For many, the story of Peter Pan is one learned as a child.

But do you know the back story to Peter Pan?

“Peter and the Starcatcher,” based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, and turned into a play by Rick Elice, tells the story of Peter’s magical adventure before Peter Pan. The play was first produced in 2009.

Peter and his friends from St. Norbert’s Home for Wayward Boys are taken to the ship Never Land to travel to Rundoon to be servants to the evil King Zarboff the Third.

Things do not go as planned.

An evil pirate Black Stache, who later becomes Captain Hook, leads his pirates to do battle with a ship where they believe there is treasure. When the pirates discover they have been tricked, they go after the Never Land.

The adventure continues with Black Stache’s attempts to get the treasure.

Will Windsor Erwin is the director of the production, assisted by John Leiderman who is also the music director.

“What originally drew me to the play was how playful it allowed us to be. In our production, actors jump between acting on stage to becoming walls, trees and waves. The cast comes together to make cats – and actors – fly. It’s a play with music – not a musical – so it features singing and all of the sound effects – minus one – are all produced by live voices or instruments,” Erwin said.

“Moreover, playfulness affected the casting choices as well. The original production had a cast of 12 men and one woman playing multiple roles but it was very flexible for our casting needs. We’ve approached the process as a group trying to tell a story rather than actors sticking to their usual roles, so there’s an added amount of playfulness to it. Men play women, women play men, but really we just have people playing people. Oh, and people playing mermaids. At one point there are 17 mermaids on stage,” Erwin said.

The technical director is Chris West and lighting director is Scott Ross.

Michael Tiao plays piano for the production and the stunt coordinator is Britney Evans.

Stage managers are Logan Woods and Rory Watson.

Cherie Pennella is handling the box office, is production assistant and costume assistant. Textile is handled by Renee Martin.

Gavin Jensen and Rory Watson are light board operators and the sound board operator is Ashley Hirst.

Members of the crew are Logan Woods, Rory Watson, Kieran Connelly, Abigail Lipkin, Gavin Jensen, Amanda Hirst, Ashley Hirst, Jessica Nguyen and Anna Smith. The crew is responsible for set construction.

Members of the cast include Brogan Shay, Margaret Carl, Stuart Carl, Michael Tiao, Eliza Wiener, Mike Judge, Trent Renelli, Ryann Thomson, Kaitlyn Zong, Ethan Cudd, Emily Lamana, Carlee Ziegenfus, Abby Gross, Kayla Trenge, Gabriella Lozada, Mcguire Curtis, Laura Talaber, Rebecca Sandeen and Felicity Koch.

Performances will be 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 and 3 p.m. Nov. 17. Tickets can be purchased by contacting salisburytheatre@salisburysd.org.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

“It’s been a blast looking at these characters from a different perspective,” Erwin said. “And finding answers to questions of the Peter Pan mythology – How did Hook lose his hand? How did Tinkerbell come to be? How did Peter become boy who flies? Come to Salisbury to find out!”