Davidson, NC
By Lauren M. Gunderson
Adapted from the Play by J.M. Barrie
Directed by Joanna Gerdy
Produced by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
THE PLACE:
The Darling’s Nursery, Edwardian London The Night Sky Neverland THE TIME: 1903 and Always
Peter Pan and Wendy will be performed with one 15 minute intermission
Peter Pan and Wendy be performed one minute intermission
“I love stories. They’re the beginning and end of everything.” ~ Pan
In Peter Pan and Wendy, we return to Neverland — but not exactly the one we think we know. This is a world built from stories and imagination, from the dreams of children and the wild inventions of a boy who refused to grow up. In this Neverland, Peter has built a world from his favorite adventures — a world that celebrates boys and battles and pirates and joyful playing. Of course, what Peter doesn’t know he’s doing is only bringing back the stories that interest him, the ones that make him the hero, the one where heroism looks and acts one particular way. Like anyone on earth who listens to only one kind of story, that means that lots of other stories and lots of other kinds of heroes are left out. Is Neverland a place for everyone, or just for Peter Pan? In re-telling this story, playwright Lauren Gunderson gives Peter a diverse cohort of young people, lost boys and strong girls alike, who come together and beat “BAD”.
But Neverland is also a world built from his favorite story, and that story is Wendy’s story. When she discovers that Peter has filled Neverland with the most important parts of her life and her home, it is Wendy (aided by Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell) who reminds him that growing up isn’t about losing joy, it’s about learning to see beyond yourself. Together, these three powerful girls show him that imagination doesn’t have to come at the expense of others, that leadership is something you share, and that friendship is the truest kind of magic.
We hope the world we’ve created invites the kid in each of us to remember what it was like to imagine and to play…to make our favorite toy come to life, to turn a piece of fabric into a shadow, some newspapers into swords and spyglasses and pet lobsters, to create create pirate ships and mermaid caves and underground houses - using just what’s in front of us, a few of our happiest thoughts, and our own brand of childlike wonder.
Now all you have to do is leap into the night air, jump on the wind, and follow the friendliest stars to Neverland. Stay close to me, don’t look back, and away we go.
~ Joanna Gerdy
I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating - verbatim - so here it is: My life is richer for the experiences I share with this dedicated, passionate, smart, gifted Davidson Day theatre community. We come together as individuals when we begin work on a theatre production, and during the 225+ hours spent together in rehearsal, we share stories, we test our boundaries, explore our creative capabilities, dig into words and feelings, and work really, really hard. We support each other, cheer our victories, and delight in our shared discoveries. We care about the process, about doing the very best we can, and we give everything we have to make theatre. This is why I do what I do. The process of putting together a successful show means putting every ounce of mental, emotional, and physical energy into every rehearsal; sometimes, we are really, really tired, and most of the time, we have So. Much. Fun doing this crazy theatre thing. But for all the stress, the million and one things to remember and finish and fix and make better, it is still the best part of my life, and I am grateful to share in this piece of so many brilliant lives.
