JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

May 30 - June 7, 2025 - RATED PG

Words and Music by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Book by Timothy Allen McDonald
Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Orchestrations by August Eriksmoen
Incidental music by David Weinstein

The tale begins with a mysterious man, Ladahlord, who invites the audience to witness a bizarre true story unfold ("Right Before Your Eyes"). We’re soon transported to the Painswick Orphanage in London, where young James, haunted by the tragic death of his parents (killed by an escaped rhinoceros, no less), dreams of a better life. His wishes are interrupted by a ladybug and grasshopper, who encourage him to fly away to somewhere warm and welcoming ("On Your Way Home").

James is then shipped off to live with his two nasty aunts, Spiker and Sponge, who are more interested in making money through crime than caring for a child. They plan to exploit James for free labor, forcing him to chop down a magical peach tree in the yard. But before he can cut it down, a spider, a centipede, and an earthworm show up—and then things get seriously weird.

Ladahlord gives James a magic book, and after a potion mishap, the peach begins growing to enormous proportions. Before long, the peach is rolling across fields and over James' wicked aunts. Inside the peach, the insects—now human-sized—embark on a journey across the ocean, with James leading the way ("Floatin' Along").

While Spiker and Sponge try to chase the peach and reclaim their lost fortune, James and his insect crew fight off sharks and seagulls in a daring escape. When they finally land in New York City, James stands up to his aunts, and with a little help from his bug friends, finally gets the family he’s always wanted ("Welcome Home").

The absurd adventure proves that sometimes, the strangest families are the best ones!