All the World is Made of Faith

Finding Neverland is a musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham adapted from the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee and its 2004 film version Finding Neverland.

The musical tells the story of J.M. Barrie, the Scottish playwright who created Peter Pan, and his relationship with the Llewelyn Davies family — particularly widow Sylvia and her four young sons — who inspired him to write his most famous work.

An early version of the musical made its world premiere at the Curve Theatre in Leicester in 2012 with music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie. A completely reworked version with the current writing team made its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before transferring to Broadway in March 2015.

The Journey to Neverland

Leicester Production (2012)

On 6 February 2011, La Jolla Playhouse, California, announced they would produce a new stage musical based on the film with the book by Allan Knee, score by Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics), and directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. A planned production at La Jolla Playhouse was not held.

A developmental reading was held in New York on 31 March 2011, with Julian Ovenden, Kelli O’Hara, Tony Roberts, Mary Beth Peil, Michael Cumpsty, and Meredith Patterson, directed by Ashford.

The adaptation had its world premiere on 22 September 2012 at Curve in Leicester. Directed by Rob Ashford, it starred Julian Ovenden as J.M Barrie and West End actress Rosalie Craig as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

American Repertory Theater (2014)

The revised production ran at the ART from 23 July 2014 to 28 September 2014, with choreography by Mia Michaels. The full cast and creative team was announced on 2 June 2014, with Jeremy Jordan as Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies featured.

The cast also included Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, and Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, with Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. Jennifer Hudson debuted the song “Neverland” from the musical at the 68th Tony Awards on 8 June 2014.

Broadway Transfer (2015-2016)

The ART production directed by Diane Paulus moved to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in March 2015. On 10 November 2014, it was announced that Matthew Morrison would take Jordan’s place in the portrayal of J.M. Barrie in the Broadway production. Kelsey Grammer starred as Charles Frohman and Laura Michelle Kelly reprised the role of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

Previews began 15 March 2015, with the official opening on 15 April. The production did not receive any Tony Award nominations. The Broadway production closed on 21 August 2016 after 565 performances.

The Tale of Peter Pan

The show opens with J.M. Barrie dressed in black with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell (represented by a light) on stage. Barrie is thinking out loud about his life, finding clarity and accepting himself (“If the World Turned Upside Down”).

Meeting the Llewelyn Davies Family

A month later, Barrie meets Frohman at Kensington Garden and tells him that he is almost finished with his next play. The Llewelyn Davies boys — Peter, Michael, Jack and George — play as pirates around the park and interact with Barrie, except Peter who sits and reads (“The Pirates of Kensington”).

Sylvia, their mother, tries to get them to behave, but fails, ultimately joining the play. She meets Barrie and confesses that she did not enjoy his latest play as it felt that he recycled lots of elements from the previous ones. Barrie asks Peter why did he not play with his brothers, to which he responds that he finds it all silly.

The Power of Imagination

Back at their home, Mary is waiting for Barrie to go to a formal dinner, complaining that he is late. Barrie arrives and tells her that he met Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her children. Mary says that Sylvia’s husband died of cancer of the jaw and that her mother, Mrs. du Maurier, is very influential and thus they should invite them for dinner. Mary leaves alone for the dinner and Barrie tears his newest play up, believing it to be rubbish.

The next day, Barrie meets with the Llewelyn Davies at the park. Barrie says to Peter that he started writing when he was his age to escape reality. He stimulates him and the rest of the family to use their imagination (“Believe”). Barrie invites Sylvia, her mother and the boys to a dinner his wife is planning.

The Birth of Neverland

Mrs. du Maurier gives Sylvia and the children a carriage ride home. Sylvia talks with her mother outside, who is worried that her relationship with Barrie is hurting her prospects. Sylvia is sick and avoiding telling her boys, since her husband recently died. Sylvia wishes to spend the rest of her life living it to the fullest with her boys and contemplates the happiness Barrie has brought to her (“All That Matters”).

On another night inside the house, the boys play in their pajamas and refuse to go to sleep (“The Pirates of Kensington (Reprise)”). Barrie is there and watches the boys jumping on their beds, and is inspired as they look like they are flying. They discuss what they should play and Peter suggests they pretend to be castaways and Barrie should be an Indian chief.