WENDY DARLING
*Mackenzie Beckman
MRS. DARLING Lindy Dennis
JOHN DARLING Abbie Barsosky
MICHAEL DARLING Nate Cantor
MR. DARLING Lukas Paeper
NANA, THE FAMILY'S DOG AND NANNY *Parker Martin
TINK'S LIGHT
PETER'S SHADOW
Morgan Gilliland, *Batson Pickens, *Elizabeth Robinson, Harper Walters
Callum McAloon, Lukas Paeper, *Batson Pickens, *Elizabeth Robinson, Harper Walters
PETER PAN *Noah Larsen
TINKERBELL Lindy Dennis
TIGER LILY
*Elizabeth Robinson
TOODLES Kennedy Orr
CURLY Emberlyn Gilley
SLIGHTLY
*Batson Pickens
NIBS Morgan Gilliland
TWIN (just the one) Owen Jeppesen
JEROME THE CROCODILE
Callum McAloon, *Parker Martin, Harper Walters
MERMAIDS Callum McAloon, Quinn Socha, Harper Walters
~ Pirates ~
CAPTAIN HOOK
Lukas Paeper
SMEE Lilly Harvey
STARKEY Harper Walters
JUKES Quinn Socha
NOODLER *Parker Martin
SKYLIGHTS Callum McAloon
COOKSON *Lorelei Robertson
*Class of 2026
Director Joanna Gerdy
Scenic Design Tiffani Thomas
Costume Design Lane Morris
Lighting Design Barbara Berry
Sound Design Joanna Gerdy
Projection Design Rob Merryman
Fight Choreographer Charles Holmes
Flight Choreographer / Crocodile Puppet Design Shawnna Pledger
Graphic Design - Posters / Apparel Israella Freidline
Dialect Coach Laura Reed Goodson
Additional Music Noel Freidline
Scenic Artists / Painting
Tiffani Thomas, Ashley Adkins, '27; Ellie Lippiner, '27; Izzy Glavin, ‘31
Props Master Kim Lank
Wardrobe / Dressers
Ashley Adkins, '27; Lucy Cope, '29
Master Carpenter Ben Griffith
Set Construction Crew Ben Griffith, Debbie Griffith, Tiffani Thomas
Backstage Run Crew
Light Board Operator
Ashley Adkins, '27; Lucy Cope, '29
Sydney Jeppesen, '29
Projection / Sound Technician Kameron Nikrooz, '28
Cast Photography Israella Freidline
Playbill Design Cindy Walters
Playbill Shout Out Design Nadia Ervin, '28
Lift Loaned By Nate Dennis
House Managers / Volunteer Coordinators
Hallway Scenic Design
Cast and Crew Craft Services
Holly Paeper, Sherri Beckman
Sharon Pickens
Melissa Dennis
Box Office Rolf Paeper
Concessions / Flowers / Cast Shout Outs Holly and Rolf Paeper
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy. This is her sixth show at Davidson Day School. She has worked both behind the scenes as a stage manager and on stage as various roles in The Play That Goes Wrong, Something Rotten!, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Abbie would like to thank her sister Emma, her mom, and her dad, for always being her #1 supporters. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being such an amazing mentor and director.
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, her twelfth high school show at Davidson Day. She also appeared in Mean Girls, Clue, The Play That Goes Wrong, Something Rotten!, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Once Upon a One More Time and more! In her free time, Mackenzie likes to run and spend time with her friends. She would like to thank her mom for always supporting her in every role and for coming to every show. This is Mackenzie’s senior year and since day one of performing in theatre at Davidson Day, Ms.Gerdy has always been there for her and is truly the best director any cast member could ever ask for. She appreciates Ms. Gerdy dearly and will miss her infinitely when she graduates.
is in seventh grade Davidson Day school, and this marks his first Davidson Day Theatre production. He has performed in two Musical Theatre Club productions, Shrek and The Aristocats. He is excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, since he has never done a high school show. He would like to thank all the people involved in his past performances for they helped him carry on even when he was scared or nervous. He would also like to thank his family for helping to support him and Ms. Gerdy for her help directing.
Dennis as MRS. DARLING, TINKERBELL
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy. This will be her sixth production with Davidson Day Theatre, most recently appearing in Once Upon A One More Time and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. She has been doing theatre for seven years, and wants to pursue theatre in college. Lindy would like to give her thanks to her parents, for supporting her through the grueling rehearsal process, and her director Ms. Gerdy for her unwavering support and dedication to our shows.
Morgan Gilliland as NIBS, TINK LIGHT
is thrilled to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy as Nibs the Lost Boy! This is her second year at Davidson Day as a Sophomore. She has appeared in other shows including, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as Margory/Watchman, and in Once Upon a One More Time as Belle. She would like to thank her parents, her sisters, who are her biggest fans, and her dog Bindi, for the emotional support she has given. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy and all of the wonderful crew and cast who have put in all their time and energy into making this show as magical as Neverland!
