Peter Pan

Behind The Scenes
A Sneak Peek at Local Theater Productions

MODE Talks With Tony Spinosa of Peter Pan

by Lisa Hummel

"All children, except one, grow up …" and so the story begins. Written in 1905 by Scottish dramatist and novelist Sir James M. Barrie, the legendary Peter Pan lovingly tells a grand story about a boy who refused to grow up. Now a mainstay in the minds of children — and adults — everywhere, the telling of the literary version of the tale never fails in bringing Peter and his Peter Pan Flying compatriots to life. In that same vein, the musical version of Peter Pan — from the first U.S. showing in 1912 to the current production featuring former Olympic champion Cathy Rigby — has continued the literary work’s efforts in winning countless hearts worldwide by wowing audiences with Barrie’s musings on life, age, and the benefits of staying "gay and innocent and heartless."

The current incarnation of Peter Pan first returned to the stage in 1991 when Rigby assumed the starring role in the 35th Anniversary production. Since then, she and the cast have received rave reviews, Tony Award nominations, and sold out countless showings across the nation. In addition, Rigby herself has logged more frequent flyer miles than any other actress in the role — quite a feat, considering that the role that has been successfully portrayed by such notables as Maude Adams, Mary Martin, and Sandy Duncan. The national touring musical production hit the road in November 1997 and, after two years of appearances in countless cities and time on Broadway, is now on its way to hitting the planks at Hershey Theatre. A production on the grandest of scales, Peter Pan features a cast of 35 talented veteran performers, including Tony Spinosa, who made his Broadway debut in the production playing both Captain Hook’s sidekick, Cecco, and the Indian Chief.

Originally from New York, Spinosa began in the business some 20 years ago when he decided to forego a college degree from Villanova and pound the streets of the city in hopes of realizing a career as a Broadway performer. "It was a roller coaster ride," Spinosa said, "but the determination of sticking with the business eventually pays off." And pay off it did — after spending 11 years in New York and developing quite a reputation during seven years of notable performances in Los Angeles, Spinosa was selected by the powers-that-be at Peter Pan to make his return to the East Coast one of the Broadway kind. "It’s a dream come true," Spinosa said, referring to both the Broadway debut and his success in the roles "It’s something I’ve worked for my whole life."

A member of the cast since 1997, Spinosa has spent a large portion of the past two years performing the show eight times a week in a different city each week — making that a ballpark total of 110 cities that he’s seen in the past 24 months. And while being a part of a national touring production may mean performing the same thing night in and night out, Spinosa explained that the Peter Pan Flying energy of the show, combined with the magic of the legendary tale, makes it more than worth it to play such high energy roles as Cecco and the Indian Chief over and over again. "Once we start the second act it’s sort of like we’re shot out of a cannon," he said. In addition to playing the two roles simultaneously, he is required to be a quick-change artist — as he switches between the two characters’ costumes six times in one hour during each performance.

In addition to dazzling costumes, Peter Pan has also received rave reviews for its production quality — which is no small compliment, considering that its $1.3 million production budget pales in comparison to some of Broadway’s $4 million sets. Also garnering some attention in the set department is the fact that this version of Peter Pan is not all that similar to the animated version — in fact, with its more realistic depictions of such sets as Neverland, it’s quite different. "It’s been called ‘the darker version of Peter Pan’," Spinosa said. "The look of the show is very different to what people think of Peter Pan … [the producers] went back to the novel." Also revamped for the current production are some of the musical numbers, which were reworked, according to Spinosa, "to make it more palatable for the ’90s audiences."

So what makes this incarnation of Peter Pan so special? According to Spinosa, it’s none other than the workings of a talented cast and crew, headed, of course, by Cathy Rigby. "Hands down, it’s Cathy Rigby," he said of the star and co-producer, "in addition to being the most warm and loving and considerate stars I’ve ever worked with, she’s brilliant on stage. She’s riveting to work with every night." Adding to the quality of the cast and crew is that mythical chemistry that is, intrinsically, Peter Pan. "It’s a wonderful adventure," enthused Spinosa, who went on to tell of the many adults who have stopped him after the show and related their joy, along with their children, in "just being swept away" by it all — comments that Spinosa feels gets right to the heart of the show itself.

Slated to end at the end of February in San Francisco, the showings at Hershey Theatre may be the last time a national touring production of the number hits the area for a while — at least in Spinosa’s eyes.

Regardless of the future of Peter Pan itself, Spinosa is certain to pick up and move on to whatever show calls him next — wherever that might be. "You never know what happens, the business changes daily," he said, lightheartedly, as he paused for a few seconds before noting that if there’s one thing he’s learned from all of his years in the business it’s the fact that "you just sort of don’t worry about it, and it just sort of happens."

Spoken like a true guest of Neverland.

The national tour of Peter Pan will stop at the Hershey Theatre the weekend of November 19, with performances Friday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 6:30pm. For ticket information, call the box office at 534-3405.