The Growing Stage to Present JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, presents the New Jersey premiere of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. The show runs March 11th through April 3rd with performances Friday evenings at 7:30PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, has Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a Book by Timothy Allen McDonald. It was originally produced at Seattle Children's Theater under the director of Linda Hartzell. This production is under the direction of Stephen L. Fredericks, The Growing Stage's Executive Director with musical direction by Stephen Fox and Choreography by Jillian Petrie.

Featuring a wickedly tuneful score by the TONY Award-nominated team of Pasek and Paul (Dogfight and A Christmas Story the Musical) and a curiously quirky book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley), critics rave James & the Giant Peach is a "masterpeach!" The story introduces us to James, who is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, where he discovers a magic potion which results in a tremendous peach - and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean; the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH features the talents of seven professional equity performers in the cast. Danielle Becht of Morris Township, makes her Growing Stage debut as James; Robert Allan of Flanders plays Ladahlord; Lori B. Lawrence of Hackettstown and Martha Simmons Harvey of Bernardsville portray Aunts Sponge and Spiker. Rounding out the cast as the insects and various other characters are Jeremy Feight of New York, NY as Earthworm, Izzy Figueroa of Laurence Harbor as Centipede, Cara Ganski of Avenel as Ladybug, Robert Mintz as Grasshopper and Casey Low as Spider.

Join us on Opening Night for a special post-show talkback with the company. All Friday tickets are $15 and Saturday and Sunday tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children. To purchase tickets, please visit www.growingstage.com or call the Box Office at (973) 347-4946. Group rates and Birthday Party packages are available. The Growing Stage's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019, Phone: 212-541-4684, Fax : 212-397-4684, www.MTIShows.com.

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