Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Neverland on the Bay - with 360-degree CGI

If you went zip lining at Justin Herman Plaza, you may have noticed something. A huge white tent sitting on the Embarcadero.


This is the theater for the upcoming production of Peter Pan, straight from its premiere in London. It was a huge hit when it played in Kensington Gardens, and I was lucky enough to be there for the very last night of its London run. Let me tell you, whether you have kids or not, this show is amazing.

First of all, there is the theater. This is the first time that a production has used 360-degree video projection to create a blend of CGI and live set. The projection covers the ceiling of the theater, and effectively includes the audience in the setting, making you feel like you are there with Peter, Tink, and Captain Hook.

Then there is just the fact that a wonderful, well produced show of Peter Pan is long overdue. Let's face it, the story is appealing to adults who cling to their inner child as much as it is to actual children. And this is a production that doesn't dumb it down. In fact, they don't recommend the show for children under five.


The show starts April 27, and tickets go from $30 to $125. The nice thing about a 360 degree theater is that even though it seats 1350 people, it doesn't seem like there are many bad seats. So if you want to grab a budget ticket, you won't have to worry about bringing binoculars.

We snagged our tix the day we saw they were on sale.

And I have to admit, I think I have a crush on Peter Pan, who in this production is all boy.

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