Peter Pan prequel to have Broadway run

The play tells the story of how Peter Pan became the boy who would not grow up

A prequel to J M Barrie's classic Peter Pan is to open on Broadway next spring.

Peter and the Starcatcher, based on Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's 2006 novel of the same name, tells the story of how Peter Pan became the boy who would not grow up.

The play, which ran earlier this year at the Off-Broadway New York Theater Workshop, features 12 actors who play some 50 characters.

Casting and its new theatre venue have yet to be announced.

Disney Theatrical Productions originally commissioned the play, which features a handful of songs but is not billed as a musical.

It was written by Tony nominee Rick Elice - who currently has two musicals on Broadway, The Addams Family and Jersey Boys - and is co-directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers.

"I couldn't be happier that this production Rick, Roger and I have been developing for more than five years now is taking the final step to Broadway," Timbers told Playbill.

The production received five Drama Desk nominations earlier this year, going on to win the award for outstanding music in a play.