New York Musical Festival and White Elk Productions, LLC Present

PEDRO PAN

Book by REBECCA APARICIO
Music/Lyrics by STEPHEN ANTHONY ELKINS

Starring

WILSON JERMAINE HEREDIA, GENNY LIS PADILLA, NATALIE TORO, GREGORY DIAZ IV
JULIAN SILVA, TAYLOR CALDWELL, CHERRY TORRES, RODRIGO IGNACIA CRUZ
DIEGO LUCANO, and SISLEY CARRETAS

Directed by MELISSA CRESPO

THE BAND

STEPHEN ANTHONY ELKINS, RAPHAEL TORN, ANDY WARREN and BILL GOFFI

Choreographer: SIDNEY ERIK WRIGHT
Lighting Design: BEN BAUER
Costume Design: RACHEL DOZIER-EZELL
Projection Design: LISA RENKEL
Sound Design: MARK VAN HARE
Casting Director: JASON STYRES, CSA
Stage Manager: KATIE KENNEDY
Orchestrations/Musical Direction: STEPHEN ANTHONY ELKINS

The Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
Tickets: http://www.nymf.org/festival/2018-events/pedro-pan18/
7/10 @ 8 PM, 7/12 @ 1 PM, 7/13 @ 9 PM, 7/14 @ 1 PM and 5 PM

Rebecca Aparicio’s PEDRO PAN would be an eye-opener under any circumstances. Given the current USA immigration debacle, it is a heartbreaker. Luckily it comes with a dose of hope. Based on the real events of Operation Pedro Pan in 1962 where 14,000 Cuban children were sent to the United States in an attempt to save them from Communist indoctrination, this musical follows the journey of one Cuban child named Pedro (Gregory Diaz IV), who finds himself in New York City. The young adults in this production steal the show – Veteran Roger (Julian Silva) who has been in NYC for two years after leaving Mexico, Southern Wendy (Taylor Caldwell) who is no stranger to racism, and the endearing Pedro who struggles with assimilation. Not that the adults are any slouches – Tony Award winner Wilson Jermain Heredia (Papi), Genny Lis Padilla (Mama), and Natalie Toro (Tia Lily) provide the familial structure for Pedro.

For those who think that immigrants come to the USA and unworthily enjoy the good life, PEDRO PAN will set them straight. Music and lyrics by Stephen Anthony Elkins portray the anguish that comes with such a decision and the tribulation of being a stranger in a strange land, as well as the joy of belonging. My only recommendation for improvement would be to adjust the mic on the piano so that the lyrics can be heard. Dynamic choreography by Sidney Erik Wright lightens the story, and director Melissa Crespo deftly combines scenes of comedy and calamity to make PEDRO PAN a multi-faceted presentation of our history and a fantastic reminder that every immigrant comes with a unique and compelling story.

- Laurie Lawson -