“Lost Boys” from PAN the musical at the Historic Lincoln Theater, September 2013. Book, music and lyrics by Conrad Askland based on “Peter and Wendy” by JM Barrie.

I wrote “PAN the musical” for META Performing Arts, a youth theater non-profit group in Mount Vernon, WA. PAN is a new version of the Peter Pan story that combined audience interaction, songs for children and some high brow musical theater as well. One critic said it was the perfect show for children AND adults to enjoy together.

PAN the musical website at: http://www.PanMusical.com

This “Lost Boys” song is a slight departure from the rest of the music in this Peter Pan musical. I wanted the song to be very fun for the children to perform, open to choreography interpretation and a piece to encourage audience interaction.

For me, and I imagine most other writers who have adapted J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan story, a big challenge was to overcome the boredom that easily sets in before the Darling Children and Peter Pan get to Neverland. The setup sections in the Darling house can seem exceedingly drawn out and tedious. I did create sound effects years ago for the straight play version of Peter Pan and I think it took al complete 30-35 minutes before they children even got to Neverland. Neverland is where things start to get fun.

So the Lost Boys song is also an opportunity to shake the audience up and make a clear announcement that the games have begun (along with making many edits to the preceding sections to speed up our arrival to Neverland).

If I just heard this one song from PAN, I would probably think: “Ok, just another Peter Pan musical.” But where this piece fits in my PAN score and script make a very nice delineation between high brow musical theater to something that’s very easy to digest for a contemporary audience.

PAN is a very lucrative show for theater groups to perform. It draws a large audience and delivers on expectations to both children and adults. If a children’s theater group is having financial trouble then this is a good show to regain financial footing. The show also has wonderful teachable acting moments for a wide variety of characters and acting styles.

Here’s a simple way to do live sound effects for Tinkerbell in stage productions of Peter Pan.

Use a colored laser pointer for Tinkerbell, preferably a professional projector made specifically for this effect (you can rent these). In the picture above you’ll see a nose flute, kazoo, metal chain to rustle for tinkle effects, a mouth buzzer and an inexpensive slide whistle.

Use these together to create realistic Tinkerbell audio fx while running the projection system. Tinkerbell is sometimes happy with light hearted buzzing sounds and sometimes angry with aggravated buzz type sounds. The slide whistle is good for “yes” and “no” responses to Peter Pan dialogue.

Since these are lighter ambient type sounds, you’ll probably want to use a condensor microphone, not a dynamic mic. If you don’t understand that, your sound engineer will. Just tell him “condensor mic”.

Total cost for Tinkerbell sound props is under twenty five dollars.

You can rent a professional Tinkerbell laser beam projector from ZFX, Inc at www.zfxflying.com

Most of the sounds layer well together even if tracks are in different keys. For instance, the Peter Pan flute theme can play over the top of most samples, as well as the bell melodies.

Peter Pan Fairy BKG Chimes MP3
Background shimmering chimes with lullabye music box. Segues and backdrop for happy flying sequences to layer with other sounds. Also a good “safety” that will fit any scene.

War – Indian Drums MP3

will finish post later

PETER PAN 2006 – Cast Photo

PETER PAN

NANA – DOG

PIRATES

CAPTAIN HOOK

SMEE

CAST PIRATES

FEMALE PIRATES

INDIANS

MERMAIDS

LOST BOYS – TWINS

PETER PAN’S SHADOW
See through gauze with sprinkles cut in shape of Peter Pan

CROCODILE – Tick Tock

FLY RIGGING

PETER PAN STAGE SET DESIGNS

UNDERGROUND

DARLING HOUSE STAIRCASE

DARLING HOUSE SET – VIEW FROM BOX SEATS

My Sound Effects Station
Using Kontakt Software triggering custom sound effects

MICROPHONE CUE SHEET FOR SOUND ENGINEER

McIntyre Hall – Skagit Valley College
View of Peter Pan Stage from Sound Control Booth

McIntyre Hall Sound Booth from Box Seats

Jerry Fortier – Sound Engineer

And for the record, Brian Hurst is the ULTIMATE Captain Hook actor. Pretty incredible. Check my Peter Pan section for pictures from the show.

These were all improvised live in a church sanctuary deep in the night. These are my original pieces. One starts off like Moonlight Sonata, but takes a different path.. You will definately hear the Bach influence on the pieces. I am very proud of them and if you don’t like them, then you are a stinky codfish.

My favorites are #1 and #2 – I put them first so I wouldn’t have to waste time on the CD to hear them.

Piano Nocturne 1 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 2 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 3 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 4 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 5 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 6 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 7 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 8 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 9 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 10 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 11 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 12 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 13 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 14 – MP3

My friend Deb Carole sat in the Sanctuary while I played these and would give me input. It was a great evening and a memory I treasure. I improvise a lot like this late at night in a sanctuary, but this is the only time I recorded. Someone asked me recently if I ever practice at church late at night and just go nuts. The answer is yes, all the time. When I’m finished it’s a feeling like no other, always a feeling of peace and serenity – like what a Marathon runner must feel after a good workout.

My favorite is to do Bach style improvisations, they get very fast and would probably not please most ears I think. But at those times I don’t have to play for anyone else, just me and Thee.

