'James and the Giant Peach' is CLC Theatre's fall show for children
One of the world's most beloved children's stories, "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl, will be staged by the College of Lake County Theatre department Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. Dahl's fantasy adventure for children was dramatized by Richard R. George and is directed by Alicia Hall.
In the play, when James accidentally drops some magic crystals by an old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of oversized friends - Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug and more. After years of feeling like an outsider in the home of his two aunts, James has finally found a place where he belongs. But with a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away and the adventure begins!
According to Director Alicia Hall, Dahl wrote the story when his young son was holding on dearly to his life. "Writing 'James and the Giant Peach' gave Dahl a way to create something fantastical and beautiful out of the great pain he was experiencing. This same transformation of pain into something wondrous is at the heart of this lovely play.
Through James we get to see his warmth, resilience, incredible imagination and resourcefulness lift him and his new found family out of what looks to be an inescapable darkness into a world full of wonder and adventure. And with the love and support of his new, although quite different kind of family, we see that James has the chance to follow his heart and his dreams," Hall said.
Two daytime performances geared to school groups will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Friday, Sept. 30. Weekend shows for the public will be presented at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2 all in the Mainstage Theatre. The show is especially suited for grades Pre-K to 4.
'James and the Giant Peach' cast
James Trotter: Christopher Welsh, Round Lake Heights. Aunt Sponge/Shark: Ela Winnett, Waukegan. Aunt Spiker/Shark: Becky Swan, Hainesville. Narrator: Nishi Prajapati, Mundelein. Centipede: Moises Diaz, Waukegan. Grass Hopper: Robert Williams, Waukegan. Earthworm: Dylan Thomas, Winthrop Harbor. Spider: Bianca Shofner, Gurnee. Lady Bug: Bonnie Hart, Gurnee. Glow-worm: Jennifer Hinojosa, Waukegan. Old Woman/Second Officer/Onlooker: Michaela Martinelli, Winthrop Harbor. Mother/First Officer/Onlooker: Angela Athanas, Waukegan. Father/Captain/Onlooker/Cloudman: Maxwell Lambert, Gurnee. Onlookers/Sharks/Cloud People: Bella Parra, Grayslake; Matthew Springer, Grayslake; Lauren Hollingsworth, Round Lake.
Tickets: $8 general admission; $6 tickets for school groups of ten or more (in advance, includes JLC $2 facility fee). For tickets, call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. There are no reserved seats for this production. Visit jlc.clcillinois.edu/schoolgroups for group reservations. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 60 minutes prior to each performance at 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. The James Lumber Center is ADA compliant. Call for more details.
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