NBC will hope to emulate the success they had over the 2013 seasonal period when they aired a live performance of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Meyer. The show was a huge success for the network, earning strong viewer figures and a considerable amount of positive press, paving the way for another similar spectacle for the coming Christmas period: Peter Pan.

NBC took little time to announce its intentions to air another live, theatrical performance this coming Christmas-time, following the convincing success of The Sound of Music last month. At its peak, that performance scored more than 18 million viewers and held on to a strong amount of viewers for much of the telecast. Looking to capture similar audience figures again, the network have opted for a familiar story which translates from the stage to screen well and has a long history of multiple reconstructions. Peter Pan then seems like the ideal choice to keep this festive formula running.

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Speaking at the TCA press tour this weekend, network chairman of entertainment Robert Greenblatt, the man behind the charge of bringing the stage to the screen, announced NBC's plans to air a Peter Pan musical this December, but insisted that the production is still in its infancy. With no cast or crew members decided on yet, Greenblatt did say that he already has a “dream choice” for the main role, but didn't want to reveal it until the person had been confirmed. Further details on the production are expected to be announced later this year.

Greenblatt did however say that the same creative team behind The Sound of Music, led by the producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, will be in charge of this production.

NBC and Peter Pan actually have something of a history together, with the network airing similar live performance of the play back in the 1950's-60's, when live performances like it were a reglar occurrence on television. The first NBC production of Peter Pan aired in 1955, with follow-ons airing in 1956 and 1960.

Sound of Music
The Sound of Music was a great success for the network