PHS Drama Dept. to present children's classic, James and the Giant Peach

The Porterville High School (PHS) Drama Department transports us to a land of magic and make-believe as they present a musical version of the children's fairy tale, James and the Giant Peach. There will be three public showings, with one evening show on Friday, November 9, at 7 p.m., and two performances on Saturday, November 10, at 2 p.m. Matinee, and 7 p.m. evening performance. Ticket prices are $1.00 for children and students, and $5.00 for adults. All shows will take place on the Frank “Buck” Shaffer Stage in the Porterville Memorial Auditorium located at 415 West Olive Avenue in Porterville.

James and the Giant Peach is based on the children's book of the same title by Roald Dahl, with dramatization by Richard R. George. The play states with the Narrator explaining the misfortune of young James, who must go live with his terrible aunts, Sponge and Spiker, after his parents are eaten by a wild rhinoceros. A miserable James is approached by a mysterious old man, who claims he has a magical bag which will solve all of the young boy's problems. Before James can use it, the magic bag breaks releasing its mystical powers into the ground beneath the old peach tree. A gigantic peach soon grows upon the tree, and james discovers a secret compartment inside where he meets fantastic characters such as Centipede and Grasshopper, who have been transformed by the magic. The giant peach breaks loose and rolls into the sea, starting a fabulous series of adventures which takes James and his new friends clear across the ocean to a new world.

The cast includes PHS students Daniel Garcia as James; Jacob Walker as the Narrator/old Man; Lee Findley as a Narrator/captain; Alejandra Felix as a Narrator/ Second Officer; Audrey Dickson as Aunt Sponge; Zulema Andrade as Aunt Spiker; Erica Palad as Miss Spider; Cameron Dickson as Earthworm; Lizeth Ayala as Ladybug; Noah Martinez as Centipede; Rozzalyn King as the Cop; Adriana Martinez and Helena Galinda as Mother; Giselle Delgado as Father; and Jimana Tortteledo and Amirani Ceballos as crowed members. The Stage Manager is Annaliese Lavy, and the backstage crew consists of Jimane Torteledo working on props.

Tickets are available at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. For the evening performances and 1:30 p.m. For the Saturday matinee. For more information please call (559) 782-7279.