Gilley as CURLY
is thrilled to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy. Emberlyn is in ninth grade. This is her second year at Davidson Day, and Peter Pan and Wendy is her third show at Davidson Day. She has performed in Once Upon A One More Time and The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane. In her free time, she enjoys cheering, reading, and volunteering. Emberlyn would like to thank her parents for their endless support and for driving her to rehearsals. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being a fantastic director.
Harvey as SMEE
is very excited to play the role of Smee in Peter Pan and Wendy. Lilly has been a part of The Wiz, in which she played the Underling; Frozen (Sven), Shrek (The Ugly Duckling); The Aristocats (Wacky Cat); and finally Aladdin, in which she played Djinn 5. She would like to thank her family for helping with her confidence and Ms. Gerdy for being an amazing director!
Owen Jeppesen as TWIN (just the one)
feels exceptionally excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, his fourth production with Davidson Day Theatre. He was also on the tech crew for Something Rotten!, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Once Upon a One More Time. In his free time, Owen prefers to read and sleep. Owen would like to thank his parents and Ms. Gerdy for giving him this opportunity.
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, his second production at Davidson Day. He also appeared in Once Upon a One More Time. In his free time, Noah likes to sing and hang out with his friends. Noah would love to thank his family for always supporting and caring for him, and his friends for their support and for always coming to his shows. He would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being THE ABSOLUTE BEST director and always inspiring him to chase his goals and believe in himself. He would also love to thank everyone for coming to see the show and wishes them the best experience.
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, his very first play. In his free time, Parker loves to take his manual GTI for long drives in the mountains, play pickleball, and spend time with his friends. He would like to thank his family for supporting his interest in participating in his very first school play, and Noah Larsen, a seasoned theatre veteran who has helped shape him into an actor. He would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for teaching him the ropes and working with him from scratch.
as SKYLIGHTS, SHADOW, JEROME is very happy to be involved in this production of Peter Pan and Wendy He has worked both on and off stage in a number of Davidson Day Theatre productions. Previous onstage appearances include Bull, Bryce’s Father, and Neal in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Robin in Something Rotten!. He also designed lights for our outdoor production of Mamma Mia!, and worked as Light Board Operator for Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!, Clue, The Last Five Years, Annie, and The Wiz in Ozland. Callum served as Assistant Stage Manager and Deck Chief, setting, coordinating, rigging, and cleaning up after all the things that went wrong in The Play that Goes Wrong. He’s looking forward to flying people to Neverland, as well as playing a pirate, a crocodile, and the head of the shadow of the Boy who Never Grew Up. He hopes you enjoy your journey to Neverland!
is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, her eighth play at Davidson Day. She also appeared in Annie, Frozen, Shrek, The Aristocats, Aladdin, and Once Upon A One More Time. In her free time, Kennedy likes to sing and read to her little brother. Kennedy would like to thank her aunt for always making sure she's where she needs to be, and her parents for their endless love and support. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being an AMAZING director and giving her the courage to give 100% all of the time.
as MR. DARLING, CAPTAIN HOOK, SHADOW is super excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy, his ninth show at Davidson Day. He also appeared in Once Upon a One More Time (Prince Charming), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Something Rotten!, The Play That Goes Wrong, and many more! Lukas would like to thank his parents for always supporting him and the community. He would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being a stellar director and an incredible person.
as SLIGHTLY, TINK LIGHT, SHADOW is a senior at Davidson Day, and this will be her fifth show with the wonderful Davidson Day theatre program. Batson has performed in prior DDS performances such as Clue, The Play that Goes Wrong, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Once Upon A One More Time. She absolutely can not believe this is her final play at Davidson Day. Batson has loved every second and has especially enjoyed learning the added skill of making crafts out of newspaper for this production. Batson also is looking to continue her love for theatre and performing in college. Batson would like to thank her mom for her never ending support and love. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for the incredible direction and care.
