Jacqueline Salvador, Heather Sawyer and More to Star in JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Atlantic for Kids presents Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, featuring words and music by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald to kick off their season. Directed and choreographed by MK Lawson, performances will begin on Saturday, October 20th at Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Instead of chopping down the old fruit tree like his aunties asked, James discovers a magic potion that makes an old peach grow to an enormous size. After finding a door to climb inside, James meets a group of outrageous oversized insects who've made the peach their home. James and his newfound friends decide it's time to leave the aunties, and we follow them as they roll their peach into the ocean and embark on a fantastic voyage that lands them on top of the Empire State Building.

With music from the Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning team of Pasek and Paul and a book by the writer who brought you Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley comes Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, a fantastical musical for the whole family! Recommended for ages 5+ but welcomes children of all ages.

The production features Leanne Brunn (Ladybug), Justin Chiao (Grasshopper), Quinn Corcoran (Ladahlord), Amanda Corday (Sponge), Rori Nogee (Spiker), Thomas Prast(Earthworm), Jacqueline Salvador (Spider), Heather Sawyer (James) and Sarah Sutliff (Centipede).

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach features musical direction by Caleb Hoyer, scenic design by Carmen Martinez, costume design by Rose Bisogno, lighting design by Daisy Long and Becky Heisler, sound design by Five Ohm, and production stage management by Stephanie Kay Garcia.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach - TYA is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIshows.com

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach plays performances open to the public Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am, beginning October 20 through November 11.

Saturday, November 3 will be a Relaxed Performance. For more information, visit https://atlantictheater.org/relaxed-performance/.

MK Lawson (Director, Choreographer) is so happy to be back working for one of her favorite companies, having choreographed 5 amazing projects for Atlantic for Kids! MK has been working as a choreographer, director, and educator in New York City for 10 years. As choreographer MK has worked on award-winning projects for Atlantic for Kids, White Plains Performing Arts Center, Sharon Playhouse, and Ocean State Theatre Company. As a Director/Choreographer she has helped develop new musicals for NY International Fringe Festival and NY Children's Theatre Festival, and has reimagined productions of The Secret Garden, Brigadoon, Assassins, and The Drowsy Chaperone for NYU. Also for NYU, MK has choreographed nearly 20 productions and staged industry showcases for many amazingly talented young artists. She served as the Associate Director for the World Premiere of Romy & Michele's High School Reunion (the musical!) at the 5th Avenue Theatre last year, and continues to serve as an assistant director on a number of projects currently in development. Proud member of SDC's 2018-2019 Observership Class. Find more of her at mklawson.com.

Caleb Hoyer (Musical Director) recently wrote and performed his first solo show, Caleb Hoyer And A Piano. Recent music director credits include Amour, A Catered Affair, Grand Hotel, and Sweet Smell of Success at NYU. He is the founding music director of the award-winning concert series If It Only Even Runs A Minute. Pianist credits include Anastasia (Broadway), Part of His World: A Tribute to Alan Menken (Carnegie Hall), The Bridges of Madison County (National Tour), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame(American Premier). Writing credits include the shows Nightfall, Hesitation Waltz, and Dance Moms: The Musical. He holds a degree in composition from New York University, where he received the Alan Menken Award for his music theater writing.

LEANNE BRUNN (Ladybug) is an actor, voiceover artist, and puppeteer, as well as an NYC Native. She is thrilled to be making her Atlantic Theater Company debut. Favorite theater credits include, Off-Broadway: Hungry Caterpillar Show; Regional: Hairspray (Tracy), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett) at the O'Neill, Little Shop of Horrors; and various National tours including John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean and Dreamworks. She has also enjoyed working as a lead puppeteer on various film projects and is trained in various disciplines of puppetry including Blacklight, Double-Rod, and Bunraku. Leanne also runs her own puppet/prop building studio. She is a proud graduate of Marymount Manhattan College. www.leannebrunn.com

JUSTIN CHIAO (Grasshopper) was born in Columbia, Missouri but grew up in Tainan, Taiwan. Justin moved to New York City right after high school to attend NYU Gallatin and went on to study at Atlantic Acting School and CAP21. After graduation he founded The Flashbulb Project with his peers and then served in the Taiwanese coast guard for a year. Recent Theater Credits: Fine (International Human Rights Arts Festival, dir. Alexa Jordan), The Golden Dove (Rising Sun Performance Company, dir. Chris Goodrich), Bleu(e) (Le Satellite, dir. Elisabeth Ligonnet Lam). Recent Film/TV credits: Queens (Cindy Chu Productions, dir. Nicole Gomez Fisher), "In New York" (Hunan TV, dir. Po Yang), Dominant Species (NYU Film MFA, dir. Joseph Sackett). As an Atlantic graduate, Justin is beyond excited to be performing at the Linda Gross Theater where he saw many productions he loves. He now resides in Brooklyn with his scented candles and yoga mat. Instagram: @justinchiao

Quinn Corcoran (Ladahlord) is exstounded to be part of this magical cast! A recent grad of Pace University, Quinn has been touring universities of the northeast with the fabulous (and educational) Equalogy Inc! Favorite roles include Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods (Forestburgh Theater), Anthony in Sweeney Todd, the Knight of Ni in Spamalot (Mac-Haydn Theater), and even the immortal Dracula! To the child in all of us, keep believing!

