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Note from Director

Peter Pan has truly been the crowning achievement of my childhood and, with all achievements of this category, it has required a lot of work. Thankfully, with the help of the following groups and people made that work a lot easier. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank those parties:

• We'd like to thank Erica Allen, Janet Evans, Cole Allen, Seth Wilhelm, Adrienne Evans, Tess Rabe, Pam Kerr, and Heather Kerr for donating their time and hard work to the sets and props of this show.

• We'd like to thank Mindy Burgess and Andrea Reinhofer for donating the beds for this production

• We'd like to thank Tom Ursini for making some of the sets.

• We'd like to thank Nelson Robinson for our Backdrop.

• We'd like to thank Stand Out Talient for lending us some props for our production.

• We'd also like to thank our cast for their hard work

• And, perhaps most importantly, I'd like to thank my parents for producing this production and always supporting me!

Letter from Director

         Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our student production of Peter Pan, the British musical. My name is Joey Carlsen and I am the director of this performance. I'd like to take this moment to tell you the origin story of this Operation: Neverland...

          My dream is to be an ADA in the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. This requires a good education. I've been lucky enough to attend Jesuit, but I'm really hoping to go to Pepperdine University and UCLA for my Undergrad and Law School. These are very prestigious schools that will require a lot of merit to be accepted. Now, my college app is pretty solid. I've gone on three mission trips, two to Mexico and one to Ecuador. I have about a 3.8 average GPA. I've been a solid participant in Jesuit's Speech and Debate Club, and I've done theater since 3rd Grade. I've even performed in Disneyland. However, I still felt like I needed something to really put me over the top, so that I could get that Assistant District Attorney spot and help the people of LA and beyond. 

         The idea was not some snapshot moment where I just new what to do. It was a collection of moments. Signs pointing me in it's direction until suddenly it clicked. Put on a show! It was such a simple idea. Not to mention I've been doing it since before I could even speak. There was no better way to show colleges and beyond my work ethic, my ability to lead, and my conviction. Also, from a law stand point, Directing can be the ultimate test of persuasion. It didn't take long for me to pick a production: Peter Pan. Peter Pan has always been a story I've cared very much about, and I figured the show about the boy who wouldn't grow up with a director who is still a kid himself, the marketing practically wrote itself.

          My family has always had a strong connection to charity work involving foster care, so my parents suggested that all the proceeds be donated to Ticket to Dream's foster kids. I was reminded that JM Barrie had a connection to the orphanages that were in his area, and he often invited them to see performances of his original production. I, of course, had no problem donating the money because it was never about that for me. I also wanted foster kids and former foster kids to be able to see this production for free.

          This project has been truly the cumulative of my life so far, and I'm so honored to share it with you. So, here we go, off to Neverland...