Maintaining the proud musical tradition established at the Becker Middle School, this year’s production of Disney’s “Peter Pan Jr.®” closed a successful three-day run with a closing matinee on Sunday that nearly filled the spacious new Performing Arts Center at BHS.
Flying actors is another tradition in Becker drama, and no production of “Peter Pan” would be complete without it. The airborne antics in this show were accomplished with the direction and guidance of “Flying by Foy®,” a Las Vegas-based company that routinely flied performers in Broadway shows and special events, such as the Katy Perry halftime show at this year’s Super Bowl. (The main stage musical “Oklahoma” had featured a herd of singing cowboys rappelling into the auditorium, while the later “Sound of Music” was awash with flying nuns.)
In this show, Peter Pan (Megan Nelson), Tinkerbell (Madi Stang), Wendy (Hannah Bengtsen), Michael (Brendan Potter), and Jane (Josie Berger) all routinely took to the air as the situation warranted. Other leading roles nicely handled included Captain Hook (Nathaniel Hed) and his pirate accomplice Smee (Elizabeth Moeller), Chief Tiger Bamboo (Morgan Peterson), Tiger Lily (Abby Fingarson) and the Darling parents, Carter Aanenson and Maci Salvevold. Also notable were the actors cast in the full-body costumes, Anika Garland as “Nana” the Darling’s faithful family dog and Hailey Uecker as the menacing “Crocodile.”
The Company
Leading Players: Peter Pan: Megan Nelson; Wendy: Hannah Bengston; Michael: Brendan Potter; Jane: Josie Berger; Mrs. Darling: Maci Salvevold; Mr. Darling: Carter Aanenson: Nana: Anika Garland. Fairies: Tinkerbell: Madi Stang; Iridessa: Jaida Johnson; Silvermist: Emma Tweten; Rosetta: Amanda Bergsten; Fawn: Tori Nelson: Lyria: Megan Kluge; Vidia: Alexis Anderson; Periwinkle: Halle Murphy. Pirate Command: Captain Hook: Nathaniel Hed; Smee: Elizabeth Moeller; Jukes: Reana Cavegn; Flint: Belinda Edling; Cookson: Olivia Schueller; Murphy: Cole Cook; Noodler: Alicia Van Lith; Skylights Grace Klapak; Crusty Barlow Karly Kowalsky; Bartolomeo: Britney Kostek; Calico: Bailey Vieu; Gunpowder: Kya Nelson. Pirate Crew: Amber Bloss; Katie Conard; Arin Hendrickson; Michelle Johnson; Taylor Larson; Greg Rice; Sydney Stang; Cammie Varney; Kairah Wagner; Kendra Woolhouse. Mermaid Command and Crew: Aquata: Sydney Bordson; Andrina: Anne Nikolov; Arista: Maddie Jansson; Atina: Grace Tillman; Adella: Tina Belshner; Allana: Maddie Johnson; Anisha: Haley Schwintek; Adaira: Bella Pettit; Lost Children Command: Cubby: Mexx Thom; Skunk: Susan Lee; Hop: Amber Vogl; Fox: Victoria Gibson; Racoon Twins: Emma Kolbinger and Bella Watts; Chipmunk: Tina Gruber; Hawk: Izzy Swanson. Lost Children Crew: Katelyn Favilla; Kylie Hansen; Amelia Kirchner; Dakotah Lankki; Emily Quill; Emily Sulliban; Eliza Tesmer; Larissa Tollefson; Joyanna VanBruggen; Morgan Weber. Tribal Command: Chief Tiger Bamboo: Morgan Peterson; Tiger Lily: Abby Fingarson; Brave Pine: Ceyauna Wipper; Brave Maple: Hannah Klapak; Brave Elm: Brittney Kostek; Brave Cherry: Jade Marquette; Brave Birch: Ally Kangas; Brave Shrub: Carly Cory. Tribal Crew: TJ Huntington; Elle Nettestad; Nya Kayser; Mayli Clark; Abbie Halvorson; Cassidy Fossum; Abby Miner; Morgan Luberda; Shyanne Foner; Allison Sanderson, with Hailey Uecker as “The Crocodile.” Staff: Greg Lynch: Director and choreographer; Rich Kimmerle, technical director; Joseph Rand, vocal director. Tech Crew: Erin Epperly; Alexis Gunderson; Kirsten Haessly; Samantha Jacobson; Janene Myers; Kole Overby; Grace Soderquist; Jenna Voigt; Alexander Wangerin; Charlize Witt; Charlie Wright. Flying Crew and Asst. Directors: Jazmin Anderson; Allison Hendrickson; Andy Johnson; Ian Kimmerle; Joey Kimmerle; Justine Kimmerle; Carol Lyon; Alaine Nelson; Laura Niday; Carly Pruszinske; Ethan Quill; Evan Schafer; Ellie Schwartz; Alyna Storms; Melanie Gilles; Vanessa Gilles.
Special Thanks: Becker PTSA; Clear Lake Lion’s Club; Middle School Student Council; Barb Young; Maria Hed; Jennifer Fingarson; Jean Lumley and Curt Hed.
