Peter Pan Junior Theater
Ray and Joan Kroc Salvation Army Performing Arts Center, 6611 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92115
About
Peter Pan Junior Theater is a non-profit, volunteer supported organization that uses theater arts such as auditions, rehearsals, musical productions, design, choreography, vocal direction, orchestra direction, musicianship, backstage work, and stage management. Talented teachers with a background in the arts participate as designers, choreographers, vocal directors, orchestra directors, and musicians in each production. High school and college students who were once Peter Pan Junior Theater actors often return to help backstage, as production team members, as the stage manager, or in other ways.
• Schedule: March 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2026, 7pm curtain, with a 1pm matinee on Saturday
• Price: Typically, the cost of a PPJT musical involving 70 to 80 students is approximately $50,000.
Peter Pan Junior Theater began in 1970 when Robert Kuhne started a theater group to meet the needs of talented students within the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District, first as an after school program at Casa De Oro Elementary School and later at Lemon Avenue Elementary School. For some time, the cast was selected from students who attended Lemon Avenue Elementary only, and in 1981 auditions were opened to students throughout the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District. Auditions and rehearsals take place at school facilities after school and on weekends, and the production itself airs at the Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Community Theater.
The La Mesa/Spring Valley School District supports Peter Pan Junior Theater by providing rehearsal facilities free of charge, and parents whose sons and daughters are involved in the production raise all of the funding. Peter Pan Junior Theater has been recognized in the local press, including the San Diego Union-Tribune article “Theater prepares kids for their big roles in life” (Feb 21, 2009). Dr. Mark Arapostathis, cofounder of La Mesa Arts Academy in the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District, volunteers his time to run and direct Peter Pan Junior Theater and has been involved with the program for the past 40 years, and Steve Babbitt is also listed as part of the leadership on the contact page.
Last updated March 23, 2026.
• Schedule: March 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2026, 7pm curtain, with a 1pm matinee on Saturday
• Price: Typically, the cost of a PPJT musical involving 70 to 80 students is approximately $50,000.
Peter Pan Junior Theater began in 1970 when Robert Kuhne started a theater group to meet the needs of talented students within the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District, first as an after school program at Casa De Oro Elementary School and later at Lemon Avenue Elementary School. For some time, the cast was selected from students who attended Lemon Avenue Elementary only, and in 1981 auditions were opened to students throughout the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District. Auditions and rehearsals take place at school facilities after school and on weekends, and the production itself airs at the Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Community Theater.
The La Mesa/Spring Valley School District supports Peter Pan Junior Theater by providing rehearsal facilities free of charge, and parents whose sons and daughters are involved in the production raise all of the funding. Peter Pan Junior Theater has been recognized in the local press, including the San Diego Union-Tribune article “Theater prepares kids for their big roles in life” (Feb 21, 2009). Dr. Mark Arapostathis, cofounder of La Mesa Arts Academy in the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District, volunteers his time to run and direct Peter Pan Junior Theater and has been involved with the program for the past 40 years, and Steve Babbitt is also listed as part of the leadership on the contact page.
Last updated March 23, 2026.
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