Amanda Corday (Sponge) is delighted to be a part of James and the Giant Peach! You can see her on the Amazon series "Ladies Of The Lake," doing improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, or at home singing to her cat, Nooks. Proud graduate of William Esper Studio and Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts. Many thanks to everyone at Atlantic Theater Company. Hi, Mom!

Rori Nogee (Spiker) feels just peachy to make her Atlantic For Kids debut! Broadway: Joseph...Dreamcoat. Off-Broadway: Showgirls, the Musical! (Cristal Connors). Carnegie Hall: Journey to America (Lillian Galetta). National Tours: MTV's Rockband, Live! and Disney Junior's Chuggington, Live!. Regional credits include: Rock of Ages (Regina) at Arizona Broadway Theater, Rent (Maureen) at Charleston Music Hall, Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth) at North Street Playhouse, Grease (Rizzo) at Roxy Regional, First Date (Woman 1) at PRiMA Theater and Oliver! (Mrs. Sowerberry) at The Palace Theater of NH. Rori also wrote book, music and lyrics for Siren's Den: A New Rock Musical, produced last year at the Gene Frankel Theater and this past September at the NYNW Theater Festival at Theater Row. Her new full length play, Aftershocks, will premiere in the NY Winterfest at the Hudson Guild Theater. Proud cat mom to Rumble. www.rorinogee.com

Thomas Prast (Earthworm) could not be more excited to make a gigantic peach his new home! Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, he graduated in 2016 from NYU Tischthrough the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Recent/Favorite credits include PITS! The Unauthorized Holes Musical (Pit Striker/Underground), Merrily We Roll Along (Sharon Playhouse), The Secret Garden (NYU Tisch), and Next to Normal (NYU Tisch). Thanks and the most love to Mom and Dad, to Tori, and the cast and team behind this show. www.thomasprast.com

JACQUELINE SALVADOR (Spider) is making her New York City and Atlantic Theater Company debut as "Spider" and she is ecstatic! Back in her home state of Virginia, she played roles such as Carla in In The Heights, Bonnie in Anything Goes, and Consuelo in West Side Story. She also had the pleasure of originating the role of The Stepmother in Cinderella, A New Musical. She studied Vocal Performance at George Mason University and while there she performed in a few operas such as Gianni Schicchi and Street Scene. She is so happy to be in this city filled with so many opportunities and she looks forward to what's to come. Big thank you to her mom, dad and bro for their constant support and love!

Heather Sawyer (James) is from Dallas, Texas and a recent graduate of the Molloy College CAP21 BFA Program for Musical Theatre. She is ecstatic to be a part of this production and hopes everyone can take a bit of this magic home. Recently, Heather appeared in the 2018 New York Musical Festival song cycle, Breaking Ground. Her favorite roles include: MJ Clarke in Camp Eaglewood (dir. Marshall Pailet), Tweedle Dee in Lost in Wonderland (dir. Baayork Lee), and the Wolf in Into the Woods (dir. Travis Greisler). Special shout out to the amazing cast, crew and creative team for being the most fantasmarific people in NYC, the faculty of CAP21 for your dedication to storytelling, The Misfits for being the best people out there, and her wonderful family (hi, Mom and Dad) for the endless love and support. Without all of you this wouldn't be possible. @heathersawyer14www.theadventuresofheathersawyer.com

Sarah Sutliff (Centipede) is thrilled to be bringing one of her favorite stories to life! A graduate of Wagner College and the Atlantic Acting School, Sarah also studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and currently studies voice under David McCarthy. She's the Artistic Director of Rebel Playhouse, a company producing work for young audiences currently in residence at the 14th Street Y. Their inaugural production of Old Turtle and The Broken Truth, directed and choreographed by Sarah, was nominated for two New York Innovative Theatre Awards: Best Musical and Best Choreography. Theatre: Alonso in The Tempest (Torn Out Theater), Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Juneberry Collective), Edwin W. Pauley in Convention (Atlantic Acting School), A in Sarah Kane's Crave (Black Note Theatre). Film: Karen Walsh-Parella in Into The Valli, Sarah in Beethoven: The Webseries. Love to my Atlantic Cohort, to Mom & Dad, and to Greer. www.sarahsutliff.com

Tickets for Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach are now on sale. Single general admission tickets are $15 for kids (10 and under) and $20 for adults. Group tickets are also available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are $10 for kids and $15 for adults for all Atlantic Season Passport holders. For more information about Atlantic's Passport program, visit https://atlantictheater.org/passport/.

Order online at atlantictheater.org, by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111, or in person at the Linda Gross Theater box office (336 West 20th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

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