She figured Peter Pan was her last shot, her final show for the Magnolia Theater School of Drama, where she had taken several roles in previous performances. So as a way to go out on a high note and maybe test her mettle in the process, Magnolia resident Tess Jordan, 13, decided to audition for the lead in J.M. Barrie's famed work, "Peter Pan."
"I've never gotten a real lead before," she said by phone from outside the campus of Seattle Country Day School, where she is an eighth grader. "I've had a couple of co-starring roles but never a lead. And since eighth grade is the oldest you can be in these productions, and since this is my last one, I thought I'd go for the gold, try really hard."
As with all auditions at the Magnolia Theater, would-be cast members must sing one minute from a song in a musical and then recite a one-minute monologue.
Having already performed in seven musicals for the Magnolia Theater, including "Cinderella" and "High School Musical," and considering she was required to sing and recite something new, the pickings were slim. But she found "Part of Your World," the classic song from "The Little Mermaid," which her vocal coach gave the nod to, and which fit her vocal range. For the monologue, Magnolia Theater founder Jeannie O'Meara-Polich gave all auditioners a Web site that listed several choices. Jordan stopped on one by Sally Brown, Charlie Brown's little sister, one that she felt she could memorize and be believable in.
By the time of the audition, Jordan was confident and ready to go. O'Meara-Polich recalled after watching Jordan audition, that she and the other two casting directors knew she would be the perfect Peter Pan.
"She's always prepared, has a great attitude and is a real leader," O'Meara-Polich said. "You could tell she really wanted it. That kind of energy can't be beat."
After the audition, Jordan's friends piled on the compliments, assuring her the role. But Jordan didn't want to jinx it. She didn't want to get her hopes up only to find someone else getting the part. But soon enough the official word came and she could celebrate. "I was really excited," she said.
There are two casts of 25 for the musical, one featuring mostly seventh and eighth graders, the other featuring third graders through sixth graders. When the older cast is finished, the costumes will be taken in to fit the younger cast.
This musical version of "Peter Pan" features music by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and was difficult to secure the rights to.
"I e-mailed the representatives in London and they said they would check with the composers," O'Meara-Polich said. In the e-mail she wrote that the music had been the best she'd ever heard. "They were in southern France and they approved it - I don't know why."
London staff e-mailed back the script and the orchestration and O'Meara-Polich ran off a limited number of copies at the Staples on 15th Avenue West. Composer Chris Welch then recreated the fully orchestrated music on his keyboard, which was recorded and will be used for the performances.
Of all the songs, Jordan's favorite is, fittingly, the finale, "There's Always Tomorrow." In it, Peter is confronted with having to grow up and then embarks on a new journey with the entire cast singing along. With "Peter Pan" being the last Magnolia Theater show she'll do, Jordan is also entering a new chapter in her life. She is currently visiting high schools in the city, trying to decide which direction to go next summer. She's considering Catholic schools as well as Lakeside, a driving force being the one with the best drama department.
"When I go to high school, I'll definitely make sure they have a good Theater program where I can do plays and musicals," she said. "I'll just keep practicing and doing what I'm doing and eventually, it could amount to something."
Performances with the older cast, including Jordan, are at 4 p.m., Nov. 12 and 7 p.m., Nov. 13 and 14 at the United Church of Christ at 3555 W. McGraw St.
206-356-1342. Tickets are $10 each. The younger cast performs at 4 p.m., Dec. 3 and 5, and at 7 p.m., Dec. 4. For more information visit www.magnoliatheater.com.
SIDEBAR:
Double Take - Peter seen in Seattle Center, too
If you need an extra dose of Peter Pan, Capt. Hook, Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell, Seattle Children's Theatre is performing "Peter Pan" Nov. 13 through Jan. 10. For more information visit www.sct.org.
For more information on Magnolia Theater's performance, visit www.magnoliatheater.com[[In-content Ad]]
