By Rick Elice
Book By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Music By Wayne Barker
Director: Neil Hollands
From May 31 to June 16, 2024

Peter and the Starcatcher
Presented by special arrangement with Music Theater International
A Play by Rick Elice
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Directed by Neil Hollands
Production Manager, MJ Devaney
Music Director and Movement, Rosemary Allmann
Assistant Director, Rani Wachter
Stage Manager, Karen Foley; Asst. Stage Manager, Amanda Foley
Design by David Garrett; Lighting, Casey McCammon; Sound, John Trindle

Rehearsals:
- First readthrough, Thursday, March 28
- April 3 and 4, 6:30 or 7 pm
- April 7 to 17, Sunday through Wednesday, 6:30 or 7 pm
- April 21 through May 30, Sunday through Thursday, 6:30 or 7 pm, with possible additions of Saturday or Sunday afternoons in the three weekends before opening
- Set building and other prep on weekend days, optional, but your assistance needed!
- All roles will not be called for all rehearsals, but as this is an ensemble show, expect involvement on most of the scheduled rehearsal dates

Performances:
May 31 to June 16, Friday, twice Saturday the first weekend, Thursday, Friday, twice Saturday and Sunday matinee the second and third weekends

Auditions:
Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at 7PM
(You may attend either session)
Alternate arrangements for auditions, please query the director
Possible callbacks Monday, March 25, 7 pm
Williamsburg Players
200 Hubbard Lane

This is a comedy fantasy adventure with music that requires physical energy and singing from all roles (with some possible exceptions listed under roles below), but it is not a full musical. We can emphasize singing more from those in the cast with more musical talent.

The audition does not require advance preparation but theatrical resumes will be considered. Come prepared to identify dates of potential conflict with the rehearsal or performance schedule. Wear clothing and shoes you can move in.

The audition will consist of three sections:
1. Music: A song will be taught to all and performed together. Do not prepare solo performances.
2. Movement and Improvisation: All will be led through a series of physical movements that simulate possible action in the show, combined with improvisational performance.
3. Cold readings: actors will perform monologues and scenes from the script as requested with very brief preparation time


Synopsis:
During the reign of Queen Victoria, an orphan and his two mates are shipped off to the distant island ruled by King Zarboff. They don't know their ship, the Neverland, carries a mysterious trunk, holding an otherworldly cargo and stolen by treacherous captain Bill Slank on the docks. At sea, the orphans are discovered by Molly Aster, daughter of Lord Leonard Aster, from whom the trunk was stolen. Molly realizes the trunk is full of starstuff, a substance so powerful that it must not fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken by the fearsome Black Stache and his pirate crew, and the action moves to an island inhabited by the Mollusks, the danger quickly rises to a hilarious but poignant climax. The Tony-award winning comedy adventure reveals the origin of Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and their nemesis Captain Hook.

Roles:
This is an ensemble show, with significant stage time for all performers. All parts will be cast without consideration for ethnicity.

The Kids (these four roles may be double cast, with actors dividing performances)

Molly (female, actor 12-30 playing age 13, principal role, good English accent)
Curious, intelligent, adventurous, and a natural born leader in an age when girls were not encouraged to be these things. A Starcatcher-in-training, Molly is devoted to her father and Queen Victoria. She's beginning to feel romantic stirrings that she doesn't understand, but she's still just 13 and prone to tantrums under pressure. She's going to be a great woman.

Boy/Peter (male, actor 12-30 playing 13, principal role)
He begins the play as nameless, homeless, and friendless, embittered by years of abuse in orphanages. But he has the makings of a hero. He's a survivor, and he doesn't miss much. More than anything he wants a home and family, and meeting Molly stirs those feelings in him even more.

Ted (any gender, actor 12-30 playing 13, strong supporting role)
Ted is obsessed with food, probably because there's never been much of it available. With an easy wit, and a friendly if somewhat gullible nature, Teddy's ready for a better life when it comes.

Prentiss (either gender, actor 12-30, playing 13, strong supporting role)
Prentiss is ambitious and logical, and wants to be in charge desperately, but deep down is more of a second-in-command type. This can make Prentiss a bit of a blowhard, and a touch cowardly in the face of physical danger, but despite the blustering, deep down, Prentiss is a dependable ally and a friend.