*Lorelei Robertson as COOKSON is a senior and is very excited to participate in Peter Pan and Wendy! This will be her sixth production at Davidson Day. In the past, she has participated in The Theory of Relativity, Mamma Mia!, Clue, Mean Girls, and Once Upon A One More Time. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, get ahead in her schoolwork, and write articles for Stroll Magazine which she has been working on for almost four years. She is also Editor In Chief of The Untold Stories Of DDS. Lorelei would like to thank her parents for supporting her and thank Ms. Gerdy for doing an awesome job directing one of her favorite childhood stories!
as TIGER LILY, TINK LIGHT, SHADOW is beyond excited to bring the role of Tiger Lily to life in Peter Pan and Wendy! She is currently a senior in her third year at Davidson Day School and has loved being part of the theatre program. Outside of school, Elizabeth trains at Dance Davidson, where she focuses on contemporary and jazz and continues to grow as both a dancer and performer. Dance has played a huge role in shaping her creativity and stage presence, and she loves getting the chance to blend that passion with acting in this production. Elizabeth would like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being such an inspiring director whose positivity, guidance, and dedication make every rehearsal so enjoyable. She is also incredibly thankful for her mom, Tiffany, and her brother, Adam, for their constant love, encouragement, and for always cheering her on from the audience. She hopes you enjoy the show and the magic of Neverland!
is very excited to be performing for the first time at Davidson Day School in Peter Pan and Wendy. Quinn has a passion for theatre and has been involved in productions in the past. She also loves to make people laugh and enjoys improv in her free time. She thanks her family for encouraging her talents and her friends for inspiring her love of theater. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being awesome.
as STARKEY, TINK LIGHT, SHADOW, JEROME is very excited to be back with Davidson Day Theatre in this production of Peter Pan and Wendy. This is Harper’s fifth show with Davidson Day and third year at the school, where she is a sophomore. She was most recently Betany in Once Upon a One More Time, and has also participated in other productions such as Chicago, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Les Misérables. Outside of theater, Harper enjoys cheering for the Davidson Day basketball team, attending professional theatrical shows in Charlotte, and working on the DDS yearbook staff. She would like to thank her parents for their unwavering support and Ms. Gerdy for being an amazing director!
Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860–1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for creating Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn’t grow up. Inspired by the Llewelyn Davies boys, whom Barrie befriended in Kensington Gardens, he first introduced Peter Pan in The Little White Bird (1902) before expanding the story into the beloved 1904 stage play Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up Barrie later adapted it into the novel Peter and Wendy (1911). His works explore imagination, innocence, and the bittersweet nature of growing up. In 1929, Barrie gifted the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, ensuring his magical story would continue to bring hope and joy to generations of children.
Lauren has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, topping the list thrice including 2022/23. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award, the Lanford Wilson Award and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She is a playwright, screenwriter, musical book writer and children's author who lives in San Francisco. She graduated from NYU Tisch as a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. LaurenGunderson.com
Backstage Run Crew / Dresser is very happy to return to the Davidson Day Theatre program after being involved all through Lower School. Ashley is a lifer at Davidson Day and her sister is an Alumni. She plays volleyball and lacrosse for Davidson Day. She is really happy to be able to help with set design as well as helping the show run smoothly backstage.
Backstage Run Crew / Dresser is a freshman at Davidson Day School. Although she doesn’t love theatre as much as others do, she’s still honored to be on the backstage crew on this show. This is her first time on crew in a show, but she’s learning well and excited to see the play come to fruition!
Light Board Operator is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy. She was a follow spot operator for Once Upon a One More Time, and is looking forward to running the light board for this production. In her free time, Sydney likes to play video games and tennis. She would like to thank her parents and Ms. Gerdy for the opportunity to be a part of the production.
