Drunk Stuntmen will reprise their production of Peter Pan on Sunday Feb. 20, 2005 at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA.

81 years ago the silent movie world was turned upside down with the release of JM Barrie's classic tale of stunted adolescence, Peter Pan. Filled with stunning and unprecedented special effects, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, The Lost Boys, Captian Hook and his Pirates, and of course the Darling Family took audiences of all ages to a wonderful world of make-believe. Fairies frolicking with humans, mermaids lingering on the coast of Neverland, crocidiles tormenting pirates, and a little boy leading a troupe of peers in a crusade against treachery on the high seas and the perils of impending responsibility.

> Turning ahead to the year 2000. Six musicians with similar woes of adulthood are commissioned to rewrite history...or at least the soundtrack to it. The Northampton Arts Council asked Drunk Stuntmen to compose and perform the music to this revolutionary movie for part of their 12th annual Four Sundays in February. The Academy of Music in downtown Northampton proved to be the perfect venue. The Academy, itself over 100 years old and newly re-conditioned, gave even the casual viewer the perspective of a patron who might be seeing this movie on its premiere in 1924. The sold out crowd (with ages ranging from 2 to 92), was transfixed to this fusion of roaring 20's cinema and the sounds of a six piece rock and roll group with a twist...a narrator. Northampton rock impersario Mike Flood signed on as the voice of all the characters in the film. This Incongruous addition provided enjoyment for even the youngest in the crowd, (perhaps whilst also helping their reading skills). The show was also brought to Mass MoCA in North Adams, and Real Art Ways in Hartford where it played to sold out crowds.

Drunk Stuntmen, now in their 12th year, have been showing folks from Northampton to The Netherlands that they are an A-list outfit who never fail to re-invent themselves.It's anybody's guess what musical territory Drunk Stuntmen will ravage, rebuild, and share with the world but it sure will be fun to find out what happens next. Three guitars, drums, bass, and piano, combined with superb singing, all add up to a great way to tell your ears that you love them.

All this brings us to February 2005. A lot can happen in five years and my, how our changing world needs a good afternoon at the movies now more than ever. Drunk Stuntmen will reprise their production of Peter Pan on Sunday Feb. 20 at 2pm. The Academy of Music will once again host the event and it is of course open to, and suitable for, all ages. The wheels are in motion to bring this unlikely combination around the world. Why not bring the whole family to this historic event and say that you got to witness what most people could only imagine...you got to fly with Peter Pan and The Stuntmen.

-- FF and Arts Council