Peter Pan comes to the stage

It's a familiar story told through a different medium.

"Everybody has read the book or seen the movie. This is a new way to experience it," said Mickey Lubeck, the director of the Augusta Dance Theatre's production of Peter Pan, which will be staged at 7 p.m. Friday and at 3 p.m. Saturday at Augusta State University's Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.

Through dance, about 45 children and 10 "children at heart," as Lubeck calls the adult cast members, will present the tale of Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell.

"Of course, this is ballet so no one talks. The actors on stage have to use their goodies and imaginations even more," she said.

The Augusta Dance Theatre presented a shortened version of the tale last September about Peter Pan and how he met Tinkerbell. "Last year was the prequel," Lubeck said. "This year, it's the story everyone knows and loves."

Lubeck said Peter Pan is a family show in more ways than one. Several families participate in the show. Lubeck's husband, Chuck, whom she met while performing in the national tour of Evita, plays Captain Hook, and their two sons also are in the cast.

Nathan Lubeck, 13, plays Peter Pan, and Joshua Lubeck plays Michael Darling.

Virginia Kuzia, 14, a Lakeside High School freshman, plays Wendy, and her father, Stan Kuzia, plays Mr. Smee.

Most of the pirates are fathers of the dancers. To make the stage experience special, the dads whose sons play lost boys are paired together in the swordfight scenes, Lubeck said.

Nathan said playing Peter Pan opposite his father is a lot of fun.

"It's always cool to be with my dad," he said. "He adds a lot to the role. He's funny."