Arts & Entertainment

Stage

Aviator

Peter Pan's
"Flying Designer"
maintains magic
and safety.

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Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News

f Jewish choreographer Paul
Rubin — known as the "Flying
Designer" — were giving out
real frequent flyer miles, then Peter
Pan star Cathy Rigby might have
enough miles to go to the moon
and back.
Rubin has "flown" more than 300
different productions and more
than 2,000 individual performances
of the venerable musical in six
countries. Rigby, 52, a Tony Award
nominee and former two-time
Olympics gymnast, has had the
leading role in most of Rubin's
shows, on and off, over the past 17
years.
They'll "fly" with other members
of the Peter Pan troupe at Detroit's
Fisher Theatre Oct. 18-Nov. 6. It's
Rigby's farewell tour in the role on
the 100th anniversary of the
immortal James M. Barrie tale that
has created a special fascination for
children and adults alike.
Rubin, 38, a native New Yorker
who studied for his bar mitzvah
with his grandfather, a Brooklyn
cantor, has carved out a unique
career as a flying expert and special
effects genius in the musical the-
ater. However, his only recognition
has come from his "frequent flyers"
and show executives because there
is no special effects category in the
Tony Awards.
"But it's very satisfying work and
I'm proud of my accomplishments
with Peter Pan and the other shows
I've been involved with:' he said

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"My assistant and I pull the ropes to make

Cathy (Rigby] fly, and local stagehamis operate

the ropes for the three flying children," says

"Flying Designer" Paul Rubin, who will be in

Detroit when Peter Pan comes to Detroit's

Fisher Theatre Oct. 19-Nov, 6.

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Stage Aviator on page 50

October 13 2005

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