Cornerstone Youth Theatre is gearing up for their big musical, Peter Pan.

“Peter Pan is a classic story that so many adults know but we were really excited to find a version that was full of really good music for a big cast,” said Artistic Director for Cornerstone Stephanie Orr.

Rather than the Mary Martin American version of Peter Pan, this group of performers will tell the classic story from England, which will display different music.

“It’s not the same music that you would have seen on TV, and the dialogue of it is very true to the book,” said Orr.

Still similar to Peter Pan, Orr said the big difference is the music.

“You’re not going to hear Peter Pan sing ‘I want a crow,’ but Peter Pan still has a song about never growing up.”

Orr said when a show is written, it’s either written to be able to sustain a cast of 25 or a larger cast of 60 people, which is the size of this particular Cornerstone production.

The cast consists of 62, which Orr said allows for more people to have a part in the show.

“The story line’s the same. It’s just spreading out who’s saying what and giving people lots of things to say and lots of things to do,” she said.

One of the challenges they faced, she said, was the flying element.

She said although New Life Fellowship has been a great place for them, there aren’t flight bars or elements that a theatre like the one at Red Deer College might have.

“So we have to find the way to bring the stage magic so that little kids will think that Peter Pan is flying,” she said, adding that they have to find a way to do that without harnesses and soaring through the air.

The tech volunteers are currently working on a couple of techniques to choose from.

“We have to fly,” said Orr with a laugh.

She said when Cornerstone performed Aladdin, they were able to fly the magic carpet in a simple manner using a lighting trick.

“It was a very simple theatre technique that we used but it was really effective in New Life Fellowship, probably more than it would have been in a normal theatre. For Peter Pan I think it’s going to be a lot of smoke and mirrors,” she said.

Traditionally played by a girl, Cornerstone has followed that path, casting Katelynn David as the lead role.

The reason for the traditional woman role of Peter Pan is because of the need for a strong developed voice to sing in an upper register.

The other main roles include Reid Mills playing Captain Hook, Carly Schultz as Tinker Bell and Jasmine Filiatrault as Tiger Lily.

All actors and actresses range in age from age eight to 18.

“That is the neat thing about Cornerstone is that the cast is a wide age range,” said Orr.

They will also be renting Nana the dog from Red Deer College, who has an incredible costume for it.

The performance will take place at New Life Fellowship, and dates are as follows; June 2nd at 7 p.m., June 3rd at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., June 9th at 7 p.m., June 10th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 11th at 3 p.m.

“This is the first time we’re having a Sunday matinee which is new for us, so we’re closing on a Sunday which is fun because Sunday afternoon tends to be a really big family day in Red Deer.”

For tickets or more information call 403-986-2981 or visit cornerstoneyouththeatre.org.