James and the Giant Peach at the Little Theatre
This May, the LaPorte Little Theatre is rounding off it’s 93rd season with a colorful musical, James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl and directed by Katy Gartland and Tony Thomas. The story includes mysterious, magical characters, two atrocious Aunts, five talented insects, and an unfortunate young boy, James, who is orphaned by an unusual event. The creatively written play is narrated by Ladahlord (Mary Watterson) who delightfully transitions the audience through twists and turns of James’ journey to find family. James makes friends accidently when a magic spell goes awry. To our surprise, the magic makes a group of insects come to life! A Grasshopper (Grace Tarnow), a Ladybug (Emma Radke), a Centipede (Brandon Dudley), a Spider (Kassandra Jackson) and an Earthworm (Anthony Garcia) help the James understand what true family is and lead him to find his way home.
Every musical has the ‘bad guys’, or in this case- the bad Aunties, Spiker (Holly Welsh) and Sponge (Douglas Campbell). This dynamic duo is a force of it’s own that will have you laughing just at the sight of them. When the Aunts discover they have inherited young James, they are disgusted at first but then realize he can become their ‘monkey-slave.’ James (Norah Gartland) longs to be back home with his parents and friends on the shores of Dover but unfortunately the Aunts keep James for financial reasons.
James and the Giant Peach includes a large ensemble of talent from the greater La Porte area. This show has enticed new faces to the Little Theatre stage. Holly Welsh, a teacher at Boston Middle School, is making her debut as Spiker and will not disappoint. She is bold and likeable in a bad-guy kind of way. Welsh was encouraged to audition by some of her students and the theatre is happy she did. Emma Radtke, a sophomore from North Judson, plays the Ladybug. Her voice is Broadway bound! The Little Theatre has open auditions for their shows and is delighted to expand their acting pool.
Norah Gartland is stretched in her acting and vocal talents as James. She sings beuatifully and will make you hang on to every note. Norah, a seventh-grader at Renaissance Academy, has most recently been the narrator in the Best Christmas Pageant Ever and has ‘grown-up’ on the Little Theatre stage. In the play she asks, “Do all Grasshoppers play the violin?” In this musical, “Yes!” Grace Tarnow, a senior orchestra student at La Porte High School will play live- no tracks needed for this talented multi-faceted teen! Grace will be attending Bethel College next year to pursue music and Little Theatre has been so fortunate that she has chosen it as her home away from home over the years.
James and the Giant Peach opens May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30, and Sunday matinees start at 2. Make your reservations for James and the Giant Peach. The whole family will enjoy it. La Porte Little Theatre is located at 218 ‘A’ Street. Tickets are $15 adults and $12 students. Online reservations are encouraged. Laportelittletheatreclub.com.
Date and Time
Sunday May 13, 2018
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT
May 11-12, 7:30 p.m.
May 13, 2:00 p.m.
May 18-19, 7:30 p.m.
May 20, 2:00 p.m.
Location
La Porte Little Theatre
218 A Street
La Portet
Fees/Admission
$15/adult ticket
$12/student ticket
Contact Information
219.362.5113
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