Never, never say "Never". The old adage proves true time and again, even when it comes to making long-held dreams come to fruition. Even when the dream is to portray the incomparable role of Peter Pan, the boy who never grows old for readers and viewers alike, as actress Rachel Graham recently discovered.

When you meet Graham, who arrived in June at 7287 Lowell Boulevard, home of Westminster's Gaslight Theatre Company, to audition for the role of Peter Pan in Peter Pan and Wendy, her wide, laughing blue eyes and warm smile capture attention. Her pixie cut, perfectly coiffed for the role, solidifies the opinion that Graham is perfect for the part. Then she sings, and dances, and acts. It's a done deal.

"When she walked into the room, I held my breath. She looked perfect and had such a presence about her," says Val Durfee, the assistant director for the one act musical. "Then she performed. Wow! The only concern we [Durfee and Ellen Farnsworth, the show's director] had was whether she would be able to pick up Tara [ Farnsworth who plays Wendy Darling] and carry her. The next thing we knew, not only was Rachel carrying Tara around the set, she was singing while doing it!"

As a company member and mother of one of the cast members [ Jordan Prentice who plays little Michael Darling], I had the pleasure of speaking to Graham about her part in the play. When we met, I immediately noticed Graham's Tinkerbell pin located on her leotard.

I commented on its appropriateness for her role and Graham replied, "I have been obsessed with Peter Pan ever since I can remember. It's one of my dream roles. Look at this!" Graham proceeded to pull from a book bag a spiral bound notebook, filled with notes from a college acting class she recently took. She flipped open a page to show me.

"I was getting bored one day so I doodled this diagram of Never Never Land," Graham grinned and closed the notebook. "I even have my own Peter Pan costume at home; I wore it one Halloween. I love the show and the character!"

In fact, Graham, who has enough points to become a member of the prestigious Actors Equity Association, refuses to pay the dues required for membership. This allows her to play Peter Pan as well as other parts for theatres that are non-equity companies. "If I became a member of AEA, I wouldn't be able to do things like this show. I have kept myself open to playing parts in all theatres, but I have especially wanted to keep myself available in case Peter Pan ever opened up," Graham said, "This is really a dream come true."

The Gaslight Theatre Company in conjunction with South Westminster Arts Group and the City of Westminster invites you to see Rachel Graham and the rest of the cast in a one-act musical extravaganza, Peter Pan and Wendy, of the beloved J.M. Barrie classic.

The 75-minute show opens the weekend of August 2-3, 2008. Show dates include August 9-10 and 16-17. All shows are weekend matinees, geared toward the young and young at heart, and will start at 2:00 P.M.

Tickets for this show are specially priced at $5.00. "We hope to reach families who normally cannot afford the price tag of live theatre," states Jane Allard Schoenradt, Executive Director of Gaslight.

Cast members will also appear in character to sign photos [available for the nominal fee of one dollar] for those interested in getting an autograph ala Walt Disney World of Captain Hook, Smee, Peter Pan and his friends the Lost Kids, Wendy, Michael, John, Nana, Tiger Lily and her tribe members, Mrs. Darling, and a band of scurvy pirates.

Tickets are available now by visiting www.gaslighttheatrecompany.com or calling 720-232-7285, so hurry and purchase your seat to this delightful adaptation of a timeless tale where "never" never means never!