NewsGo Behind the Scenes of Peter Pan Live! in Tonight's "Making Of" Special on NBC"The Making of Peter Pan Live!", offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the upcoming live television event that stars Allison Williams, Christopher Walken and Kelli O'Hara, airs Nov. 26 at 8 PM on NBC.
By
Adam Hetrick
November 26, 2014
According to NBC, "The hourlong special will go behind the scenes and give viewers an inside look at the incredible teamwork it takes to put this enormous television event together. From casting to dress rehearsals, from costume designs to learning to fly, from watching the actors hit their marks to sword fighting, this is an all-access pass to whet viewers' appetites for all things Peter Pan Live!"
"Peter Pan Live!" will air Dec. 4 at 8 PM.
Walken will star as Captain Hook with "Girls" actress Williams set to fly in the musical's title role. The cast also includes five-time Tony Award nominee O'Hara (The Bridges of Madison County) as Mrs. Darling, Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher) as Mr. Darling and Smee, Taylor Louderman (Bring It On) as Wendy and Alanna Saunders (Gypsy) as Tiger Lily. Minnie Driver will narrate and play adult Wendy.
Also joining the cast are young actors Caitlin Houlahan as Jane, Jake Lucas as John Darling and John Allyn as Michael Darling.
The original Broadway production of Peter Pan, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and featuring the songs “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up,” and “Never Never Land,” opened on Broadway in 1954. The show had a book by J.M. Barrie and a score by Mark “Moose” Charlap and Carolyn Leigh, with additional songs by Jule Styne and Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It starred Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, both of whom won Tony Awards for their performances.
Martin and Ritchard reprised their Broadway roles in a live telecast of the production, which aired on NBC in 1955. The production was so popular that NBC followed it in 1956 with a second live telecast — and in 1960 with a videotaped version, both also starring Martin and Ritchard. The 1960 videotaped version was rebroadcast in 1963, 1966 and 1973 and was released on home video in 1990.