January 24, 2009

Rick Elice Returns to La Jolla with ‘Peter and the Starcatchers’

January 24th, 2009

News from BroadwayWorld.com: La Jolla Playhouse welcomes back Rick Elice, co-writer of the Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys, as the playwright of Peter and the Starcatchers. Alex Timbers and Roger Rees are set to direct with choreography by Kelly Devine and music by Wayne Barker. Peter and the Starcatchers will be playing at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse February 13 -March 8, 2009.

Based on the best-selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatchers dares to tell the real story of precisely how a desperate orphan in Victorian England became The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. It’s a tale that travels halfway round the world and straight up to the stars. It’s a comedy that takes aim at social injustice. It’s a romance of young heroes who risk everything for the sake of doing right. It’s an exposé of extravagant villains possessed of a single-minded ferocity from which no good shall ever spring. In short, it’s an awfully big adventure. La Jolla Playhouse will present Peter and the Starcatchers, a new play, as a part of its Page To Stage program, by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions.

For full details, visit BroadwayWorld.com.

4 Comments »

  1. What a wonderfully crafted description of the tale told in this play. Rick… now, your mother tells everybody you’re the kind of son who takes stories from the page to the stage. Very intriguing for the audience to experience the ‘birth’ of a play and actively provide feedback- even suggestions- for the creative team, etc. Nice to see JB name, Kelly Devine in the slot of choreographer, too. Lots and lots of news on the BroadwayWorld article about ALL the people involved with the show.

    Hope I’m able to see the production at some point- especially since it would be the first time I’d see the talents of Directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers reflected in a production. Disney TP and all the others involved with this… Rick, you sure know how to surround yourself.

    Comment by Audrey — January 27, 2009 @ 10:20 am

  2. I’m looking forward to this. It falls squarely in the middle of my personal Venn diagram – Dave Barry’s blog and this one (plus the JB forum, of course) are the two places on the internet I spend waaaay too much time. DB is one of my favorite humorists (and he doesn’t even peddle ice cream). Rumor has it that Dave and his writing partner Ridley Pearson are quite happy with the treatment Rick Elice had given their “baby.” And why not? (If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me!) Wishing success for all those involved.

    Comment by stubbleyou — January 30, 2009 @ 2:03 am

  3. I think this musical will be as “magical” as those involved…Dave Barry & Pearson, Devine, Disney TP, Rees, Timbers, and Rick Elice. La Jolla is the “birthplace” of some mighty fine theatrical productions. Let’s hope this one finds that same success!

    Comment by LuluThompson — February 2, 2009 @ 11:35 pm

  4. I saw it last night with friend and Jersey Boys Fantastic Fan, Pam Singer, and it was absolutely amazing. Every performer (including Tony nominees Christian Borle and Celia Kennan-Bolger) was excellent, and the direction of Tony winner Roger Rees and Alex Timbers was flawless.

    There were so many great familiar references and parodies for all ages. Two of the best one-liners as the crew travels around the world are “You Like Me, You Really Like Me” for us baby boomers who remember Sally Field, and “I Can Even See America from my Ship” for the more recent Sarah Palinites, which was a show-stopper!!

    For the Broadway gang, spoofs on “Les Miz” and “Spamalot”, among others, were hilarious. There is even an obscure Jersey Boys reference, which Pam had to point out to me! For that one, you’ll need to see the play in person! It’s at the New York Theatre Workshop on E. 4th St. in Manhattan.

    You did it again, Rick Elice! Congratulations!

    Comment by Howard — February 20, 2011 @ 3:45 pm

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