NewsAmanda Green Revises Trunk Songs and Pens Additions for Peter Pan Live!; "Ugg-a-Wugg" Also Given MakeoverAmanda Green, the daughter of one of Peter Pan's original lyricists, Adolph Green, and a Tony nominee for the score of Hands on a Hardbody, has been enlisted by the creative team of NBC's Peter Pan Live! to expand the musical's score.
By
Michael Gioia
November 18, 2014
Amanda Green
According to Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Neil Meron and the creative team behind Peter Pan sifted through the songbook of Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Green for songs they could adapt and expand upon for Pan.
New songs include "Vengeance," an entrance song for Captain Hook (Christopher Walken), adapted from "Ambition" from the musical Do Re Mi; "Only Pretend," a song for Wendy (Taylor Louderman) about her feelings for Peter Pan, adapted from "I Know About Love" from Do Re Mi; and "A Wonderful World Without Peter," a duel song between Hook and Peter (Allison Williams), adapted from "Something's Always Happening On The River" from Say Darling.
There will also be a reprise of "Only Pretend" for Kelli O'Hara (who plays Mrs. Darling) and "When I Went Home," a song for Peter by Moose Charlap and Carolyn Leigh that appeared in the 1954 out-of-town tryout.
Not in the NBC production is "Oh My Mysterious Lady," a song in the musical that was written for Mary Martin.
Meron said that the new songs "fleshed out the show" and "deepened the characters." He described the process of finding songs to transform as an "excavation mission" for him, musical director David Chase and Amanda Green. He told EW, "We were looking for that type of melody that we loved, that we thought would fit into the fabric of Peter Pan, which led us to shows like Say Darling and Do Re Mi."
Additionally, the second-act number "Ugg-a-Wugg," a song for Peter Pan and Tiger Lily, which shows the opposing worlds of the Indians and the Lost Boys, has been updated — due to lyrics and phrases that have been deemed offensive in recent years.
The song, now titled "True Blood Brothers" (a lyric in the song's original version), replaces lyrics such as "ugg-a-wugg" and "gugg-a-bluck" with traditional Native American terms that have been approved by Native American consultant Jerod Tate. "Now and forever, this will hopefully be the version [in the show]," Meron said.
The one-night-only event will air Dec. 4 at 8 PM.
Click here for behind-the-scenes footage and more.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Steele Takes Us to Neverland! A Day With the Lost Boys, Pirates, Peter, Smee and Wendy on the Peter Pan Live! Rehearsal Stage
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Steele Takes Us to Neverland! A Day With the Lost Boys, Pirates, Peter, Smee and Wendy on the Peter Pan Live! Rehearsal Stage
NBC's live presentation of the Broadway classic Peter Pan will be here before you know it! The much-anticipated performance, populated with stars of the Broadway stage, will air Dec. 4 at 8 PM. Ryan Steele, who plays Lost Boy "Curly," offered Playbill.com these exclusive shots from a recent day on set at the Long Island stage.
31 PHOTOS
Good morning, Playbill! It's REAL early. But I don't care, because we get to spend the day in Neverland. BAM!
Ryan Steele
In Neverland we never grow beards.
Ryan Steele
Off to the set in Long Island. When I think "lovely thoughts" I definitely think Penn Station...
Ryan Steele
Ran into our Crocodile, Charlie Williams, getting some light shopping in before the train.
Ryan Steele
Some of our music team (Fred, Haley and Steven) getting things DONE on the LIRR.
Second star to the right and straight on till.... Hicksville?
Ryan Steele
All aboard the shuttle bus to the studios.
Ryan Steele
Taylor Louderman, Jason Gotay and Danny Quadrino arriving at the studios....But why do they look so good so early in the morning?
Ryan Steele
First things first. Cast into microphones. Chris McCarrell helps Danny out with a little sound check.
Ryan Steele
Queen Kelli getting into mic.
Ryan Steele
Made a quick trip to craft services. Henry Gottfried models our trusty Keurig machines. Coffee is a must on the long days.
Ryan Steele
Time for rehearsal. The Lost Boys are sent under the deck of The Jolly Roger to wait for an entrance.
Ryan Steele
Break time shenanigans with Chris and Caitlin Houlahan (Jane). You guys... They've known each other since first grade. SO COOL!
Ryan Steele
Michael Munday nailing this candid.
Ryan Steele
Our Darling boys- Jake, John and Jack.
Ryan Steele
LUNCH TIME! You guys, the food that they serve on Neverland is AMAZING. Seriously. You might see one chubby Lost Boy rolling across your screen on December 4th.
Ryan Steele
Working off our lunch with some football. Pirates and Lost Boys playing nice!
Ryan Steele
Obligatory trailer pic. HI!
Ryan Steele
With all of the time we spend here, decorating our trailers is a MUST. Michael Hartung and Jason are going full holiday cheer.
Ryan Steele
Christian Borle, Michael Park, Austin Lesch and Ryan Andes killing time with some cards.
Ryan Steele
Sometimes you get to spend your afternoon dueling with a Tony winner. So that's cool.
Ryan Steele
Little John on the The Jolly Roger. Stinkin cute.
Ryan Steele
Tiger Lily (Alanna Saunders) with some of her islander boys. (Keenan Washington, Alex Wong, Michael Munday and CJ Tyson.) ... Oh and John.
Ryan Steele
Two of our gorgeous mermaids on set! Kathryn Terza (also a Tiger Lily u/s) and Helen Anker (a Mrs Darling u/s).
Ryan Steele
Gina Rattan talks over some music with Steven Malone.
Ryan Steele
Break times with our best friend, Bowdie (Nana).
Ryan Steele
Back to set... But how do we get there? Neverland is confusing... And GIANT.
Ryan Steele
Allison Williams giving the boys some love. We love our Pan!!!!
Ryan Steele
Doing some camera blocking. This is our view from Neverland. Our. Job. Is. So. Cool.
Ryan Steele
Closing out the day with a Lost Boy music rehearsal for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tune in on Turkey Day!!!!!
Ryan Steele
That's a wrap for the day. Thanks for hanging out in Neverland. Don't miss PETER PAN LIVE! On NBC on December 4th at 8/7c
