Carbondale company closes its 2025-2026 season with an all-local cast in a meditation on family, death and never growing up.

Thunder River Theatre Company wraps its 2025-2026 season in May with Sarah Ruhl’s For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday, a tender and imaginative play that uses the Peter Pan myth as a lens for examining family, mortality and the persistent pull of childhood.

Directed by Renee Prince, the production assembles an entirely local cast drawn from longtime TRTC collaborators — a deliberate choice from Artistic Director Missy Moore, who sees the show as a celebration of the company’s roots.

“There is something highly imaginative and playful about this show, and I can’t think of a better person than Renee Prince to helm this production and to breathe life into it,” Moore said. “It is my hope that this play reminds us all of our own Neverland and that we never forget what an adventure it is to be alive.”

The story

Ruhl’s play centers on Ann, who once played Peter Pan in her hometown theatre in Iowa. As she and her four siblings gather around their father’s hospital bed in his final moments, memories of those childhood performances — and the flowers her father used to bring her after each show — come flooding back. His death sparks a freewheeling wake that ranges from political arguments to reflections on when each sibling first realized they had grown up.

It’s a play that holds grief and whimsy in the same hand, and the cast members say that’s exactly what drew them in.

Wendy Perkins, who plays Ann, called the role a long-awaited dream. “Peter Pan has been my favorite story since childhood. The role of Ann and then Peter Pan allows me to embrace my own fantasies of youthful flying and play, my commitment to not growing up, the realities of family and roots, and the acceptance of death,” she said. “I have never been this excited about a part.”

Owen O’Farrell, who plays Jim and doubles as Captain Hook connected with the material on an even more personal level. “My own father’s death was somewhat of a magical, spiritual experience, and I thought I could bring verisimilitude to my portrayal of Jim,” he said. “Also, how can one resist the chance to play Capt. Hook?”

A director’s vision

For Prince, the appeal of the play is both intimate and communal.

“This play makes me feel less afraid and less alone, and I want to share that experience with the audience,” she said. “It is a reminder that we are braver and smarter when we are together.”

Assistant Director Travis Dean Wilson sees urgency in Ruhl’s blend of family drama and political conversation. “My drive to stage this story stems from how its complex, interpersonal themes resonate with the contentious times we find ourselves in today,” he said.

Kristin Carlson, who plays Wendy, pointed to Ruhl’s distinctive voice as part of the draw. “Her plays combine the pragmatism of the Midwest with moments of magical realism that ask performers and audiences alike to imagine the mysteries that lie beyond our daily experiences. It’s a delightful challenge to step into Neverland with her.”

Her castmate Jeff Carlson, who plays Michael, echoed the appreciation for Ruhl and for the chance to reunite with the company. “I was excited again to help bring to life another play by Sarah Ruhl and her interweaving of family, death and the Midwest, where I grew up,” he said.

Chris Wheatley, who plays John, summed up the ensemble’s mood: “To play with your amazing acting besties and with a brilliant director and the incredible talent and energy of the TRTC production team is simply a personal and professional dream come true.”

And Bob Moore, who plays Father, said the role found him at the right time. “I have always lived with Peter Pan’s motto of ‘I’ll never grow up!’ And I hope that I never do.”

Performances and access

The show runs May 1-17 at Thunder River’s Carbondale theatre, with evening performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Thursday performances May 7 and 14 are “pay what you can,” with a suggested starting price of $10. Sunday matinees include post-show talkbacks with the cast, and audiences are invited to arrive 15 minutes early for the company’s Prologue Series.

TRTC also offers a “Bring a Friend Friday” bundle: two tickets for $40 each, three for $30 each or four for $25 each, using codes 2friends, 3friends and 4friends at checkout.