Sequim Acrobatics Academy performers have been working for a year to bring a “jaw dropping, thrilling experience” to audiences, according to Alicia Laxson, the academy’s owner, producer, head coach and choreographer.

“Neverland” hits the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, and at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 24.

Set before Captain Hook was the villain in the classic “Peter Pan” play, the academy’s “Neverland” is an original take on Pan’s imaginary country, populated with familiar denizens such as pirates, fairies, lost boys and mermaids.

The 39 performers also play the Darling family as well as crocodiles, “neverbirds,” an adult witch, shadows and stars.

“Many of our advanced acrobats are in multiple roles and routines,” Laxson said. “We have both children and adults in our shows and it makes for a very professional environment.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Keylee Disinski, training at Sequim Acrobatics since 2016, will perform several roles, including mermaid, at the academy’s upcoming show “Neverland” at the Sequim High School Auditorium this Friday and Saturday.

There will be two Wendys and two Peter Pans, of different ages.

Lights will be used to great effect, Laxson said, and music was composed for the show by Logan Laxson, who plays the older Peter Pan and is “a coach, choreographer, and creator of all our music, lights, sets and images we use during our show.”

Laxson said Sequim Acrobatics sent Logan Laxson and Mia Underwood — who plays the older Wendy, a shadow, mermaid and pirate — to Las Vegas, Nev., to see multiple Cirque du Soleil shows for costume design inspiration.

“Costumes are very tricky because our performers need to be able to flip and fly around safely,” Laxson said.

Logan and Underwood, a a coach, choreographer and costume designer, have been performing for more than 10 years, according to Laxon.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / At the Port Williams beach in Sequim, Rivers Maynard as Peter Pan, Keylee Disinski as a mermaid, and Rosie Sly-Hobson as Wendy, posed as some of their roles in the upcoming “Neverland,” which Sequim Acrobatics will be performing at Sequim High School Auditorium this Friday and Saturday.

Underwood, dressed as a “neverbird” with elements she designed, did handstands and posed with fellow cast members, Keylee Disinski (mermaid), Rosie Sly-Hobson (young Wendy), Rivers Maynard (young Peter Pan) and actor Andrew Lumm (Blackbeard the pirate), on the beach at Port Williams Park last week for the show’s videographer, Ben May, who will be recording and editing a version of the show.

Maynard and Lumm brought their practice swords.

Harley Names, a local longsword instructor who plays the young Captain Hook, “spent a lot of time teaching swordplay to our young Peter Pan and choreographing a sword fight for the show,” Laxson said.

She noted that anyone interested in learning longsword this summer can contact Sequim Acrobatics for more information (call 360-461-6974 or email to info@sequimacrobatics.com).

Finding ‘Neverland’

The storyline, Laxson said, evolved over the year.

“We like to ask our performers after our shows for theme suggestions for new show,” she said.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Peter Pan, played by Rivers Maynard, flies across the Port Williams beach with his longsword drawn for a possible pirate confrontation. Maynard is one of 39 performers in Sequim Acrobatic’s upcoming production, “Neverland,” which can be experienced on Friday or Saturday of this week at Sequim High School Auditorium.

She said “Lost Boy” Greyson Humphries, who has been training with the academy since 2018, suggested Peter Pan for this year.

“We thought it was a fantastic idea and ‘Neverland’ was born,” Laxson said.

“We select students with a certain set of skills who are seriously committed for our performing teams,” Laxson said. “Our young Peter Pan has spent as many as 12 hours a week at the gym leading up to the show.”

Disinski, a sophomore at Sequim High, has been training since 2016 and Hobson, who will soon be in sixth grade, since 2018.

They both have multiple roles.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen /From left, Mia Underwood, mermaid, Ben May, videographer, Andrew Lumm, Blackbeard the pirate, and Logan Laxson, who will play the older Peter Pan in “Neverland,” pause during a video/photo shoot at Port Williams beach. Sequim Acrobatics has been working for nearly a year on the production, which will be performed for two evenings at Sequim High School auditorium.

“We still have three of our original members,” Laxon said.

“We definitely consider ourselves Sequim’s own Cirque du Soleil. Our hope is that more of our community learns about us and our amazing shows. ”

Tickets are $15 and are available at the door, Over the Fence and at the Sequim acrobatics website: sequimacrobatics.com.

Sequim Acrobatics has been open since December of 2011, said Laxson, and is still accepting students for the summer session, which begins July 10.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Andrew Lumm, as a pirate, and Rivers Maynard, as Peter Pan, face off with their swords in a pose reminiscent of one of the scenes in Sequim Acrobatics’ upcoming production, “Neverland,” set to be performed this Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Sequim High School auditorium.

Sequim Acrobatics Academy’s ‘Neverland’

When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 23; 5 p.m. Saturday, June 24

Where: Sequim High School auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.

Tickets: $15; available at door, Over the Fence (118 E. Washington St.) and sequimacrobatics.com

More info: sequimacrobatics.com