‘James and the Giant Peach’ Plays Cider Mill Playhouse

While area families have been settling into the school year, local theater artists have been busy rehearsing for James and the Giant Peach, the first show in a special new series produced especially for families at the Cider Mill Playhouse, October 9-11th in Endicott.

The Roald Dahl classic tells the story of James (Jacob Donlin) with the help of narrator Ladahlord (Anthony Gabriele).  When James is sent by his conniving aunts, Spiker (Kate Murray) and Sponge (Anne Schoonover) to chop down their old fruit tree, 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 peach among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities:  Grasshopper (Josh Sedelmeyer), Spider (Amber Gance), Ladybug (Gracie Allen), Centipede (Josh Mertens) and Earthworm (Evah Doheny).   After the gigantic peach 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 new “Fresh Cider” series is designed not only to provide affordable live theater experiences for young audiences, but also to engage young theater artists who have the benefits of Cider Mill Playhouse resources at their disposal. “The original mission of CMP – to produce theatre that engages young, emerging professionals alongside veteran artists – continues with this new series,” states Executive Artistic Director Gail Belokur.

“The show brings together several young professionals, high school students, and veterans to CMP in order to create in the professional model while still being educational in nature.  It will grow our area’s next generation of theater makers and theater ‘goers’ while also enriching the life of area residents and strengthening our local economy.”

The director for the show, Martin Murray, is a Binghamton area native and Binghamton University alumnus who has appeared in CMP shows while growing up but now makes his Cider Mill Playhouse directorial debut.

The show runs Friday through Sunday evenings, October 9-11, starting at 7:30pm and lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes.  Tickets are $10 for all seats – reserved seating – and are available anytime online or at the box office (Wednesdays through Fridays 12-6pm, Saturdays 12-4pm and noon until curtain each performance day). Concessions specifically geared to children and families will also be available for purchase; no outside food or beverages are permitted.