Jason Artman (Captain Hook) leads his pirates during a run-through of dancing and singing during a rehearsal of Peter Pan at the Mendota High School Auditorium. 3M’s production of the musical favorite will take place July 31, Aug. 1 and 2. (Reporter photo by Jim Dresbach)

PETER PAN FITTING MUSICAL TO HELP 3M CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY



After seeing Mendota High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast, musical director Stephanie Benson knew she had to have it.

And she had to have them pulling the so-called strings.

And she had to direct a certain show because all the its and thems would fit perfectly together.

With the its and them secure, Mendota’s 3M Productions will celebrate its 10th anniversary by performing Peter Pan at the MHS Auditorium July 31- Aug. 2.

To lessen the confusion and to let the pixie-dust out of the bag, Benson will now identify the “it” and the “them” behind this trip to Peter Pan’s Neverland.

The high school used Hall Flying Associates from Dekalb when doing ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and I saw the production, and I knew then I wanted to do Peter Pan.”

The "them" is Hall Flying Associates - one of three flying companies in the world- and 3M did secure them to safely secure Kalea Winner (Peter Pan), Ashley Bartholomew (Wendy), Payton Gehm (John) and eight-year-old Kane Clendenen (Michael) for five flying sequences during the musical.

After a day of installing the flying cables inside the MHS Auditorium, the work of learning to fly fell to the Peter Pan quartet.

"The next three days (after the installation), it was the kids up in the air flying and learning the routine,” Benson said. “It was our fly people learning the routine. They have to know what step of the ladder to jump off of to get the correct (flying) height. It really is rather mathematical and scientific and interesting to see it all tied together."

Before a flying sequence all the Peter Pan flyers are harnessed, cabled and receive an aerial test run. The process of becoming airborne was a lukewarm proposition for some cast members, so Bill Auld from Hall Flying Associates psychologically took over.

"The flying director did a smart thing (when starting flying rehearsals),” said Benson. “He took Kane, who plays our Michael. He just turned eight, and he did everything with him first. There was no fear with him. We got harnessed first; he got lifted first. The thought was that if he can do it, all the flyers can do it."

And now, Winner , who hold the title role, can also fly.

"I've been a lead in a show before, but flying, I've never done anything close to this,” said Winner, a 19-year old Illinois Valley Community College student and MHS graduate. “I've done roller coasters before, but nothing like this.

"I'm nervous at the beginning; I'm afraid I'm going to nail my head or feet on the (set's) window ledge,” she added. “Once I get by that and land, it is a little easier. Act one is the hardest for me; once that's over, I can relax for the rest of the show."

As the audience is introduced to Pan and the kids in the first act, the anticipation of the first flying sequence will build in the auditorium, but every night at practice, the cast of close to 50 stops to watch the cable-propelled actors.

"It is enjoyable to watch,” Benson said of the flying. “Even all the cast members who have seen it now over and over, still sit back and watch. It is very entertaining to watch; I find myself not directing and just watching, and I have to snap out of it and add more direction. They have to remember to keep acting, to keep facial expressions and keep singing. Kalea has four or five things that she has to do in her head when she's up there."

As the Peter Pan Production will take the stage July 31 and Aug. 1-2, the company is observing a special anniversary. 3M, which represents the Mendota Education Foundation, Mendota Community Theater and Mendota High School, is celebrating ten years of non-profit organization status and providing grants to area schools and teachers.

"We started when this building (MHS) wasn't even built,” Benson said as she stood proudly near the MHS orchestra pit that 3M helped to fund. “At that point, the foundation was in the starting stages. The first three shows were at the Civic Center. We had a Thursday night performances, a Friday night performances and we always had to tear down the sets on Friday night because there was always a wedding (reception) on Saturday. We'd put it back up on Sunday and have another show. Our relationship has been great with the high school.”

Other members of the cast are: Madeline Piller (Liza); Amy Wilson (Nana/Crocodile); Jennifer Pappas (Mrs. Darling); Jason Artman; (Mr. Darling/Captain Hook); Kim Sondgeroth (Adult Wendy) and Bethany Wohrley (Jane).

Pirates include Brock Sondgeroth, Raleigh Shifflette, Kit Bauer, Matt Boehm, Justin Elam, Kevin Wohrley, Carrie Bauer, Brady Hughes, Jennifer Masini, Dustin McCarver, Kim Sondgeroth, Becky Smith and Derek Zinke.

The Lost Boys – increased from seven to 14 due to “an extreme amount of talent” according to Benson – are Eric Masini, Garyn Sondgeroth, Tony Escatel, Travis Jasper, Samantha Masini, Melissa Wohrley, Mia Artman, Anna Aughenbaugh, Carly Burke, Christian Colby, Connor Dullard, Tristan Joyce, Annah Scholl and Katherine Wohrley.

Indian roles are portrayed by: Andrea Darveau, Josh Joslin, Amber Badgett, Gillian Brown, Stephanie Castaneda, Hope Christmann, Shelby Emmons, Biance Fuller, Lauren Lewis, Nicki Lindenmier, Dustin McCarver, Madeline Piller, Kaitlyn Stockon and Derek Zinke, Kaylee Althaus, Charlotte Bauer, Relaina Bodmer, Kelsey Conley, Whitney Lewis, Paige Simonton, Autumn Schimmer, Savanna Sondgeroth, Emery Stewart, and Bethany Wohrley.