She's flying! Girls star Allison Williams will play the titular character in the upcoming NBC telecast of Peter Pan Live! on December 4. The classically trained singer will join the previously announced Oscar winner and Tony nominee Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. Pan is the Peacock Network's follow-up to the highly rated Sound of Music Live!, which starred Carrie Underwood along with many Broadway favorites. Further casting will be announced later.
“I have wanted to play Peter Pan since I was about three years old, so this is a dream come true,” said Williams in a statement. She added: "what could go wrong in a live televised production with simultaneous flying, sword fighting and singing?"
Williams stars as Marnie Michaels in HBO’s Girls and has recorded several songs (as Marnie) for the show's soundtrack. Other credits include The Mindy Project and The League.
A Great White Way family classic, Peter Pan premiered on October 20, 1954 at the Winter Garden Theatre, featuring a book by J.M. Barrie, music by Mark “Moose” Charlap and Jule Style, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins and Mary Martin in the lead role of the boy who won’t grow up. NBC has broadcast the musical live a total of three times previously: in 1955 (when it reached 65 million viewers), 1956 and 1960. The musical has been revived five times on Broadway since. The tuner's classic songs include “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land.”