Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
This weekend, Wagon Wheel Community Theatre invites audiences to rediscover the joy of imagination, storytelling and human connection with its production of Peter and the Starcatcher.
The Tony Award-winning play marks the program’s first exploration into musical theatre and offers a fast-paced, inventive retelling of how a young orphan became Peter Pan, according to a news release from the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts.
Directed by Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre alumnus Ian B. Connor, the production transforms a cast of 24 performers into a world of pirates, sailors, narrators and dreamers. With actors rarely leaving the stage, the ensemble-driven show relies on creativity, physicality and collaboration to bring the story to life in surprising and imaginative ways.
For performer Ally Watkins, who plays Smee, that collaborative storytelling is at the heart of what makes this production so special.
“I think what I love most about working on this particular staging of this story is the way that all of us as an ensemble are woven into as many moments as possible,” said Watkins. “We are sound effects, shapes and lines, narrators and pirates and sailors and Greek Chorus and everything else depending on the needs of the moment. It really drives home the feeling of togetherness that I think this play is supposed to instill in you by the end.”
Watkins also found unexpected depth in a character often known for comedy, stated the release.
“Oh, Smee. I have grown to adore him,” she said. “You wouldn’t think that Smee is a character who would give me that opportunity, but I would argue that I have had more chances to wrestle with motivation and subtext with this character than possibly any I’ve ever played.”
At its core, Peter and the Starcatcher is a story about rediscovery, something that resonated deeply with many in the cast, stated the release.
For Nash Hayes, who takes on the iconic role of Peter, the experience has been both surprising and deeply personal.
“This entire process has been just wonderful,” said Hayes. “It’s been a couple years since I’ve performed. You get the itch. But it can be intimidating. Wagon Wheel is high-caliber, even with Community Theatre. This is a role I’ve wanted, but I never thought I would be able to do it. I auditioned, thinking I would have a small part in the ensemble. And then our director, Ian, called me and offered me the role of Peter. I could not believe it. The process has just been amazing.”
Through the role, Hayes said he has reconnected with something many adults lose over time.
“I have really learned to embrace my inner child,” he said. “We all have to grow up. But being able to embody what it means to be a child has meant so much. Peter reminds me to never forget the capacity we have to have fun and that sheer joy he has is so inspiring.”
That sense of rediscovery is something he hopes audiences will feel as well.
“If there is an emotion in life that you’re frustrated with, come see the show,” he said. “It healed something in me. It reminded me of something I’ve forgotten.”
For Will Dawson, who plays the villainous Black Stache, the production marks a return to the stage nearly 30 years in the making.
“It has been almost exactly 30 years since my last appearance on stage,” said Dawson. “I fell in love with theatre, specifically musical theatre when I was in elementary school and was part of my middle and high school drama teams.”
Now stepping back into performance, Dawson said the experience has been both nostalgic and unexpectedly comfortable.
“The biggest surprise to me, after the nervousness of auditioning, is how comfortable I’ve felt being back on stage,” he said. “However, maybe it’s muscle memory or like the old saying, ‘It’s just like falling off a bicycle.’”
More than anything, the production has given him the opportunity to share the stage with his son, Symin, who encouraged him to audition.
“His love for performing has reignited my enjoyment of performance art,” said Dawson.
For Lilly Fournier, who plays Molly, the experience has been defined by the people as much as the performance.
“Being in an environment with people who are genuinely kind and unapologetically themselves has been so refreshing,” said Fournier. “The support and encouragement that everybody shows each other is amazing. I would come home from practice every night and be in disbelief of how loving, humorous and talented this group of people was.”
She adds the story itself carries an important reminder.
“Molly has taught me that being ‘childish’ isn’t a bad thing,” she said. “Look for magic in your everyday life, and you will find whimsy in yourself and others.”
While each performer brings a unique perspective, all point to the same reason this production has been so meaningful: connection.
“My wife and I moved here not too long ago. We didn’t know anyone,” said Hayes. “Now there’s people in the community I know well and I love them all because of community theatre.”
Dawson echoed that sentiment, noting the power of shared storytelling.
“Community theater allows us to connect with people who have different backgrounds, various likes and dislikes, to come together and create memories that will last a lifetime,” he said.
Fournier sees that connection extending beyond the cast and into the audience.
“Whether you are in the cast or in the audience, you feel a connection to others,” she said. “I believe that is the key to appreciate everyone for their differences, and to love the quirks of being human.”
For Watkins, that sense of belonging is what makes community theatre truly special.
“A friend group. Finding your people,” she said. “I can honestly say hanging out with these people is like oxygen. They are my community. And I love each and every one of them to bits.”
With its imaginative staging, heartfelt performances, and spirit of collaboration, Peter and the Starcatcher represents a bold new chapter for Wagon Wheel Community Theatre. More than just a production, it is an invitation to laugh, reflect, and reconnect with the joy of live theatre.
Performances take place this weekend at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts. For tickets and more information, visit wagonwheelcenter.org.