Flying effects by ZFX, Inc.

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CAST – In order of appearance

NANA – Hydee Garman
Michael Darling – Alyssa Nelson
Mrs. Darling – Nicola Pearson
John Darling – Alex Ragusa
Wendy Darling – Taylor Frizzell
Mr. Darling – Brian Young
Peter Pan – Sarah Tsinger
Tinker Bell – Carly Stewart
Liza – Andrea Talley
Faires – Molly Frahm, Connor Nelson, Corin Pierce, Kaytin Rooney, Sophie Stewart

Wolves/Audience/Cabin Boys – Eva Givens, Hayden Idom, Gus Kidane, Trevin Rudy

Lost Boys – Emma Eliason, Cameron Frahm, James Matson, Jason Miller, Annie Murray, Alice Pollock, Greg Pollock, Reid Wells

Captain Hook – Brian Hurst
Smee – James Lindsey
Gentlemen Starkey – Brian Young
Cecco – Thomas Young
Billie Jukes – Brydie Landreth
Noodler – Jeff Huschka
Mullins – Matthias Struck
Cookson – Pete Grace
Pirates – Kevin Cobley, Susan Cook, Nathan Hamer, Kraut, Roger Ragusa

Pirate Wenches – Kathy Dean, Ann Klitzke-Nelson, Susan Watson

Tiger Lily – Felisha Palomera
Panther – Stefan Vanden Kooy
Warriors – Mikalah Barem, Shelby Burkhart, Rose Drummond, Rachel Huschka, Madison Idom, Maria Matson, Francesca Ragusa, Lourdes Young

Mermaids – Alisha Anderson, Ann-Kristin Becker, Sarah Damstra, Demi Fair, Chloe Roberts, Rachael Young

Crocodile – Dave Needy
Older Wendy – Alisha Anderson

TECHNICAL CREW

Producers – Ellen Palmer, Bruce Vilders
Director – Dianne Goddard
Assistant to Director – Kathy Dean
Stage Manager – Brian Paxton
Assistant Stage Manager – Emma Lynn
Set Coordinator – Steve Craig
Technical Director – Don Willcuts
Carpenters – Philip Brown, Steve Craig, Howie, Don Willcuts
Costume Designer – Cathy Pfahl
Light Designer – Seajay Winters
Sound Designer – Jerry Fortier
Sound Effects Designer – Conrad Askland
Prop Designers – Shari Lindberry, Carole Lindberry, Fred Hastings
Make-up Designer – Seajay Winters
Tinkerbell Engineer – Martha McDade
Sound Engineer – Adam Lynn
Light Board Operator – Steve Fisher
Spot Operator – Wes Furlong
Paint Crew – Howie, Carrie James, Dave James, Sharon Litton, Suzanne McLamb, Norman Rogue, Ellen Palmer, Dorothy Peth, Jen Spence, Bruce Vilders, Seajay Winters

Fly Rail Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Howie, Dave Mumford, Nate Young
Running Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Alisha Huschka, Suzanne McLamb, Jim Nelson, Kelly Pollino, Emily Watilo, Wes Furlong, Jordan Lange

Aerial Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Jim Nelson, Roger Ragusa, Matt Struck, Dave Mumford, Nate Young

Props Crew – Amanda Curtis, Carol Garman
Hair/Make-up Supervisor – Patty Idom
Make-Up Crew – Daniel Davidge, Esther Ramirez, Amy Vermulm

Costume Crew – Jann Barem, Jill Eliason, Lu Parker, Leslie Crawford, Anne Clarke, Cast and their families

Volunteer Coordinator – Ann Klitzke-Nelson
Fight Choreographer – Bruce Vilders
Aerial Choreographer – JoAnne Craig
Warrior Choreographer – Lourdes Young
Poster Design – Scott McDade
Bio/Underwriting Boards – Jann Barem and Mikalah Barem
Flying effects provided by ZFX, Inc.
Thank you to Russ Morgan from ZFX
2006 Theater Arts Guild
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cathy Pfahl – President
Scott McDade – Vice President
Ellen Palmer – Secretary
John Cheney – Treasure
Harold Paige
Conrad Askland
Molly McNulty
Ann Klitzke-Nelson
Susan Watson
Brian Paxton
Carl K. Turner
Jane E. Skinner
Roger Ragusa
Jann Barem
Bruce Vilders
Eileen Butler
Pat Shreve
Karen Marshall
Dianne Goddard
Clarence Holden

*Important Bargain Show Limitations: Festival Seating. No Advance Sale. Tickets are sold at the box office ONLY, 2 hours prior to show time.

Here are some samples of set design for the Cathy Rigby production of Peter Pan and closeup of swords for Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tiger Lily. These set designs and props are available from ZFXFLYING.com, as well as updated new set designs from ZFXFLYING.

ZFX Flying has a very fun website and I encourage you to visit it. They do fx for Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and many other shows including “Matrix” type flying fx.

Tiger Lily Sword

Sword for Peter Pan

Captain Hook Sword and Hook

Johnny Corkscrew Sword

All Swords – available from ZFX Flying

Underground Set Design

Pirate Ship Set Designs

Photo of Peter Pan Nursery

Peter Pan Neverland Set Ideas

Jolly Roger Scrim for Peter Pan Productions