Peter is offended as Barrie says that as the chief he would raise the castaways as his sons, claiming he is not their father. The boys fight and Sylvia sings them to sleep (“Sylvia’s Lullaby”). Barrie confides in Sylvia that when he was Peter’s age his brother died, so he knows the pain of loss. Sylvia gives Barrie a thimble, claiming it protects from pain while sewing. Barrie claims his brother went to Neverland, a place he invented where no one ever grows older (“Neverland”).

Captain Hook Appears

In the theater, Barrie presents his idea based on Neverland for his play to Frohman. Frohman is outraged as he believes the concept will not attract an audience. He also alerts Barrie to comments people have been making about his relationship with Sylvia and the boys.

Barrie goes home and finds Mary alone with Lord Canaan. She confronts him with his diary, where he writes a lot about Sylvia, but not about her. She leaves him. Barrie goes to the Llewelyn Davies residence to see Sylvia and the boys, but Mrs. du Maurier stops him at the door claiming Sylvia is in bed and that their relationship is hurting her. Barrie is flustered by all the different pressures he is facing (“Circus of Your Mind”).

Act Two: The Play Takes Shape

At the beginning of act II, the Llewelyn Davies boys visit Barrie at the theater as the company is reluctant and confused, testing some elements of the new play (“The World is Upside Down”). Charles invites the actors to drink at The Swan, a tavern. Sylvia arrives to take the children home. She has heard that Mary left him.

The children convince her to go with Barrie to the tavern as Elliott, Frohman’s assistant, takes them home. Sylvia is afraid that she was part of the reason Mary left Barrie, but he assures her that the separation was long in the making. The two play in the empty theater stage with the shadows cast by the ghost light and try to put to words what their relationship means to each other (“What You Mean to Me”).

At the tavern, the company is afraid the play will be a failure. Barrie arrives with Sylvia and tells Frohman that they need children in the audience, asking him to keep 25 seats to orphans. Sylvia remarks that Frohman and the actors have forgotten how to play. They reminisce about old times when they used to live more whimsical and free in their youth (“Play”).

Sylvia’s Illness

In the Llewelyn Davies backyard the boys prepare a play of their own, written by Peter, who is afraid he is not a real writer. His brothers tell him to be proud of what he did and encourage him based on what Barrie has been teaching them (“We’re All Made of Stars”).

Barrie and Sylvia arrive to watch the play. Barrie asks Peter permission to use his name as the protagonist. They start Peter’s play, but during the presentation, Sylvia starts to cough very badly, to which she claims it is only a silly chest cold. Barrie sees blood on the handkerchief, but Sylvia refuses to pursue treatment as she does not want the boys to relieve the experience they had with their father and asks Barrie to take care of her children.

Barrie takes Sylvia inside and Peter starts destroying the set of the play. Barrie comes back to check on Peter, who lashes out at him, saying that grown ups are always lying and he does not believe that his mother has just a chest cold, for something similar happened to his father. In rage, he tears his play apart from the notebook Barrie gave him. Barrie comforts him, letting him know that life can be difficult but imagination can help him escape for a bit when needed (“When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground”).

The Real Opening Night

At the theater, Frohman greets the audience, while at the Llewelyn Davies’ residence, Jack, George and Michael prepare to go to sleep while Sylvia and Mrs. du Maurier put them to bed.

Barrie and Peter arrive with the whole cast claiming that the theater was just a dress rehearsal, for the real opening night would take place at their residence. Peter says that the main character has his name, but the real Peter Pan is Barrie himself. The company presents the show while the family watches amused as they recognize elements of their times together that inspired the play. Sylvia is sprinkled with fairy dust and flies off with Peter to Neverland (“Neverland (Reprise)”).

The Finale

Barrie appears wearing the black clothes in which he started the first scene, showing that he has been mourning Sylvia. He meets Mrs. du Maurier at the park and she explains to him that Sylvia asked them to have joint guardianship of the boys in her will, which he accepts.

