Music and Lyrics by Graham Peck
Book and Additional Lyrics by Jake Egan O’Hara
Orchestrations by John David Eldridge
For updates and information regarding the future development of this project, productions, as well as future steps and workshops/readings, send us an email at Never_LandAMusical@jakeeganohara.com We’d love to add you to our list of supporters and enthusiasts as we enter the next chapters of this adventure!
As artists, we believe in the honesty and the artistic brutal love of young people. We felt it was important to work with this talented group of performers first in order to see what they understood, what worked for them within the piece, and what they thought we could improve. Their input and immense dedication proved so valuable in the development of the show, and we are endlessly grateful to them to their flexibility with script revisions right up until their opening night and second performance! We learned so much about the show’s intended and received meanings and how the story’s many facets applies to performers and audiences of different ages and experiences; it was everything we hoped it would be and more! This production was rehearsed and mounted in just under FIVE WEEKS!
(Photos from the Original Cast Production of “Never Land: A Musical”, January 2019 by David Barron, Oxygen Group Photography)
About the shoW
London, 1902: An epidemic is sweeping Queen Victoria’s city, and the wards of the Great Ormond Street Childrens’ Hospital are full of young patients. It is the evening of the Annual Governors’ Dinner and Dr. Martin Darling prepares to report the tragic state of affairs. Children are dying, and they can't find the cause. As the hour of his speech draws near, his children appear to say goodnight, shepherded by his wife Rose, who will be attending the dinner with him.
Despite being left in the protective care of Great Ormond’s Chief Matron Lillie, young Wendy Darling and her brothers encounter a fascinating and magical young boy - accompanied by a ball of light - who promises to change their lives and perspectives forever through adventure, magic, and fairy dust.
In this all new adaptation of the classic tale, playwright Jake Egan O’Hara weaves a version of the story that brings to life new meaningful adventures, while re-introducing the famed characters of the fabled island with originality, historical accuracy, heart, humor, and soulful strength and purpose: “Neverland” the noun is transformed into a simple directive: Laugh a lot. Look forward to your dreams. Never Land.
Based on the James M. Barrie story, with inspirations from the poetry of William Blake and John Keats, Never Land features a melodic folk rock/pop score with music and lyrics by Graham Peck and orchestration by John David Eldridge.
Follow Wendy, John, Michael, Peter and Tink’r Bell to an island where boys always leave crumbs; pirates are held to the costs of their memories; kindness, strength and happy thought can heal - and where being Lost means you have been already been Found.
The first production…
Jake, John and Graham announcing the premiere January, 2019 workshop production to the Original Cast of “Never Land” — the middle and high school aged students of the Corwin-Russell School in Sudbury, MA— [and features never before released footage of John and Graham dueting the show’s title musical number!!]
BRAVO TO THIS AMAZING CAST, CREW AND COMMUNITY!
What’s next for “never Land: A Musical”
Although we were exceptionally fortunate to have the show produced in full already, our process has hardly begun! The show’s initial debut in January, 2019 (produced and performed by the incredible students, staff and community of the Corwin-Russell School @ Broccoli Hall in Sudbury, MA) offered us incredible insight into the show’s many strengths, but also many of its challenges and areas where we need to move, change, or erase and try again. This is no disappointment for us— in fact we are greatly looking forward to the process! The chance to revisit scenes, songs, music and lyrics to improve and hone our story is truly exciting for us as artists and collaborators. Once that work is completed, our goal is to cast and produce a staged reading to be performed in Boston during the summer of 2019. As our first workshopping was performed by young people, we’re now curious as to what a primarily adult cast might offer us and the project. Different voices share different learned experiences, and we want to hear every voice we can.
Developing a project like this takes time, it takes patience, and it also takes the kindness and financial support of those who are able. Down the line, we may ask you to contribute a small gift to enable us to take “Never Land” to the next step. We hope when that day comes, you’ll be willing to give what you can.
In the meantime, we’ll be updating this site with sneak peeks and chances to check out new dialogue, exciting new music and lyrics, stunning re-arrangments, and other related updates and “happy thoughts”.
We can’t wait to share with you!
All our best,
The “Never Land” guys— Jake, John and Graham