NBC’s ‘Peter Pan Live’ Features Four with Pittsburgh Roots
This Thursday, see three Pittsburgh-area natives on the small screen.
Rob Ashford, who studied dance at Point Park University and performed with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, will be in the director’s chair Thursday night for NBC’s “Peter Pan Live” (on WPXI at 8).
The cast includes Pittsburgh natives Christian Borle, who stars both as George Darling and Hook’s sidekick, Smee; Alan H. Green, who portrays pirate Cookson; and Peters Township native Kathryn Terza, who plays a mermaid.
“Peter Pan Live” stars Allison Williams as Peter and Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. It’s NBC’s follow-up to last year’s “The Sound of Music Live,” in which Ashford served as stage director and choreographer.
For three hours, Ashford and fellow director Glenn Weiss will orchestrate the movement of 16 cameras roving over three sets filled with 46 cast members.
We’re betting Ashford is up to the task — he’s a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Emmy Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.
Ashford tells USA Today that Peter and the Darling children will be aloft during the flying scenes with no help from computerized graphics and green screens.
As for singing, no one will be lip-synching their songs, although the orchestra music is pre-recorded. Ashford says the biggest advantage that “Peter Pan Live” will have over prior productions is the huge amount of operating space. The show will be broadcast from Grumman Studios in Bethpage, N.Y., where Grumman Aerospace developed and constructed the Apollo Lunar modules.
#Sports: Rivalry Resumes? Pitt and Penn State May Face Off in Bowl Game
Fans can’t be thrilled with either Pitt or Penn State’s regular season 6-6 records. But there is excitement building about the possibility that the Panthers and Nittany Lions will meet in a post-season bowl game.
The Pinstripe Bowl, which will be played Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium, will feature a team from the Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bowl selections are expected to be finalized by early next week.
After 96 meetings, Pitt and Penn State last played each other in 2000. Regular season matchups are scheduled to resume in 2016 through 2019.
#Events: This Week: Holiday Happenings
“The Nutcracker” is being performed for two weekends, beginning Friday at the Carnegie Performing Arts Center.
Performances will be held at the renovated Andrew Carnegie Music Hall at 300 Beechwood Ave. in Carnegie.
Tickets are available at the door and are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children.
