Peter Pan hit Broadway in 1955 starring Mary Martin in the title role. Her performance won her a Tony award and since then the character has been portrayed both on stage and screen many, many times.
This week Cathy Rigby brings the role of Peter Pan to life at the Civic Theatre. Complete with Captain Hook, Smee, Wendy and the Lost Boys, the show will run until Nov.18 and will surely delight adults and children alike.
Rigby, who has played and toured the part before is definitely no stranger to Neverland. She started playing the role of the famous Pan around 1990. She also received a Tony nomination for the role and was loved by the critics. Not too shabby for the San Diego gymnast born in 1952.
Rigby gave theater a shot after becoming an Olympic darling, and giving up her gymnastic career in 1972.
“When I retired from gymnastics I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Rigby said. “I decided to start studying voice, acting and dance in Los Angeles and New York. I trained seven years before I had the courage to actually audition. My first role was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I fell in love with the entire theater community and experience at that moment. I feel really blessed to have found two career passions in my life.”
Rigby’s co-star, Brent Barrett is no stranger to tours or Broadway. He’s been performing on the road and on the Big White Way for many years now; this production marks the second time he has worked with Rigby and he couldn’t be happier.
“Cathy and I toured with Annie Get Your Gun, many years ago and it’s great to be back together again,” Barrett said.
As for getting the chance to play Captain Hook, Barrett is direct in his response. “Who doesn’t want to play a naughty pirate?” he said. “And, I wanted to work with Cathy again in her signature role.”
Rigby seems to be a natural fit for Peter Pan and explains that while her background suits the part she is also a big fan of the role.
“I’m sure the fact that it was a very physical role and the songs were perfect for my voice made it attractive,” Rigby explained. “But I think once I actually performed it a few times I really fell in love with the emotional depth and complexity of Peter. Being a mischievous, passionate, expressive, spontaneous, adventuresome, direct and emotional child who not only believed any adventure was possible … he knew he had to be the one to make it happen. The other side of Peter was of course narcissistic … selfish and sometimes prone to brooding self-indulgence and cruelty. The challenge in playing this young boy was, and is, to not let anybody see you ‘acting’. [All] great challenges for an actor.”
Rigby confesses that the role of Peter Pan is the kind of role that is a joy to play no matter who plays it.
“I think everyone who has had the joy of playing Peter Pan feels an ownership, or kinship, to this character. If you can really find again that ‘child’ within yourself, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done it … Peter Pan belongs to you.”
The fact that Peter Pan, and Rigby herself, have become gay icons, is something that Rigby really loves.
“I really love it!” Rigby said. “Well I do ‘cross dress’ and become a boy eight shows a week … so I think I fit in pretty well, don’t you?”
Rigby’s return to the show is not something we haven’t heard before, but it is definitely reassuring to hear an actor speak so positively about the work they do.
“This show continues to resonate with the young and the young at heart,” Rigby explained. “Its message of growing up but not growing old is important for all of us to strive for. Life can be tough. It’s easy to become pessimistic and hopeless. The challenge is to become a bit like Peter Pan. Maybe even a little magical in your thinking. But hey, most kids are pretty hopeful and passionate about the possibilities in life. What better way to be happy and motivated than to believe anything is possible.”
Rigby runs her own theater in La Mirada, Calif., but still finds the time to perform in tours like Peter Pan when she can. Most would think that Peter Pan was the only role she’s played but along with her own company, Rigby has been in a few notable shows.
“I’ve done quite a few shows at our theater,” Rigby said. “Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Molly Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Silvia in the A.R. Gurney’s play Silvia and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias.
While Rigby loves to perform, it is clear that giving back to the community is something she supports and feels very strongly about.
“My husband and I also run the McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts in Yorba Linda, Calif., “Rigby said. “We have over 400 children who are studying music, theater, acting, singing and dance. It has been incredibly rewarding to be able to pay it forward and give children the opportunity to realize their own unique artistic potential.”
Peter Pan runs this week at the Civic Theatre, downtown San Diego. For tickets and for more information contact the theater at broadwaysd.com, or at 619-564-3000.
