The Neverland
This modern-day adaptation of J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan follows a contemporary Mohegan teen who has just arrived at a strict religious boarding school, a place where she must follow rules she cannot see any sense in. Believing her Native American name too difficult to pronounce, the teacher calls her Wendy and informs her that her Mohegan culture and everything she cares about are never coming back. This triggers the arrival of Pan and Tink who have come to gather the Nevers (the spirits of everything and everyone who have been told they can’t exist anymore). Pan takes them to The Neverland, a refuge where nothing and no one can ever be erased. But now, even The Neverland is under threat by pirates. Can Wendy, her friends Pan and Tink, and The Neverlanders stop Hook from finding The Neverland and turning it into another place of hate and taking? Or will even The Neverland be destroyed by greed after all?
Contains mild violence.
Recommended for all ages.
Read this related article, "Why Are There American Indians in Peter Pan?", in the College of Fine & Applied Arts' Dimension magazine.
Madeline Sayet, executive director of the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program and recipient of the White House Champion of Change Award, will serve as a resident guest artist with the Department of Theatre over the course of production. Funded by the University of Illinois System Presidential Initiative: Expanding the Impact of the Arts and the Humanities, this project will offer a new take on a classic story that strives to increase knowledge and understanding around Indigenous performance.
The program booklet for this event will be offered digitally and will not be available in print. If you will need disability-related accommodations, please email krannertcenter [at] illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
If you can, show your love for the arts by purchasing a $50 “Advocate” ticket; the additional ticket cost directly benefits Illinois Theatre.
Tickets for this event will go on sale to the public at 10am on Tuesday, March 8. Tickets will be sold online only as mobile or print-at-home tickets and are not available for purchase by phone or at the Ticket Office counter. Before the on-sale date, please visit Krannert Center’s online ticket office to ensure you have or can create an active account. All 2021-2022 ticket on-sale dates are now available. To learn about early ticket-buying opportunities, please contact Krannert Center’s Advancement team: 217.333.6700 or advancement [at] krannertcenter.illinois.edu.
In order to attend an in-theatre performance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, audience members must provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. This change is occurring in response to increasingly strict contractual requirements of visiting artists, evolving performing arts industry standards, and audience expectations. At this time, face coverings are still required in indoor university spaces such as Krannert Center. Face coverings must be worn throughout any event or performance. For more information, please see our COVID-19 Safety Protocols page.
