At Lookingglass, we try to remind ourselves as often as possible that playing is one of the ways we stay young."

Peter Pan features Ensemble Members Thomas J. Cox (Captain Hook) and Raymond Fox (Mr. Darling); Molly Brennan (Smee), Amy J. Carle (Mrs. Darling), Ericka Ratcliff (Lily), Adeoye (Clown), Kay Kron (Wendy), Jamie Abelson (John), Alex Weisman (Michael), Aislinn Mulligan (Tinkerbell), Sarah Fornace (Jane), Matt Holzfeind (Slightly), Ryan Nunn (Peter), Nate Trinrud (Tootles), Kelley Abell (Curly), Kareem Bandealy (Nibs) and Royer Bockus (Nana).

Designers include Dan Stratton, scenic; Melissa Torchia, costume; Lee Fiskness, lighting; Andrew Pluess, composition and sound; Michael Griggs, sound design; William Anderson, properties; and Matt Hawkins, choreography.