Project / Sound Technician is thrilled to be a part of Peter Pan and Wendy This is Kameron’s first play at Davidson Day. In his free time, Kameron likes to read books and spend time with friends. He would like to thank his family for their constant support and Ms. Gerdy for being an AMAZING director
Tiffani Thomas for reading my mind and turning my words and sometimes convoluted descriptions of “what if…” into scenic artistry perfection…and for always being a calm and reasonable sounding board, a symbiotic co-creator, a brilliant artist, and a dear friend who I have and always will admire fiercely. Also, you made a sunburst all by yourself!; Ben and Debbie Griffith for going higher and higher, Baby (!), helping us take flight - literally - and for being absolutely genius members of this team, for always saying Yes, for building, clearing, cleaning, supporting, and generally instilling calm into what tends to be an often chaotic process – I am forever in awe of your incredible talents and willingness to help us make our theatre dreams a reality. I am so grateful for you both; Barbara Berry for illuminating this story with her brilliant lighting design; we are so happy to be able to bask in the magical glow she (literally) creates; Kim Lank for her positive energy, fun and easy going approach to, and handling of the creation of all of the props - from glowing planets to mounted crocodile heads; Lane Morris for intuiting what is going to make the actors shine (or in this case, light up!), for years of designing remarkable costumes with creativity and ingenuity, for even more years of friendship, and for understanding how it all happens; Shawnna Pledger for bringing Jerome the Crocodile to life - and for making him larger than life, and for teaching us how to help Peter Pan and the Darlings leap into the night air; Charles Holmes for his patient, creative and fun approach to teaching actors to fight with swords, croquet mallets, tennis racquets and fishing nets; Noel Freidline for helping with all things music, even when the show isn’t a musical! I am so grateful for his genius - and his friendship; Rob Merryman, one of two Davidson Day alumni who has returned to offer his technological and troubleshooting prowess as Projection Designer; Sherri Beckman and Holly Paeper for shouldering the huge responsibility of coordinating so many aspects of the production you wouldn’t know about - I would be unable to do what I do without them! Holly and Rolf Paeper for also curating and donating our show-themed concessions for countless productions; Sherri Beckman for taking on the mantel of show apparel coordinator, rock painting coordinator, and allaround kind and heart-centered supporter of all of us; Nate Dennis and Drew Braun for finding, hauling, rigging and letting us borrow the lift that literally carries our actors into the night sky; Melissa Dennis for organizing all of the cast dinners and Melissa Gilley for helping her serve and clean up; Rolf Paeper for managing the box office; Sharon Pickens for designing and hanging the Cast and Crew Head Shot wall; Cindy Walters for the layout and design of our production playbills, for her timely and thorough attention to so many logistics, and for being one of the most helpful and positive members of the Davidson Day Theatre community; Sandi and Brad Larsen for coordinating thank you gifts; Israella Freidline for reuniting with the Davidson Day Theatre community, bringing her photographic talents and graphic artistry to the production; Ashley Adkins, Ellie Lippiner, and Izzy Glavin for late night and weekend scenic painting parties; Nadia Ervin for her whimsical Shout Out designs; Callum McAloon, Abbie Barsosky, Batson Pickens, Elizabeth Robinson, and Lukas Paeper for sticking around, staying late, and generally stepping in to help behind the scenes with whatever we needed almost whenever we needed; Caroline Calouche & Co. for loaning additional gear to help our actors “fly”; Megan Gray and Addison Lanter for marketing DDS Theatre, Rachel Lennox and Suzette Watson for listening, understanding, and helping us finance DDS Theatre, Catherine Glass and Chris Turner for their arts/athletic team spirit; Davidson Day School staff, faculty, and Board of Directors for supporting live theatre, and an INCREDIBLY supportive, enthusiastic and willing band of parents who are helping to create a vibrant, professional theatre scene at Davidson Day. And Rumi – who showed up in my life exactly when I needed him – and who happens to be an awesome Assistant Director behind the scenes.
