On Feb. 11 and 12 in the Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) Studio Theater (Blackbox), the APA Actor’s Repertory troupe put on their annual class show. This year, it was the Tony-award winning play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” the prequel to the story of Peter Pan.
“’Peter and the Starcatcher’ is a super fun show that is a similar adaptation to Peter Pan. The show highlights Molly as she goes on a fun and thrilling adventure. Molly deals with the complexities of trying to listen to your parents and wanting to find independence. Molly makes meaningful friendships and grows in so many ways during the performance,” said Addie Rehberger, a Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) junior and third-year APA Acting student.
APA is home to nine different performing and visual arts departments, including Acting, Musical Theatre, Orchestra, Dramatic Production, Technical Theatre, Pop, Dance and Film. The Actor’s Repertory group is one of APA’s elite performing ensembles, only open to juniors and seniors.
Rehberger said, “I have always loved performing and meeting people who have a similar passion! APA is a super inclusive program and provides so many opportunities for people to pursue their interests and further explore their talents. The overall vibe of the show is energetic and exciting!”
To put on such a large show, the actors spend months dedicated to blocking rehearsals, coming up with costume ideas and brainstorming technical elements like lights and sound. Many students in the program are passionate about their craft.
APA Acting junior, Madisen Duchesneau, said, “What inspired me to go into APA was my passion for movies and TV shows, as I had always loved the idea of acting. What really inspired me was watching my friend in our middle school play, and because I was taking STEM [classes] at the time, I couldn’t participate in that theater classroom. It wasn’t until I was told by my mom that she was informed there was a program at HBHS called APA with many wonderful departments, including acting and I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
During the show, the audience goes through all the emotions with the characters. The leading female protagonist Molly Aster, played by seniors Ellison Renton and Sophia Leao de Moura, dreams of being a magical “Starcatcher” just like her father. When the two are separated, Molly meets who would become the Lost Boys, Peter, Ted and Prentiss. Together, they must protect a trunk of “starstuff” from the devious Captain Black Stache, who hunts them across the seas. Throughout their wild adventures, the young characters face a lot of personal growth, especially Molly. She’s young and naive, but towards the end, she understands the importance of friendship and the power of letting go.
Although there are many comedic elements, APA Acting junior, Zeren Sanati, reveals the show’s deeper meaning. “It’s really a show about a boy finding [a] home and dealing with that sense of belonging,” said Sanati.
The show’s production began in December 2025, meaning the Actor’s Repertory students have dedicated most of their acting classes in the three months leading up to the show blocking and rehearsing. This performance gave well-deserved recognition to a large group of actors who have worked hard the entire year, giving the viewers a glimpse into the art they create in class. This APA show is run mostly by the actors, with the help of their Actor’s Repertory Honors teacher, and director, Jenny McClintock.
“It has been a lot of work and time to prepare for the show, as it was a big commitment. We always had a way of figuring things out when things got tough or stressful, and even took the time within our breaks to dedicate to the show as a class. It was fun, but also a crazy experience,” said Duchesneau.
Next year, don’t miss the APA Actor’s Repertory. Come and bring friends and family. Just like the actors, one could also immerse themselves in a show like “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
