The Latest On “Peter Pan LIVE!”
Rehearsals are underway for “Peter Pan LIVE!”, the classic musical to be broadcast on NBC on December 4, with Allison Williams (pictured) in the title role. The production follows in the wake of the hugely successful live “The Sound of Music” last year. My “Pan” spies tell me that, in spite of the criticism of “Music” that its lack of a live audience made it less lively than necessary, there are no plans to have a live audience this year, either. (And there probably won’t be a “clap track.”) This year’s “event” will be much more visually exciting. “Music” felt as if the camera were panning sideways across a giant proscenium. Thanks to the ever-evolving creativity of director Rob Ashford and producers Neil Maron and Craig Zadan, “Pan” will employ multiple cameras and maybe even a Busby Berkeley effect or two. Apparently there’s no great worry that Miss Williams’ lack of a Carrie Underwood-size, giant-social-media fan base will lessen “Pan”‘s ratings. A giant audience at this point seems built in — and NBC is wisely stoking interest this year much more than last to ensure the viewership. I must say that all of this sounds terrific, and I can’t wait for December 4th. But I wish that NBC’s website for the broadcast would mention the people who created this 1954 musical: Jules Styne, Mark Charlap, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Carolyn Leigh. They aren’t exactly chopped liver.
