Peter Pan to soar at PNE
The Pacific National Exhibition knows it’s taking a chance by bringing a 90-minute Broadway production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby to the fair this summer.
But Mike McDaniel, the president and chief executive officer, said it’s one they think will be a big hit with fairgoers of all age groups.
“We’ve been looking for something that would be a marquee show for families, something that has a brand that people can identify with and crosses generational boundaries,” he said Wednesday after a news conference announcing the entertainment lineup for this year’s Fair at the PNE.
The musical will play nightly at the Pacific Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Capacity will be about 9,500. Tickets to Peter Pan are free with admission to the fair. Reserved tickets are $20.
McDaniel said he’s already planning a similar kind of show for next year.
“I don’t think we’re necessarily stuck on a Broadway musical,” he said. “I think a show that has a brand, is a large spectacle — that’s what we’re looking for.”
The 2015 fair runs from Aug. 22 to Sept. 7, with closures on the first two Mondays, Aug. 24 and 31. A oneday admission to the PNE for anyone 14 to 64 years of age is $16; 65 and above is $8; and 13 and under are free.
Colin James, Sloan, The Beach Boys, The New Pornographers, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo 35th Anniversary Tour, Boyz II Men, and Daryl Hall and John Oates are among the bands and musicians performing in the Summer Night Concert series. The concerts are free with admission; reserve tickets start at $20.
The Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition starts a fiveyear world tour at the PNE. It opens on Saturday, Aug. 22 — exactly 51 years after The Beatles’ historic concert at the fair in 1964. Admission is $3; 13 and under are free.
Craft Beer Festival is a licensed area which will feature 20 local craft brewers from Aug. 22 to 30 and another 20 from Sept. 1 to 7. The $10 admission includes a four-ounce sampling cup and two drink tickets.
Dinosaurs Alive! A Jurassic Experience is an outdoor exhibit with eight life-size animatronic dinosaurs and five static dinosaurs. The Superhero Discovery Centre allows individuals to test their skills against superheroes such as The Hulk, Iron Man, Optimus Prime and Superman. Both are free with admission to the fair.