"Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). 

A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, and written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair... and the bonds of friendship, duty and love.

A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure ("Peter and the Starcatcher")".

Hawthorne High School's Drama Department is an after-school activity open to all HHS students located in Hawthorne, NJ.  The HHS Drama program was revitalized in 2003 and continues to produce up to 2 performances per academic year, typically one play and one musical.  COVID-19 resulted in a brief pause, but we are all so excited to be back on stage and bringing the magic of theater to audiences in both the fall and the spring. 

Now in our 22nd season, we continue the tradition of excellence and welcome new faces for on the stage, working as part of our crew, or taking greater responsibilities as one of our many show managers.

Our mission is to foster musical and performance growth, inspire confidence and courage, promote creativity, and invoke passion for the performing arts and its many disciplines.  We seek to uplift students while helping them grow a love and appreciation for the arts and different outlets of expression.  

We look forward to seeing you at our Fall 2025 production!