Young Stars Shine in ‘Peter Pan Jr.’

Talented young actors took the stage at Huntingdon’s Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center on Friday, July 11, to perform “Peter Pan Jr.” This play was the ultimate showcase of the actors’ hard work during the Dixie’s 2025 Theatre Summer Camp.

The cast, ranging from kindergarten to eighth-grade students, hail from local west Tennessee communities.

Darcy Rice starred as Peter Pan, with Zoey Cherry and Ellie Roach acting as the titular character’s costars Captain Hook and Wendy Darling.

The rest of the cast presented the best of their acting, singing, and choreography abilities as the classic story’s characters. Quenton Butler was John Darling, Anson Taylor was Michael Darling, Elson Williams was Smee, Willa Kate Hall was Tiger Lily, Korbyn Kendall was Tinkerbell, Jeremiah Roach was Mr. Darling, Vivian Singleton was Mrs. Darling, Nora Butler was Liza the Maid, Adalyn Kilburn was Nana the Dog, Quinn Lewis was Slightly, Adalyn DeLoach was Curley and Essie Williams was Tootles.

“Peter Pan Jr.” retold the classic story of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan,” featuring Tony-winning music from Morris “Moose” Charlap, Jule Styne, Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The young cast performed songs “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land.”

Cari Dill, a teacher at the University School of Jackson and former theatre director at South Gibson High School, directed the play with the help of several moms and former students.

Dill credited the young actors’ persistence while putting the play together, saying the students learned their music and lines independently after being cast in mid-May. They put the show together in one week, meeting in the basement at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center from 8 a.m. until noon for group crafts, music and choreography classes.

Dill extended her thanks to several helpful assistants throughout the making of the show including Harmony McKee, Abbie Hall, Kenzie McCaig, Sanaa Helper, Elsie Ladd, Anna Badgett, Becca Pyle, Britney Butler and Brianne Taylor.

The Dixie Carter Performing Arts & Enrichment Center, located in Huntingdon’s Court Square, holds camps each summer to teach students about art, music, photography, pottery, and theatre. Applications remain open for fourth- to eighth-grade and ninth-grade to adult pottery classes, which are held in late July.