Sprinkle on a bit of fairy dust and prepare for an adventure that will ignite your inner youth and appreciation for fantasy and magical enchantment. “‘Peter Pan’ is a traditional, beautiful kids story,” says Amy Raudenbush, director of publicity for Big League Productions, the company producing tonight’s show at Stephen’s Auditorium. “The performance really creates the feeling of being in a fairy tale and fantasy land.”This national tour of “Peter Pan” has been running since October of 2000 and is coming to a close in the next few weeks after the finale of the Midwest leg, having spanned 54 cities in total. Chris Carsten, who plays Captain Hook, is especially enthusiastic about the troupe’s travels to Iowa. Carsten was born in Des Moines and spent 16 of his earlier years in Sioux City. After he received a degree in fine arts for musical theater at Tarkio College in Missouri, he had a brief stint in Los Angeles. He currently lives in New York with his wife Amalie to be closer to “the business.””It’s indeed a thrill to be back here,” Carsten says. He expects about twenty friends and family members to attend Friday’s performance. Performing in Sioux City in early February was a highlight for Carsten as he can only find time to make a trip to Iowa once or twice a year. “I try to be as consistent as possible with my performance no matter what venue we’re at,” he says. “But this is a kicker. Maybe it does ratch up my performance a notch or two.”Patty Cotter, marketing and public relations coordinator for Iowa State Center, says the fact that Carsten encompasses such a large role with a major touring company will add a flair of excitement to Friday’s show. Especially when audience members read the playbill and see that an Iowan has nabbed one of the leading roles and has the skill to have made it “out East.”Carsten says a major theme “Peter Pan” emphasizes is the constant, trying struggle between good and evil. To play the “bad guy,” he tries to find truth and honesty in his character from an acting standpoint and sell it as best as he can to the audience. “Captain Hook is larger than life,” he says. “You can paint his character with very large brushstrokes. The show is almost on the border of being a cartoon, it’s so colorful.”Although the set is a bit smaller because it’s designed to travel, the production closely mimics past productions of “Peter Pan” including the critically acclaimed Broadway version starring Cathy Rigby.”People who have never seen a Broadway show are going to see a fairly close representation of what a New York show would be like,” Cotter says. “It’s a Broadway-style musical.””Peter Pan” tells the story of the Darling children and their adventures in Never-Never Land after they’re swept away by Peter, the boy who “won’t grow up.” The Darling children are enchanted by the island, populated by the Lost Boys, Indians and a group of ruthless Pirates. Complications arise when the Darlings get homesick and the one-handed Captain Hook makes his attempt to get revenge on Peter.”Peter Pan,” originally written by Sir James Barrie in 1902 as part of a novel titled “The Little White Bird,” has evolved into a story that has captured the public’s imagination and been a crowd-pleaser both on stage and in film.Cotter says she is delighted to have such a family-oriented production featured at the Iowa State Center. “We’re always happy when a family musical will tour here,” she says. “Obviously people are pleased with the title and the familiarity of the show. This thing has been selling really well.”Carsten anticipates that one of the most intriguing aspects of the show will be the scenes incorporating flying sequences. Nationally recognized ZFX Flying Illusions, Inc. will provide the flying effects and is known for previous stage work with the USA National Tour of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby.”When Peter flies, the audience gasps every time,” Carsten says. He also says the audience will recognize many of the songs, including “I Gotta Crow” and “I’m Flying,” led by Shorey Walker, who plays Peter. One of Carsten’s favorite numbers he takes part in is “Hook’s Waltz,” a salty tango he performs with the pirates flanking his sides.”My hope is to contribute what is required of my character so the show overall succeeds,” Carsten says. “When we’re all in sync on stage, the crowd wins.”Tickets for the show are still available at Stephens Auditorium from 10 a.m. today until curtain time at the ticket office. Cotter advises arriving early if buying tickets at the door.