Local theater is certainly having one of its cutest and most joyful moments with the Congregational Church of New Fairfield Summer Youth Theatre’s latest production: Peter Pan. Filled with a cast of thirty-four players that range in age from seven to nineteen, the musical entertains immensely, as evidenced by the boisterous laughs, clapping, and whoops that followed nearly all numbers in the first weekend of its run.
Peter Pan is the 25th musical for CCNF, all of which have been directed by Reverend Carl Anderson. He and his wife Betsy, who choreographs the shows, have ushered hundreds of children through the process of creating and performing musicals, to the delight of the actors, their families, and the audiences.
“The kids worked so hard to learn their parts and to get the show ready,” Betsy gushed, “They deserve all the applause they get from our audiences.” Excellent performances abound, from the engaging Peter Pan, played brilliantly by recent NFHS graduate Zoe McCartney and the menacing (but not-too-scary) Hook by NFHS’s Nickly Eklund. “We got a standing ovation,” Betsy said of the opening night, “you should have seen the smiles on the faces of the kids…and on the audience too! There is nothing like live theater!”
Following a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, Betsy says, “It feels great,” to be back on the stage. She and Carl devote the bulk of their summers to this work because they believe that “Theater is such a valuable art form, and it is important for young people to have the chance to participate in theater. Theater allows the actors to connect with each other through the rehearsal process and with the audience during performances,” Betsy said. She went on to say that theater, “allows people to better understand their own humanity and that of others. This has been especially important this summer for our youth as there has been so much disconnection for them over the last two years.”
At last Friday’s show, a proclamation from First Selectman Pat Del Monaco was read. It praised the work that the Andersons have done for the community and extolled the many benefits of the shows over the years, from the sheer number of children who grew up performing in the shows year after year to the intentional importance placed on inclusivity and kindness among participants. This year’s cast included both veteran performers at CCNF and in local schools and children who are new to theater. Betsy and Carl were so happy to greet cast members back and get to know new performers as well.
Though the show is a fundraiser to support the church, the production and staging of it is a labor of love for Carl and Betsy. Both recognize that, “When you are young, and you discover that theater is your thing, you learn that there is nothing better than being in a show with a group of people who also love theater! If you are wondering, you never lose this, even when you grow up!,” Betsy explained.
The pixie dust will fly for one more weekend, Friday, August 5 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and a final performance on Sunday, August 7 at 3:00 p.m. No need to look for the second star to the right to get to Neverland though, just reserve your seat on the Congregational Church of New Fairfield’s website at Ccnftheatre.org. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students, and children.
By Sarah Opdahl