Photo by Jeff Wilson / Silverback/Netflix
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Go behind the lens of one of Netflix's most ambitious nature documentaries when The Making of Our Planet: Life on Our Planet comes to McCarter Theatre Center on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 7:00pm. Hosted by Emmy-nominated showrunner Dan Tapster, this immersive multimedia event brings Earth's epic story to life through stunning visuals, personal storytelling, and rarely shared behind-the-scenes moments.
Produced by Silverback Films in collaboration with Netflix, Life on Our Planet chronicles the history of life on Earth—from mass extinctions to the triumph of biodiversity—with cutting-edge visual effects and powerful, science-driven storytelling. Tapster, whose credits include The Life of Mammals and MythBusters, offers a rare look into how this groundbreaking series was made, drawing on decades of experience in documentary filmmaking and a deep passion for science.
With humor, urgency, and heart, Tapster shares insights from the field and the editing room, revealing what it takes to tell Earth’s most important stories in today’s rapidly changing world. This isn’t just entertainment—it’s an unforgettable experience that challenges how we see our planet and our role within it.
Tickets are available for purchase online. McCarter Theatreis located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
Life on Our Planet reveals how life has risen, fallen, and fought to survive across Earth's history. With stunning visuals and powerful storytelling, it sparks big conversations about resilience, responsibility, and hope—perfect for inspiring curious middle schoolers and adults alike. Bring the whole family and experience a night that will leave you amazed, moved, and ready to see our planet with new eyes.
An eight-time Emmy-nominated showrunner, Dan Tapster began his career at the BBC Natural History Unit, working on series including Sir David Attenborough’s Life of Mammals. His unconventional career includes being kidnapped by Quichua Indians in Ecuador and accidentally firing cannonballs through houses. As showrunner of MythBusters, he led the series to 12 renewals and over 18 billion views, making it the second most-watched factual TV series in history.
In 2018, Tapster joined Silverback Films as the showrunner for Netflix’s Life on Our Planet, executive produced by Steven Spielberg. The groundbreaking series blends breathtaking natural history with cutting-edge VFX to tell Earth’s greatest story like never before. Tapster holds a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Bristol and has received Emmys, BAFTAs, and RTS awards.
Photo by Gisele Sverdrup / Silverback/Netflix
McCarter is one of the country's flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter's legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre's first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder's Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart's You Can't Take It with You, and William Inge's Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others
Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company's work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter's robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of "justice and joy, and beauty in belonging," creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
