Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach Jr. + Disney's Newsies Jr.
Sun Prairie East High School 888 Grove St., Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590
courtesy SPCT
Cast members during rehearsals for the Sun Prairie Civic Theatre production of "Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach Jr."
More than 100 young actors are involved in this summer's double feature by and for kids of all ages from Sun Prairie Civic Theatre. Grades 3-8 star in a musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, and grades 9-12 take on another musical, Disney's Newsies. Performances are at 7 p.m., Aug. 18-19; 2 and 7 p.m., Aug. 21; and noon and 4 p.m., Aug. 22. Find advance tickets at sunprairiecivictheatre.com or at the Piano Gal Shop.
7 pm on 8/18-19, 2 & 7pm on 8/20 and noon & 4 pm, 8/21. $16 ($11 kids).
media release:Sun Prairie Civic Theatre’s Children’s Theatre program returns to the stage for six performances, August 18 – 21, with a double feature production of two musicals, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach JR. and Disney’s Newsies JR. The cast and crew include 107 students going into grades 3 through 12 this fall. Performances will be held at the Sun Prairie East High School’s Performing Arts Center.
“What makes this program special is that it’s truly theatre for children by children,” said Artistic Director Josh Swalheim. “While the high-school students are working on learning their roles in one show, they are also learning and leading many aspects of the other show. They take an active role in every aspect of the production from choreography and set construction to costuming and marketing.”
The show opens with a delightful musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story James and the Giant Peach. The musical is a fantastical tale of a boy, his insect friends and their amazing journey across the ocean on a giant piece of fruit. All the actors in this show are students going into grades 3 through 8 this fall. The production roles behind the scenes and backstage are filled by high-school interns under the guidance of volunteer adult mentors.
Following intermission, audiences will have the opportunity to seize the day with the spirited musical Disney’s Newsies JR. Inspired by the true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, this is a 60- minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical and is based on the 1992 film. The cast features actors entering grades 9 through 12 this fall.
James and the Giant Peach JR. features music and lyrics by Tony-nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, plus a book by Timothy Allen McDonald. Disney’s Newsies JR. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein.
Performances are August 18 at 7 p.m., August 19 at 7 p.m., August 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and August 21 at noon at 4 p.m. All performances are at the Sun Prairie East High School’s Performing Arts Center, located at 888 Grove Street in Sun Prairie. General admission tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors age 55 and over, and $11 for children and students. Tickets may be purchased prior to the performances online at sunprairiecivictheatre.com or in-person at The Piano Gal Shop in downtown Sun Prairie. Tickets will also be sold at each performance.
SPCT is a community of volunteers who have been sharing their time and talent to educate people of all ages in the experience of live theater on stage, backstage and in the audience since 1970. Anyone interested in getting involved or supporting the organization can learn more at sunprairiecivictheatre.com. Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach JR. and Disney’s Newsies JR. are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.