Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

The Sharon Playhouse YouthStage to present original adaptation of ‘Peter Pan’

The Sharon Playhouse YouthStage to present original adaptation of ‘Peter Pan’

Front row, left to right, Sarah Cuoco, Kellan Lockton, Sam Norbet, Kate Drury, Savannah Stevenson. Middle row, left to right, Callan Scott, Philippa Cavalier, Wild Handel, Ivan Howe, Lyra Wilder, Gilvey Barnett-Zunino. Back row, left to right, Wolf Donner, Drew Ledbetter, Sienna Rose Lyons, Mollie Leonard, Richie Crane, Alex Wilbur, C.C. Stevenson, Andrus Nichols, Caroline Lapinski.

Michael Kevin Baldwin

The Sharon Playhouse YouthStage is presenting an original adaptation of “Peter Pan” by directors Andrus Nichols and Drew Ledbetter, set to open Dec. 17. The show will take place in the Bok Theater at the Sharon Playhouse and close Dec. 21.

This is the world premiere of this adaptation of “Peter Pan,” which entered the public domain in 2024. Nichols and Ledbetter are returning for their third year with Sharon Playhouse Youth after directing “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” in 2023 and “A Christmas Carol” in 2024. This is their first original adaptation with the Playhouse.

“The YouthStage is a great place to bring new work,” said Education and Community Director Michael Baldwin. He said the production is part of an effort to bring original material to local youth who hope to pursue theater in the future. Baldwin also said the production is an opportunity for collaborative theater between the Playhouse team and the youth performers. Rehearsals began in October, allowing time to shape the show as a collaborative whole.

The main cast consists of Ivan Howe as Peter Pan, Wild Handel as Wendy, Callan Scott as John, Philippa Cavalier as Michael, and Alex Wilbur as Hook. The ensemble includes Lyra Wilder as Slightly, Gilvey Barnett-Zunino as Tootles, Kate Drury as Nibs, Wolf Donner as Curly, Kellan Lockton as First Twin, Samuel Norbet as Second Twin, Sienna Rose Lyons as Skylights and Lily Starr, Richie Crane as Nana and Smee, Mollie Leonard as Cecco, Bill Jukes, Cookson, and Catastrophe June, and C.C. Stevenson as Starky and Noodler. These 15 cast members also serve as crew and were chosen through a competitive audition process.

“Peter Pan” will be the final show at the Playhouse this year. “On Wednesday, Jan. 14, we will unveil the MainStage and YouthStage titles for the Sharon Playhouse 2026 season. Be sure to check our digital channels for the exciting reveals,” Baldwin said. Registration for Summer YouthStage productions will be open from Jan. 27 to Feb. 5, 2026, and classes will be available at the Playhouse in January for people of all ages.

“The Sharon Playhouse is a real gem in our community, and I hope community members will attend as many shows as they can, take as many classes as they can, and support the Playhouse so it can thrive for years to come,” Baldwin said.

For more information about “Peter Pan” and next year at the Sharon Playhouse, visit sharonplayhouse.org.

This article has been updated to correct the name of co-director/co-adapter Drew Ledbetter and cast roles.

Latest News

Jam leaves Sharon, prepares for Salisbury opening

Jam Food Shop’s future home at 19 Main St. in Salisbury. The shop ended service in Sharon on Oct. 3, but an opening date for the new location has yet to be set.

Patrick Stachniak

SALISBURY — Jam Food Shop has officially closed its Sharon location, with its much-anticipated standalone store still under renovation in Salisbury.

Jam Food Shop, previously operating out of the Sharon Farm Market, is in the middle of renovating its new location at 19 Main St. Construction crews are renovating the former Neo Restaurant and Bar space as locals await the deli’s opening.

Keep ReadingShow less

Dinner with the dog

Dinner with the dog
Georgie, enjoying a late-summer “pup cup” on the porch at Grassland Dessert Cafe in Lakeville.
Natalia Zukerman

Dog owners know the dilemma: You’re out for the day with your four-legged sidekick when hunger strikes. Fortunately, a number of area restaurants, cafés and breweries welcome dogs, mostly at outdoor tables. Policies and outdoor seating can change with the season, so calling ahead is always a good idea.

The White Hart and Provisions in Salisbury is particularly pet-friendly. The inn welcomes pets on request, and its front porch and sprawling lawn make inviting places to settle in with a canine companion. They even welcome well-behaved patrons — bipedal and quadruped alike — in the cozy dining area.

Keep ReadingShow less

A day in the life of a rescue dog

A day in the life of a rescue dog

Marsala is eager to go home with you.

Jennifer Almquist

“It’s unbelievable that this sweet, loving boy hasn’t found his home yet,” said Tiffany Lemelin, shelter manager of The Little Guild, whose mission is to rescue, love and heal homeless cats and dogs. She smiled at the small dog wagging his tail. “This is one of the most deserving dogs you could ever meet, with so much love to give.”

Marsala is an energetic, 1-year-old, 45-pound black Labrador mix waiting to be adopted. He arrived March 25 as a stray named “Chicken” from Toccoa, Georgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

A second chance in Wingdale

A second chance in Wingdale

Sampson, a playful and independent blind hound mix, explores the rescue’s large yard.

L. Tomaino

Meade Canine Rescue and Sanctuary is not the average rescue. Situated on a quiet dirt road on 8 acres in Wingdale, the dogs living there are, for the most part, uncaged, roaming the yard, sleeping in the house, resting in the shade of a tree or lounging in the open van that often takes them for rides.

“We go on lots of adventures,” said the rescue’s founder, Charlotte Meade.

Keep ReadingShow less
The bear necessities of living in bear country

A bear outside Cornwall Consolidated School in West Cornwall.

D.H. Callahan
Take down bird feeders when bears are active. Secure garbage cans left outside, and never leave pet food or trash on porches, screened-in or otherwise.

This here is bear country. In fact, Connecticut has an unusually high rate of bear home entries compared with neighboring states. So far this year, the state has documented more than 60 home entries, and bears have been spotted in all 169 towns and cities.

Bears are also part of life in neighboring Dutchess County. But don’t worry. It’s not as bad as it sounds.

Keep ReadingShow less

When your pet needs help after hours

When your pet needs help after hours

Newtown Veterinary Specialists

Provided

Anyone who has ever had a dog swallow something it shouldn’t, a cat suddenly struggle to breathe or a pet get hurt late at night knows how quickly panic can set in. In our corner of the world, there’s an added complication: emergency veterinary care may mean getting in the car and driving some distance.

That makes it worth knowing your options before you need them — and knowing the difference between a local veterinary practice that can handle an urgent case and a fully staffed, 24-hour emergency hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.