About

It all started when…

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“A Midsummer night’s dream: the re-wired musical”, fuse theatre of CT, April, 2021

Costume and Wig Design and Creation (Titania; Oberon; Puck; The Fairy Ensemble)

Wardrobe Design, Curation and Styling (The Lovers; Hippolyta)

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Screen Shot 2021-06-19 at 4.05.13 AM.png — “Jake Egan O’Hara and Nightwing Whitehead designed the fanciful and often magnificent costumes…
Norah Stotz wears a stunning gown as Titania…”

-The Republican American-

Read the Full Review Here!

Music and Lyrics by Graham PeckBook and Additional Lyrics by Jake Egan O’HaraOrchestrations by John David EldridgeFor updates and information regarding the future development of this project, productions, as well as future steps and workshops/readin… — **Music and Lyrics by Graham Peck**
**Book and Additional Lyrics by Jake Egan O’Hara**
**Orchestrations by John David Eldridge**
For updates and information regarding the future development of this project, productions, as well as future steps and workshops/readings, send us an email at Never_LandAMusical@jakeeganohara.com We’d love to add you to our list of supporters and enthusiasts as we enter the next chapters of this adventure!

Check out more on our Instagram (@Never_landthemusical)

As artists, we believe in the honesty and the artistic brutal love of young people. We felt it was important to work with this talented group of performers first in order to see what they understood, what worked for them within the piece, and what they thought we could improve. Their input and immense dedication proved so valuable in the development of the show, and we are endlessly grateful to them to their flexibility with script revisions right up until their opening night and second performance! We learned so much about the show’s intended and received meanings and how the story’s many facets applies to performers and audiences of different ages and experiences; it was everything we hoped it would be and more! This production was rehearsed and mounted in just under FIVE WEEKS!

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(Photos from the Original Cast Production of “Never Land: A Musical”, January 2019 by David Barron, Oxygen Group Photography)

About the shoW

London, 1902: An epidemic is sweeping Queen Victoria’s city, and the wards of the Great Ormond Street Childrens’ Hospital are full of young patients. It is the evening of the Annual Governors’ Dinner and Dr. Martin Darling prepares to report the tragic state of affairs. Children are dying, and they can't find the cause. As the hour of his speech draws near, his children appear to say goodnight, shepherded by his wife Rose, who will be attending the dinner with him.

Despite being left in the protective care of Great Ormond’s Chief Matron Lillie, young Wendy Darling and her brothers encounter a fascinating and magical young boy - accompanied by a ball of light - who promises to change their lives and perspectives forever through adventure, magic, and fairy dust.

In this all new adaptation of the classic tale, playwright Jake Egan O’Hara weaves a version of the story that brings to life new meaningful adventures, while re-introducing the famed characters of the fabled island with originality, historical accuracy, heart, humor, and soulful strength and purpose: “Neverland” the noun is transformed into a simple directive: Laugh a lot. Look forward to your dreams. Never Land.

Based on the James M. Barrie story, with inspirations from the poetry of William Blake and John Keats, Never Land features a melodic folk rock/pop score with music and lyrics by Graham Peck and orchestration by John David Eldridge.

Follow Wendy, John, Michael, Peter and Tink’r Bell to an island where boys always leave crumbs; pirates are held to the costs of their memories; kindness, strength and happy thought can heal - and where being Lost means you have been already been Found.

The first production…

Jake, John and Graham announcing the premiere January, 2019 workshop production to the Original Cast of “Never Land” — the middle and high school aged students of the Corwin-Russell School in Sudbury, MA— [and features never before released footage of John and Graham dueting the show’s title musical number!!]

BRAVO TO THIS AMAZING CAST, CREW AND COMMUNITY!

What’s next for “never Land: A Musical”

Although we were exceptionally fortunate to have the show produced in full already, our process has hardly begun! The show’s initial debut in January, 2019 (produced and performed by the incredible students, staff and community of the Corwin-Russell School @ Broccoli Hall in Sudbury, MA) offered us incredible insight into the show’s many strengths, but also many of its challenges and areas where we need to move, change, or erase and try again. This is no disappointment for us— in fact we are greatly looking forward to the process! The chance to revisit scenes, songs, music and lyrics to improve and hone our story is truly exciting for us as artists and collaborators. Once that work is completed, our goal is to cast and produce a staged reading to be performed in Boston during the summer of 2019. As our first workshopping was performed by young people, we’re now curious as to what a primarily adult cast might offer us and the project. Different voices share different learned experiences, and we want to hear every voice we can.

Developing a project like this takes time, it takes patience, and it also takes the kindness and financial support of those who are able. Down the line, we may ask you to contribute a small gift to enable us to take “Never Land” to the next step. We hope when that day comes, you’ll be willing to give what you can.

In the meantime, we’ll be updating this site with sneak peeks and chances to check out new dialogue, exciting new music and lyrics, stunning re-arrangments, and other related updates and “happy thoughts”.

We can’t wait to share with you!

All our best,

The “Never Land” guys— Jake, John and Graham

Massenet’s “Cendrillion” (cinderella), August, 2019

Gallery Coming Soon! Please note the full wardrobe for this production will be made available for extensive rentals starting September, 2019!

