"Peter and the Star Catcher" highlights the end of GTA's season

The Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) will present the stage adaptation of "Peter and the Star Catcher" on April 11-22 in its final production of the 2016-17 season.

Directed by Jim Hammond, artistic and managing director of GTA, this Tony Award-winning play is based on the award-winning novels by author Rick Elice.

First produced for the stage in 2011, this prequel to author J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan series is set in Portsmouth, England in the year 1885. It follows the tale of an orphan — who later becomes Peter Pan — and his friends who are kidnapped by pirates planning to steal England's crown jewels. While at sea the boys discover a gifted young girl named Molly, a starcatcher-in-training who is planning to steal back the powerfully dangerous cargo currently in the bottom of the pirate ship. When the vessel is captured by Blackstache, a hook-handed pirate in search of a nemesis, Molly and her new companions must defeat the pirates and rescue the treasure before it's too late.

David Martin, who starred as Benedick in "Much Ado About Nothing," is playing Peter, and Lauren Whitaker, a Brenau senior who recently acted in "Godspell," will play Molly.  Whitaker is part of GTA's Repertory Company, and played Jane Banks in "Mary Poppins" and Dinah in "Philadelphia Story" from last season. UNG’s newest performance faculty member, Zechariah Pierce, will play the role of Blackstache.  Pierce is a UNG and Brenau graduate of the GTA program, having appeared in nearly every show during his student career. Professionally, he landed a role in the History Channel's SIX.

"Peter and the Star Catcher" will be performed at the Ed Cabell Theatre on UNG's Gainesville Campus on:

• April 11-15 and 18-22 at 7:30 p.m.
• April 16 and 22 at 2:30 p.m.

The following events for the production will also be held at the Ed Cabell Theatre:

• Preview performance, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. Preview tickets are $10 and go on sale two weeks in advance
• Free Opening Night reception on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. with the cast and crew following the performance
• "Talk Back with the Cast & Crew," a lively and free Q&A session, following the performance on April 18

The production is currently over 90 percent sold. Remaining ticket prices for "Peter and the Star Catcher" are $18-20 for adults, $16-18 for seniors (65 and up) and $12-14 for students, and can be purchased online or by phone at 678-717-3624, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Gainesville Theatre Alliance is a nationally acclaimed collaboration of the University of North Georgia (UNG), Brenau University, theatre professionals and the north Georgia community. UNG's Ed Cabell Theatre is located in the Continuing Education/Performing Arts Building, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, Georgia.