The Washington production of Threesixty Entertainment’s “Peter Pan” features 20 actors, personable puppets, thrilling flying sequences and the world’s first 360-degree computer-generated imagery theater set designed to astound all ages.
The national tour is choreographed by Gypsy Snider, the co-founder and co-artistic director of the Montreal circus collective “Les 7 Doigts de la Main” (“The Seven Fingers of the Hand”), which captured international attention in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The death-defying acrobatics Ms. Snider crafted for “Pippin” on Broadway earned her Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle awards, and the show itself won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. It also caught the eye of the “Peter Pan” producers.
“The Threesixty producers were familiar with ‘Seven Fingers,’” Ms. Snider told The Washington Times. “They liked the way it opened people’s minds as to how the circus can add new dimensions to all types of shows, and they wanted the same kinds of surprises in ‘Peter Pan.’”
The original version of this production premiered in London’s Kensington Gardens, where the story began and where the statue of Peter Pan draws fans of J.M. Barrie. His tale of the boy who taught the Darling children to fly and took them to Neverland had been realized many times on stage, film and television before Threesixty presented it there in the round with new music. After enhancing it with Ms. Snider’s movement and dance, they launched this tour.
“My task was to create athletic characters and emotion-driven choreography that takes the cast flying through scenes projected high above us in the vertical and in the round,” she said. “The characters are constantly in the moment while sharing intimacy with the audience. Everyone in the theater will say at first that flying is the most interesting aspect of the show, but I’m in love with all the characters.”
Despite the show’s titular character fighting Captain Hook while refusing to grow up, Ms. Snider said that people of all ages can relate to how the Darling children — and all of us — must move beyond childhood at some point.
“Despite the truth that we do grow up to adulthood and children will become parents, everyone loves the story because it’s filled with humanity,” she said.
Ms. Snider was raised in San Francisco by parents who, in 1974, founded the Pickle Family Circus. She emphasizes that her father transformed the art of clowning in the U.S. The company later developed a Chinese acrobatic program and ultimately became part of the San Francisco School of Circus Arts.
“There is always an emotional idea behind every circus,” Ms. Snider said. “My vision is for the circus to take us to the future, not just with new tricks, but with humanity. Circus is a noncompetitive art form that provides us with many ways to work with others.”
She anticipates the “Peter Pan” audience will experience the feeling of adventure upon arrival alone.
“Every day, I come to work facing the elements and the thrill of going to the tent and revisiting each scene of an iconic story with many sides,” Ms. Snider said.
“You can hear children and parents murmur, ‘Look over there! Look over here! Someone’s flying over me!’ It’s such fun!”
British actor Stephen Carlile, known for playing the evil Scar in “The Lion King,” appears as both Captain Hook and Mr. Darling. The cast also includes two local performers, Sarah Charles as Wendy and Porsha Putney as Tiger Lily.
“I love being Wendy Darling because she’s such a tough cookie,” Miss Charles said. The Severn, Maryland, native graduated from Ithaca College and became involved in the “Peter Pan” workshop after appearing off-Broadway in “The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and the Princess.”
Miss Putney was raised in Abingdon, Maryland, and trained at Baltimore School for the Arts before attending the Ailey School/Fordham University. She has appeared in several music videos, performed with Madonna on “Good Morning America” and was a main stage dancer on the Disney Cruise line.
“Tiger Lily is powerful, strong and protects the Lost Boys in Neverland,” she said. “I love playing her in the circus tent. It’s so beautiful with the stage in the middle and audience all around that I feel I’m part of the story.”
As for what choreographer Ms. Snider might try her hand at next, laughing, she confessed, “My latest passion is boxing. It’s important to follow your heart.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: National tour of “Peter Pan”
WHERE: Threesixty Theatre, Tysons Corner Center, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 305, McLean, Virginia, 22102
WHEN: Through Aug. 16
INFO: Tickets $30 to $105 by calling 800/745-3000 or visiting PeterPan360.com or Ticketmaster.com
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