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Overview

Synopsis

It’s 1904, and successful London playwright J.M. Barrie has a serious case of writer’s block. While he is working on a new play, he recognizes that there is nothing original about it and the characters and plot are simply recycled from plays he’s already written. Despondent at the potential end of his career, Barrie meets a lovely and caring widow, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, and her four sons (George, Peter, Jack, and Michael) in Kensington Park. They embark on adventures of imagination together - all except Peter, unwilling to play and still reeling from his father’s death. As Barrie helps Peter learn to play again, his writer’s block gives way to a new art form: children’s theatre. But the adults are skeptical and unsupportive: Who will pay to see a play about children? Who will play these characters? And how will they make Peter Pan fly? Finding Neverland is based on the true events that led J.M. Barrie to create Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, and sings to the child in all of our hearts.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Finding Neverland (film)
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2012
Genres
Drama, Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings, Spectacle
Time & Place
London, early 1900s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Young Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

James (J.M.) Barrie

Lead

Male

Tenor

Sylvia Llewelyn Davies

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mary Barrie

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Mrs. Du Maurier

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Charles Frohman

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Captain James Hook

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Peter Llewelyn Davies

Supporting

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

George Llewelyn Davies

Supporting

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Michael Llewelyn Davies

Supporting

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Jack Llewelyn Davies

Supporting

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Lord Canaan

Supporting

Male

Mr. Cromer

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mr. Henshaw

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Miss Basset

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Miss Jones

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Mr. Turrin

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Peter Pan

Supporting

Either Gender

Spoken

Elliot

Featured

Male

Wendy

Featured

Female

Spoken

Albert

Featured

Male

Emily

Featured

Female

Company

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Act I

"If the World Turned Upside Down" – J. M. Barrie

*"All of London Is Here Tonight" – Frohman, J. M. Barrie, Mary, and Company

"The Pirates of Kensington" – George, Jack, Michael, and Peter

*"Believe" – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Boys, and Ensemble

"The Dinner Party" – Mary, Mrs. Du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Barrie, Sylvia, Boys, and Servants

*"We Own the Night" – Mary, Mrs. du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Sylvia, Barrie, Boys, and Servants

"All That Matters" – Sylvia

"The Pirates of Kensington" (Reprise) – George, Peter, Jack, and Michael

"Sylvia's Lullaby" – Sylvia Llewelyn Davies

"Neverland" – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia

*"Circus of Your Mind" – Frohman, Mary, Mrs. du Maurier, and Ensemble

*"Live by the Hook" – James Hook, Barrie, and Pirates

*"Stronger" – J. M. Barrie, James Hook, Pirates, and Ensemble

Act II

*"The World Is Upside Down" – J. M. Barrie, Frohman, and the Acting Troupe

"What You Mean to Me" – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia

*"Play" – Frohman, Sylvia, Cromer, Henshaw, Miss Bassett, Miss Jones, Barrie, and the Acting Troupe

"We're All Made of Stars" – The Llewelyn Davies Boys

"When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground" – J. M. Barrie and Peter

*"Something About This Night" – Frohman, the Acting Troupe, J. M. Barrie, and Peter

*"Neverland" (Reprise) – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia, Mrs. du Maurier, Boys, and the Acting Troupe

"Finale (When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground)" – Mrs. du Maurier, J. M. Barrie, and Ensemble

In the National Tour, “Welcome to London” and “My Imagination” replaces “If The World Turned Upside Down” and “All of London is Here Tonight.” “Circus of Your Mind” is broken into four distinct sections, and “Live By the Hook” splits “Stronger” into two parts. In Act Two, “Something About This Night” is split into two different songs.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress