Central Oahu Troupe Mounts ‘Peter Pan,’ Complete With Flight

Mililani High School’s Nicholas Howe and Lizbeth Orego play Peter Pan and Tinker Bell in Diamond in the Rough Productions’ ‘Peter Pan,’ on stage Nov. 21-23 at Paliku Theatre in Kaneohe.
Photo from Kristi Kashimoto-Rowbottom.

Central Oahu’s Diamond in the Rough Productions will fly to Neverland in far, far away Kaneohe to stage its next play.

Making the cut for Peter Pan after auditions in August at Applause! Performance Academy in Wahiawa, two Mililani High School students won the lead roles of Peter Pan (Nicolas Howe) and Tinker Bell (Lizbeth Orego).

With the exception of Capt. Hook, who is played by Broadway veteran Keith Broughton of New York City, most of the large cast was plucked from Mililani, North Shore, Wahiawa, Waipahu and Ewa.

Director Kristi Kashimoto-Rowbottom, a Mililani resident and Broadway veteran herself, runs the Wahiawa academy. She promises a “You Can Fly” experience for a small fee for selected children at the shows, which run Nov. 21-23 at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.

“No one will be really flying,” she explained. “But this is the chance for children to come up onstage and for a small moment ‘fly’ with the cast and be a part of our show!”

The package includes special seating for four, a gift, and meeting and photos with the cast. For details on the flying gig or to reserve seats for the school show at 10 a.m. Nov. 21, email ditrdirector@yahoo.com. Shhhh: Make it a surprise for the keiki.

Tickets for non-flying fans cost $19 for ages 13 and up and $10 for ages 3 to 12 at showtix4u.com, or call 1-866-967-8167.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22, and 4 p.m Nov. 23.