TCA: ‘Peter Pan’ to fly at NBC as live musical event in December

NBC hit a ratings gold mine last month with a live version of “The Sound of Music� featuring a singing heroine who twirls and dances.

The network is hoping to strike gold again with an ageless boy who can fly.

A new production of the classic musical “Peter Pan� will air as a live telecast Dec. 4. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron -- who produced “The Sound of Music Live!� -- will executive produce the production. The cast will be announced at a later date.

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“We’re very pleased to be underway on ‘Peter Pan’ as our next live holiday musical for the whole family,� NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said at the Television Critics Assn. press tour.

As to who could play Peter, Greenblatt jokingly suggested Miley Cyrus.

The original Broadway production of “Peter Pan� starred Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Richard as Captain Hook; both won Tony Awards for their performances. (Martin also starred in the original Broadway production of “The Sound of Music.�)

“Peter Pan� closed on Broadway in 1955, making way for a live broadcast that year on NBC, which attracted 65 million viewers, then highest rating for a single night. NBC also broadcast the show live in 1956 and 1960, both to huge ratings.

“The Sound of Music Live!� starring Carrie Underwood drew 22 million viewers in its initial Dec. 5 airing.