This article was written by Amber Bhutta, class of 2019.
From Matilda to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, many favorite childhood memories lie in children’s author Roald Dahl books. The JH drama department is bringing one of these stories to life with their upcoming fall musical “James and the Giant Peach.”
James and the Giant Peach is the story of a young boy named James who lives with his cruel aunts Spiker and Sponge. One day, his aunts order him to chop down a peach tree, and James accidentally spills a magical potion given to him by a mysterious stranger as he cuts it down. A peach and the insects around it grow larger than he is, and so he embarks on an adventure in the giant peach with his new insect friends. “I was the one who made the final decision and picked the show,” said the director Mr. Brian Lovejoy.
Auditions for the musical started during the first week of school in the end of August in order to get maximum rehearsal time before the show. “There are a lot of principle roles in this show,” said Mr. Lovejoy, “so we had to make it work so that we cast the right people for the right roles while stilling having an ensemble.” The finalized cast includes Madison Winkler as Ladahlord and Juliette Zamora as James. Rehearsals for the show have been ongoing, even pushing into weekends when necessary, in order to be ready come showtime.
James and the Giant Peach will be performed in the Main Theater from October 27th to the 29th. On Thursday the 28th and Friday the 29th, the show will be at 7pm. On Saturday October 29th, there will be a matinee show in the afternoon. Tickets will be sold beginning two weeks before the show and can be bought in the theater lobby during both junior and senior high lunch. “It’s a good show to go to with family or with friends.” said Mr. Lovejoy.