The Adults
Black Stache (any gender playing male, actor 25-55, principal role)
Black Stache is many things—well read, poetic, ferocious but silly, completely amoral and narcissistic, physically graceful and dangerous, but an absolute fop. Stache loves himself best and his trademark moustache the best of himself.

Smee (any gender, actor 25-65, strong supporting role)
Black Stache's first mate could probably be good, could probably be very capable, but Smee has never given that any thought, as it would get in the way of being devoted to his captain's every whim. Smee's chemistry with Stache is a secret key ingredient to this play's success.

Lord Leonard Aster (male, actor 30-60, strong supporting role, good English accent)
He is the very model of a modern Victorian English gentleman, loyal to Queen Victoria and his service as Starcatcher—a very small group devoted to guarding the secrets of starstuff and making sure its power is not misused. He's confident, able, and just beginning to suspect his daughter will end up being better than him at everything.

Mrs. Bumbrake (female, actor 35-65, strong supporting role, British accent)
Molly's nanny is British to the bone, wielding a stiff upper lip, a stiff backbone, a strong tendency to speaking in alliteration, and a bit of a glamor girl past. She still twinkles more than enough to catch a lonely sailor's eye.

Bill Slank (male, actor 30-55, strong supporting role, done in act one, doubling as a Mollusk in act two)
The Neverland's vicious captain is a greedy bastard who's done ruthless things to command a third-rate ship. He still wants more, but doesn't really have the skills to get it. He's how orphans end up if they don't have the right influences.

Alf (any gender, actor 35-65, strong supporting role)
A sea dog veteran of more ships than can be remembered who has ended up on Slank's Neverland. A good sailor follows orders, but at core, Alf is a better person than Slank. The right woman will see through the rough and ample exterior, the bowlegged gait and see Alf's saucy heart and potential to be a minor hero.

Captain Robert Falcon Scott (male, actor age 40 and up, minor role)
Captain of the Wasp. Somehow you can already see that he is destined to lead a remarkable expedition to the South Pole, then freeze to death in the process and become a doomed British hero.

Fighting Prawn (any gender, actor age 40 up, strong supporting role in second act, doubles as pirate or sailor in the first act, needs to develop Italian/islander accent)
The King or Queen of the Mollusks, father or mother to Hawking Clam, crafty ruler of a small island, whose character was formed during a stint abroad, toiling as a sous-chef specializing in Italian cuisine. In the process, the Prawn developed a strong loathing of the English, which he or she expresses by gleefully murdering any who show up on his island.

Hawking Clam (any gender, actor 18 to 35, supporting role, doubling as sailor or pirate in act one)
Hawking Clam is preparing to lead the Mollusks when Fighting Prawn's days are done, and as such, is most prominent for echoing his or her esteemed father and mother. Like Fighting Prawn, Clam speaks a strange language of Mollusk tones, Italian kitchen terms, and pidgin English.

Grempkin (any gender, actor 25 up, minor role, doubling as sailor, pirate, or Mollusk later, strong English or Scottish accent)
This nasty bully is the schoolmaster and chief torturer at St. Norbert's Orphanage, where the boys are kept in the dark and under the boot until they can be sold for a solid profit.

Teacher (any gender, age 55 up, minor role with one great scene, preference given to an actor with low mobility but the ability to captivate us for one shining moment, a Scottish accent is a strong plus, could double some as a sailor or pirate if desired)
Formerly a Scottish salmon, Teacher was transformed by starstuff into an ancient mermaid or –man. Cross Glinda the Good with a mountaintop guru, and put them under the sea, and you have the idea.

Either Kids or Adults
Ensemble
Playing multiple sailors/pirates/merfolk/Mollusk islanders/spirits/dodo (six to eight performers, most of these will be young people who read 10 to 25-years-old, a few big enough to help with lifts, carries, and manipulating props and scenery needed)
These roles require energy, precision, and focus, but in a fun setting. The play features these players not only as sea-and-island-going characters, but as walls, doors, footrests, ocean waves, occasional puppeteers, and more… and there's a big musical number too! Good body control and the desire to learn all kinds of stagecraft important. Two of these roles will play spirits who wordlessly demonstrate boy/Peter's inner mental state and must have dance or pantomime skills.