Along with custom built glass slippers (in a multi-size availablity), this show’s wardrobe includes a truly unique and spell-binding original design for the Transformation gown unlike the recent Broadway William Ivey version which will astound and surprise audiences with it’s multi-step and magical set of effects!

Be the first in your area to re-work the magic and offer your audiences the chance to re-imagine the magic of this timeless story with new vision and fantastical results!

For inquiries, contact Jake@jakeeganohara.com, with “Cendrilon” in the subject line!

Disney’s “The lion King, jr”, concord middle school concord, MA, march, 2019

Stage Direction, Production Design; Mask and Puppet Design and Creation

“PIPPIN”, actorsingers,

nashua, nh: November, 2018

All Production and Promotional Images Copyright by Joshua Gagnon, Nashua, NH

Costume, Wardrobe, Hair/ Wig and Makeup Designer: Jake Egan O’Hara

Principal Makeup Artist: Kae Ryenne, Nashua, NH

The Full Cast (Copy)

Pippin, Catherine and Theo (Copy)

The Process: Fastrada (Copy)

Fastrada, or The Power Construct of Sexuality: When approaching the character of Fastrada, I recognized it was vital to understand her beyond a comical sex object, and understand how, with all of her duality and manipulation, she might survive being married to Charlemagne. I was most reminded of Scheherazade, the heroine of Arabian Nights, who brilliantly extended her life by playing on her captor’s vanity and intelligently giving him just enough that he kept postponing her execution. From there, I extended my research towards other women in history who used their carefully created gender and sexuality personas to build and sustain power and respect. My list—headed by andincluded Queen Elizabeth I (who’s well known status as “The Virgin Queen” protected her from critics claiming being influenced by Man’s corruption/interest, as well as being subject to “female hysteria”); Marilyn Monroe— a woman who built her empire based on the weaknesses of men, each beguiling look or action carefully designed and researched, executed to precision to reach her ends; and Amanda Lepore— the first and most famous Trans model/celebrity ever, a vision of femininity literally designed and created by herself to be exactly the body and figure she desired to be in order to create Change— 100% in control of her own destiny. My final design incorporates a bit of each. The overall look channels the Arabian Nights heroine, but features elements of the rest: Elizabeth’s crown, Marilyn’s flair and stylings; Amanda’s Hair (the actress actually wears a custom built wig made by one of Amanda’s former stylists!) She is a combination of many powerful and resourceful women from history, all in control of their destiny and in charge of how they were perceived and treated. 🌟

Book your tickets at www.PippinNH.com!

Becca Tarr as Fastrada; Costume, Hair and Makeup Design by Jake Egan; Photo by Joshua Gagnon; Wig by @hollywoodcustomwigs; Makeup by Kae Ryenne

The Leading Player (Copy)

Pippin and the Players (Copy)

The Players (Copy)

Pippin and Catherine (Copy)

Pippin and Charlemagne (Copy)

ntroducing Pippin-His Wardrobe’s Life and Times. Pippin’s story is framed primarily by a created [and purposely overstimulated] world of oversaturated and vibrant fantastical shapes, colors, and pageantry; a constant and ever changing costume landscape of time periods, cultures and civilizations, all finished with circus detail and flair. Yet, if you remove that magic, and ignore its intended “sleight of hand” — Pippin’s is the universal and constant tale of all of us—no matter of time period, culture, community or civilization, nationality, gender or upbringing. Every group of people across the world hold a shared narrative of a person who’s story is comparable to Pippin’s . He is both timeless and time traveller; belonging and conforming to no singular vision, he is our Everyman.

When I began designing his look, I was inspired particularly by Tom Baker’s iconic wardrobe as Doctor Who. Baker’s garments are all carefully coordinated and familiar, not foreign to the eye or disarming, but one gets the sense that each piece has been collected from the many worlds, times and realities with which he has engaged, and it is a comfortable but totally unique style not able to be replicated by anyone who is not first easily able to venture through time and space. To accomplish this for the show, I sought out each garment individually, one piece at a time from the collections of various small but ranking designers from across the world, who specialize in reimagining the familiar in ways that don’t hugely alter the cut or style of a garment, but instead give the feeling that you are meeting an old friend you know well, but have not seen in many years. Most of the pieces are actually now considered “vintage “ and not widely available. Pippin is all of us, but as he searches for his future and finds it elusive— we do the same to find his wardrobe and find it equally so…

The Process: Charlemagne (Copy)

The most legendary, revered and feared Leaders of his time, Charlemagne’s powerful place in history is without dispute. Yet we have no factually documented face to put to his name. Instead we rely on the very complimentary larger-than-life depictions of him created by the painters, sculptors and artisans he employed soley to depict him at his finest or better.

In my mind, Charlemagne created himself not as a Human, but as a God, and therefore could not resemble someone organic to reality, but instead born of an artisan’s brushes or tools and flattery.

