William Foon is traveling nationwide to dazzle audiences in his role as John Darling in the hit Broadway production of “Peter Pan.” On tour until December, he performs in San Francisco in October.
When 12-year-old William Foon returns to his Orinda hometown next month to perform at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco, his first instinct will be to roll down the car windows.
“I love the fresh air of our hills – it’s the smell of home, and I can’t wait to breathe it in,” Foon said.
Foon credits local theater for launching his young career – which spans over 200 shows across the country in the year-long tour of the hit Broadway musical “Peter Pan.” The tour, which began last November with rehearsals in New York, has already visited 16 cities, including one in Mexico. They even performed for Dr. Jill Biden at the First Lady Luncheon in Washington, D.C.
Foon’s love of theater began as a toddler when his parents, Jiin and Ryan, took him to shows at the Bay Area Children’s Theater and the Berkeley Playhouse.
“To our amazement, he was captivated the whole time,” said Jiin.
When he was four, he experienced a Broadway production, “The Lion King,” at the Orpheum.
“That was it,” said Foon. “I knew then that I wanted to be a part of musical theater.”
In kindergarten, Foon participated in Orinda’s Parks & Rec summer theater program, playing Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.” This led to roles in local productions at the Berkeley Playhouse and the San Francisco Children’s Musical Theater. By age six, he sang a solo at Herbst Theater for an audience of 1,000.
Foon also loves dance, with instructors Bela Watson from Moraga’s Joy in Motion and Jennifer Perry from Walnut Creek’s The Ballet School Performing Arts, playing key roles in his development. When he was nine, Perry cast him in his first professional role as Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol” at the Lesher Center, which led to a Broadway Dreams summer camp and eventually an agent.
“Although we were nervous about the child actor life, William kept insisting and proved to himself and us that he could manage the tight schedule and his schoolwork,” said Jiin.
She also attributes the supportiveness and friendship of the theater community as essential in managing this lifestyle.
One of Foon’s biggest influences has been the Peter Pan Foundation in Lafayette, a philanthropic organization which raises money for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital with its annual production of “Wish Upon a Star.”
Foon said Director Leslie Noel Hansen has been “my mentor, my teacher, my guide, my everything.”
Through this experience he has learned to work with people of all ages and abilities and how to encourage others. Despite the challenges of touring, Foon has stayed involved in community engagements like the Orinda 4th of July Parade and the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival.
“Tour life can be a bit of a grind, living in hotels, moving every couple of weeks and being away from William’s school friends,” admitted Jiin.
Foon added, “The most challenging thing is packing and unpacking in a hotel every week. The best part is working with the cast, performing for amazing audiences and seeing different cities with each theater’s distinct architecture.”
The family agrees the tour has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Foon’s advice for aspiring young performers is, “Dream big and don’t stop when you are feeling your lowest.”
“I love playing the role of John Darling – he’s quirky and nerdy, but also kind,” said Foon. “I also love flying – we strap into a harness and off we go – it’s amazing.”
“Peter Pan” can be seen at the Golden Gate Theatre from Oct. 29 through Nov. 3. To see all of the production’s touring dates, visit peterpanontour.com/tour-dates.
