SEQUIM — Sequim Acrobatics Academy performers have been working for a year to bring a “jaw dropping, thrilling experience” to audiences, according to Alicia Laxson, the academy’s owner, producer, head coach and choreographer.
“Neverland” hits the stage at 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday at the Sequim High School auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Tickets are $15, available at door, at Over the Fence (118 E. Washington St.) and sequimacrobatics.com.
Set before Captain Hook was the villain in the classic “Peter Pan” play, the academy’s “Neverland” is an original take on Pan’s imaginary country, populated with familiar denizens such as pirates, fairies, lost boys and mermaids.
The 39 performers also play the Darling family as well as crocodiles, “neverbirds,” an adult witch, shadows and stars.
“Many of our advanced acrobats are in multiple roles and routines,” Laxson said. “We have both children and adults in our shows and it makes for a very professional environment.”
There will be two Wendys and two Peter Pans, of different ages.
Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group Andrew Lumm, as a pirate, and Rivers Maynard, as Peter Pan, face off with their swords in a pose reminiscent of one of the scenes in Sequim Acrobatics’ upcoming production, “Neverland,” set to be performed this Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Sequim High School auditorium.
Laxson said Sequim Acrobatics sent Logan Laxson and Mia Underwood — who plays the older Wendy, a shadow, mermaid and pirate — to Las Vegas, Nev., to see multiple Cirque du Soleil shows for costume design inspiration.
“Costumes are very tricky because our performers need to be able to flip and fly around safely,” Laxson said.
Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group Keylee Disinski, training at Sequim Acrobatics since 2016, will perform several roles, including mermaid, at the academy’s upcoming show “Neverland” at the Sequim High School Auditorium this Friday and Saturday.
Underwood, dressed as a “neverbird” with elements she designed, did handstands and posed with fellow cast members Keylee Disinski (mermaid), Rosie Sly-Hobson (young Wendy), Rivers Maynard (young Peter Pan) and actor Andrew Lumm (Blackbeard the pirate), on the beach at Port Williams Park last week for the show’s videographer, Ben May, who will be recording and editing a version of the show.
Maynard and Lumm brought their practice swords.
Harley Names, a local longsword instructor who plays the young Captain Hook, “spent a lot of time teaching swordplay to our young Peter Pan and choreographing a sword fight for the show,” Laxson said.
She noted that anyone interested in learning longsword this summer can contact Sequim Acrobatics for more information (call 360-461-6974 or email to info@sequimacrobatics.com).
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Emily Matthiessen is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at emily.matthiessen@sequimgazette.com.