Images 1 and 2: I created a color palette that used only the color pigments available to artists at that point in history, and was thrilled to find four incredible fabrics: A stunning dusty royal blue for the body that features a Medieval-style illustrated homage to silver chain mail armor; a juniper berry red lambskin suede hide; a multi textured metallic chenille that resembles the forged metal popular during that period; and a stunning golden rod lining fabric for his ceremonial oversleeves with a dusty blue floral print that is embellished with metallic gold paint brush strokes and specks! The belt buckle is a hardforged iron depiction of Charlemagne’s reign created by an artist based out of Wisconsin, who only uses historically accurate tools to create his work.

Underneath his tunic he wears a pair of artist- illustrated armored leggings.

Image 3: In keeping with the artisan crafted concept, using historical source images as a guide, I designed my own intrerpretation of his crown, and hand cut and welded it from stainless steel.

Image 4: The Finished Portrait of The King! Or: “Life Imitating Art, Imitating Life” - Artist Unknown 🌟

Berthe (Copy)

“MY FAIR LADY”, THEATRE III, ACTON, MA, OCTOBER, 2018

Eliza Doolittle at Ascot (Copy)

(Ascot Hat and wig designed and built by Jake Egan O’Hara)

Ladies of Ascot (Copy)

Ladies of Ascot

Eliza Doolittle at Ascot (Copy)

(Ascot Hat and wig designed and built by Jake Egan O’Hara)

“CANDIDE”, OPERA DEL WEST, BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BOSTON, MA, AUGUST, 2018

Cunegonde (Copy)

A 'Candide' Candid (Copy)

Soprano Megan Brunning shows off each of the five ensembles she wears as Cunegonde.

"Glitter and Be Gay" (Copy)

Cunegonde and Candide (Copy)

"The Ensemble in Venice" (Copy)

The Cast of "Candide" (Copy)

Maximillian (Copy)

“IN THE HEIGHTS”, NASHOBA PLAYERS, WESTFORD, MA, MAY 2018

“BILLY ELLIOT”, BROCCOLI HALL @ THE REGENT THEATRE, ARLINGTON, MA, FEBRUARY, 2018

"SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD", THEATRE III, ACTON, MA: JANUARY 2018.

Jake Egan O'Hara as "Puck"

Puck and Oberon Costume, Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design by Jake Egan O'Hara

"THE WILD PARTY", ACTORSINGERS, NASHUA, NH: SUMMER 2017

PAST PRODUCTIONS GALLERY

"Bat Boy" Makeup Application Demonstration

Specialty Makeup Design and Implentation designed by Jake Egan O'Hara for Harvard University's all-new production with colloboration from Lawrence O'Keefe, author.

Directed by Ally Kiley

Music Direction by Cynthia Meng

Batboy: Jacob Rienstra

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

BAT BOY

Designed for the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club's all new production of "Bat Boy" in collaboration with original writer Lawrence O'Keefe Directed by Ally Ki...

THE SPRING AWAKENING

Rehearsal Footage from The Lexington Players' production of "The Spring Awakening" Directed by Jake Egan O'Hara Scenic and Costume Design by Jake Egan O'Hara

The cast of Lexington Players' "Spring Awakening" rehearsing one of the ensemble songs in the early stages of the rehearsal process.

THE SECRET GARDEN

The Alexander Childrens' Theatre School production of "The Secret Garden" Directed by Jake Egan O'Hara. Scenic and Costume Design by Jake Egan O'Hara. Music Direction by Paul Huberdeau.

THE SECRET GARDEN

Rehearsal Footage of The Alexander Childrens' Theatre production of "The Secret Garden." Directed by Jake Egan O'Hara. Music Direction by Paul Huberdeau.

PAST PRODUCTIONS

PAST PRODUCTION GALLERY

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

FEATURED PRODUCTION - Matilda the musical, 2023

About

It all started when…

“A Midsummer night’s dream: the re-wired musical”, fuse theatre of CT, April, 2021

About the shoW

The first production…

BRAVO TO THIS AMAZING CAST, CREW AND COMMUNITY!

What’s next for “never Land: A Musical”

Massenet’s “Cendrillion” (cinderella), August, 2019

Disney’s “The lion King, jr”, concord middle school concord, MA, march, 2019

“PIPPIN”, actorsingers,

nashua, nh: November, 2018

“MY FAIR LADY”, THEATRE III, ACTON, MA, OCTOBER, 2018

“CANDIDE”, OPERA DEL WEST, BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BOSTON, MA, AUGUST, 2018

“IN THE HEIGHTS”, NASHOBA PLAYERS, WESTFORD, MA, MAY 2018

“BILLY ELLIOT”, BROCCOLI HALL @ THE REGENT THEATRE, ARLINGTON, MA, FEBRUARY, 2018

"SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD", THEATRE III, ACTON, MA: JANUARY 2018.

"THE WILD PARTY", ACTORSINGERS, NASHUA, NH: SUMMER 2017

PAST PRODUCTIONS GALLERY

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

BAT BOY

THE SPRING AWAKENING

THE SECRET GARDEN

THE SECRET GARDEN

jake egan o'hara - teacher.director.designer.practitioner.human.

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