Theatre opens season with Peter Pan prequel, 'Peter and the Starcatcher'

Heidelberg Theatre will launch its 2026-27 performance season, themed Youth, Rebellion and Self-Discovery, with the Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher, opening Thursday, Sept. 10, in Gundlach Theatre.

Running Sept. 10-13, the imaginative and irreverent production takes audiences on the adventure that began it all – the story of how a nameless orphan boy became the legendary Peter Pan.

With music by Wayne Baker and the story by Rick Elice, Peter and the Starcatcher is a comedic prequel to Peter Pan, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Told through a creative “story theatre” approach, the play follows a journey to Neverland involving a trunk of magical “starstuff,” a band of unlikely heroes and the delightfully villainous Black Stache.

Blending witty dialogue, imaginative staging, humor and heart, the production explores friendship, courage, duty and the often-unpredictable journey of growing up.

Associate Professor and Director of Theatre Karla Kash is directing and fight-directing the production.

Daniel Wahl stars as Peter, with Sophia Wilkinson as Prentiss and Matt Strouse as Ted.

The British Subjects include Rebecca Young as Molly Aster; Deven Deskin as Lord Leonard Aster; Simon Fletcher as Mrs. Bumbrake and the Teacher; Halli Schenk as Captain Robert Falcon Scott; and Meg Amburgey as Grempkin.

The Seafarers are Lauren Price as Black Stache; Lainey Miller as Smee, Lieutenant and Greggors; Lavannah Hamilton as Bill Slank; Becca Shoemaker as Mack; Diaunte Griffin as Sanchez; and Sydney Mendez as Alf.

Holly Ashford and Mia Puente portray Fighting Prawn and Hawking Clam, respectively, while members of the ensemble include Deven Deskin, Halli Schenk, Meg Amburgey, Lainey Miller, Lavannah Hamilton, Becca Shoemaker, Diaunte Griffin, Sydney Mendez, Holly Ashford, Mia Puente, Wesley Nelson, Addy Lentz, Raelynn Rivers and Kylie Witter.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 10-12, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Sept. 13, in Gundlach Theatre on the Heidelberg campus.

Ticket reservations are available here.