Barrie then meets Mary accompanied by Lord Canaan. Mary praises Barrie’s play while Lord Cannan acts childishly. Frohman appears next, claiming they are going to make a lot of money with the success that Peter Pan is, to which Barrie responds that he will donate all the profit to a children’s hospital.

Peter appear next, holding a play which he is working on. He says he is missing his mother, to which Barrie responds that he can visit her anytime he likes in Neverland. The boys appear next and Jack calls Barrie “father” for the first time. Mrs. du Maurier, seeing with new eyes the positive impact Barrie had on the children, says that Sylvia will keep guiding them from Neverland and is joined by Barrie, the boys and the rest of cast in concluding that make believe can help you navigate the world (“Finale”).

The Characters

Production Timeline

Notable Replacements

During the Broadway run, several notable actors took over principal roles:

• Anthony Warlow replaced Kelsey Grammer as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook in July 2015
• Terrence Mann (three-time Tony nominee) took over the role in September 2015
• Marc Kudisch later played Frohman/Hook
• Tony Yazbeck replaced Matthew Morrison as J.M. Barrie in January 2016
• Alfie Boe took over as Barrie in February 2016
• Sandy Duncan briefly appeared as Mrs. du Maurier in February 2016
• Sally Ann Triplett replaced Sandy Duncan shortly after

The Musical Score

The score by Gary Barlow (six-time Ivor Novello Award winner and member of Take That) and Eliot Kennedy features 22 original songs that blend contemporary pop sensibilities with theatrical storytelling.

Original Broadway Cast Recording

The original Broadway cast recording of Finding Neverland was released on 23 June 2015. It debuted at number 84 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Cast Albums chart.

Gary Barlow at the Queen’s 90th Birthday

On 15 May 2016, Gary Barlow performed the song “Something About This Night” from the musical for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebration, hosted by Ant & Dec. Guest starring was Katherine Jenkins and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Critical Response

The musical received mixed reviews from critics. While the production values, performances, and emotional core were praised, some critics felt the show struggled to balance whimsy with deeper themes.

The American Repertory Theater production was well-received, with critics particularly praising Jeremy Jordan’s performance as J.M. Barrie and the show’s heart. However, when the production transferred to Broadway with Matthew Morrison, Kelsey Grammer, and a revised version, the show received no Tony Award nominations in 2016, a significant disappointment for the production.

Box Office Performance

Despite the lack of Tony nominations, Finding Neverland found an audience on Broadway and ran for 565 performances over 17 months. The show closed on 21 August 2016, with plans announced for a film adaptation.

The Magic Lives On

US National Tour

The US national tour began in Buffalo, New York on 7 October 2016, prior to the official opening on 11 October. The tour was directed by Diane Paulus and featured Kevin Kern as J.M. Barrie, Christine Dwyer as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Tom Hewitt as Frohman/Hook (later replaced by John Davidson in June 2017), Crystal Kellogg, Joanna Glushak, and the Llewelyn Davies boys.

London Plans

In early 2016 it was announced that Finding Neverland would open in London in 2017, starring Alfie Boe as J.M. Barrie. However, the London production did not materialize as planned.

The Real Story

While the musical takes creative liberties with the historical relationship between J.M. Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family, it captures the essence of how their friendship inspired one of literature’s most enduring characters. The real Barrie did become guardian to the Davies boys after Sylvia’s death, and Peter Pan — first performed in 1904 — has enchanted generations of children and adults alike.

Through Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy’s contemporary score, James Graham’s emotionally resonant book, and Diane Paulus’s imaginative staging, Finding Neverland brings to life the story behind Peter Pan — reminding us that the boy who wouldn’t grow up was born from real love, real loss, and the real magic of believing.

The musical asks us to consider: What if we never lost our sense of wonder? What if we could fly? And most importantly, what if the second star to the right really could take us straight on till morning?

In the end, Finding Neverland isn’t just about how J.M. Barrie created Peter Pan. It’s about how all of us can find our own Neverland — a place where imagination helps us cope with sorrow, where play helps us heal, and where believing in impossible things makes life worth living.

All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust. ✨⭐

 

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