Peter Pan – a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up. It is a story that is familiar to children and adults alike and the magic is happening right in our own backyard. Peter Pan: The 360 experience is a high flying rendition of a favorite story featuring all of our favorite characters from Neverland; the Lost Boys, Tinkerbell, Tiger Lily, the Pirates, and one of the world’s most beloved villains – Captain Hook. I was recently able to meet the cast of this show and see them in action during a weeknight performance. It was a magical experience and one that I feel the whole family will enjoy.

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The Peter Pan 360 experience is currently running near Tysons Corner Center at the Intersections of International Drive and Chain Bridge Road. While there is no event parking directly outside of the venue, free parking is offered in the mall parking lot and is only a short 5 five minute walk. Upon entering the venue, there is an opportunity to purchase snacks and Peter Pan souvenirs. Inside, the theatre is very intimate and not overwhelmingly large. The setup of the stage ensures there is not one bad seat in the house, and because the venue is on the smaller side you can easily see the expressions and actions of the characters. The running time is eighty-seven minutes with a twenty minute intermission. The show is currently running Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday shows run in the afternoon and evening. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

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Before the show itself, I was able to watch the cast of Peter Pan warm up and prepare some of the more challenging scenes. The director of the show emphasized the importance of rehearing all scenes that required the actors to be harnessed, as well as the fight scenes, where cast members were in close contact with one another. I also had the opportunity to speak with Sarah Charles (Wendy Darling) and Stephen Carlie (Captain Hook) to get their insight on this show. They were both so down to earth and spoke about the high caliber of actors and diverse talent in the show. All of the flying, fighting, and acrobatics took months of training and focus to master and you could see it pay off in the show warm up and the show!

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The Peter Pan 360 experience was a blast. It started promptly at 7:30 in the bedroom of the Darling family. All of the characters were lively and engaging and it was cast perfectly. I have to give a shout out to Tinkerbell, played by Jessie Sherman, who truly brought the fairy to life and had me laughing the entire time. Puppets and Ariel artists were also a great addition to the show, and the flying was exciting and impressive. The transitions from scenes were carried out with ease because of the interactive stage design and 360 theater animations, and the music was spot on.

Between the pre-show and the full production, we were able to spend some down time across the street at JR’s Stockyard Inn. We were provided one free drink ticket and a variety of the fare they serve at parties and private events. I chose to snack on the prime rib slider, pasta salad, mini crab cakes, and some popcorn from the show. JR’s is not open to the public as a restaurant, however, they do provide catering for special events.

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The Peter Pan 360 appearance is in its final days in the DC Area. The show will move on in Mid-August so make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to see this one-of-a-kind performance!

-Kelly