Theatre

Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN

“The Legend you thought you knew is now the adventure you never dreamed possible. Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan!”

Such is the running theme of Olympic gold medalist Cathy Rigby’s Tony nominated and Emmy Award winning musical revival which is mesmerizing audiences at the Pantages January 15 – January 27. But more than a motto for a high flying musical, this is the undercurrent of Rigby’s approach to life.

I was lucky enough to catch an interview with the high flying sixty- year old who, despite
playing a character who refuses to abandon childhood, has more wisdom than the average sprite in
green tights.

In Peter Pan, you play a boy who never grows up. But in real life, it seems you thrive on growing up over and over again through transforming you career. What motivates you to always start over?

Like the mid-air summersaults and turns she performs so flawlessly, Rigby leaps to answer without skipping a beat. “I’ve been really lucky to have a career like gymnastics and then go into the world of sports and into theatre,” she confides, “I think that anybody who loves the process of learning something new can probably find a million things to start over with. And it’s not really that you’re starting over, you’re just adding to what you do.”

Rigby adds without prompting, “My favorite role of all time is being a mom. I find as much joy in that as anything I’ve ever done – more so probably – and that’s the thread that keeps it all together. Some of the choices I’ve made (and not)made have stemmed from that… The most important thing to me, obviously, is my family.”

Like Peter’s bravery in fighting pirates, Rigby isn’t afraid to come face to face with her own demons with honesty and integrity. She continues, “Because I grew up with some issues in my own family, I really want to keep this (family) together.”

Rigby might only stand a bit over five-feet, but she’s as tenacious as an ocean of pixie dust. Much of her success has to do with not being afraid of a challenge. “There has always been a part of me that thinks a lot like Peter Pan: ‘Why can’t I do this if I work really hard at it? If I study hard? If I get the right training? There is enough of that Peter Pan quality inside that says ‘If you tell me I can’t, I’m going to try even harder.’ And I think that has served me well.”

You’ve done a bit of motivational speaking, specifically on balancing wellness. Do you want to touch on that?

Rigby, after modestly assuring that she isn’t trying to impart any wisdom, does exactly the opposite with her honest tale of what success cost her, “I basically tell a story of going for the gold at any cost – going for the Olympics… loving what I did and standing on a victory stand with a medal around my neck but almost losing at living. That came through having an eating disorder and trying to be perfect… not having a voice and not being able to express oneself or being so afraid of failing that you don’t want to try anymore.”

She adds, “Once you learn that it’s the process that is the most important part of your adventures in life.. your journey… you find out that yes, you can have goals and go for the gold, but it’s the in-between times you’re going to remember most. It’s those lessons along the way that shape your life and give you confidence or don’t give you confidence – but you need to pay attention to them.”

This way of thinking spills over into her views of educating children.

In Peter Pan, the kids only need to think happy thoughts and off they fly. Real life takes work and
commitment. The McCoy Rigby Conservatory of Arts (a performing arts studio n La Mirada that she owns with her husband) seems to do both. Want to touch on that?

“We forget the process along the way,” Rigby says, “I see it times with different parents who only look for the the end results… in dance competitions they want the trophy and they don’t realize it’s the process and everyone has their own potential. I guarantee no one will remember the trophies they won, but they will remember the special moments.”

There’s a lot of special moments in Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN – a heartwarming musical that has garnered over 200 million in ticket sales. While adults and children alike will be blown away by the special effects, the flying numbers, the choreography, music and sets, it’s likely Rigby would be happiest if the message of Peter Pan is what audience goers walk away with:

That your heart is where dreams are born.

And it’s not the end destination to Neverland that matters. It’s the journey there.

 

TICKETS AND CONTACT INFO

Regular Tickets to Peter Pan can be found at broadwayla (www.broadwayla.org).

Discount Tickets as low as $29 can be found on Goldstar

Show Times The shows run January 15 – January 27.

Need a Review? Contact Contact Andrea at LifeHappins@Gmail.com

About Andrea.... Andrea Frazer is a produced television, magazine, newspaper and national blog writer. She is a regular contributer to Valley Scene Magazine and The Community Connections. More of her can be found at her personal blog Happily Ticked Off.