Justin Lawrence Hall Leads JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH At Goodspeed, Opens 10/21

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce the cast of the extraordinary new musical Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach which will begin next month at The Norma Terris Theatre, its home for developing new works in Chester, Conn. James and the Giant Peach will charm audiences October 21 through November 21. This production is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts honoring Artistic Excellence and support from Continental Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals.

Tickets are available now through the Goodspeed Opera House Box Office at 860.873.8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.

When James is shipped off to live with his wretched aunts, he longs for a real family and a new home. All seems lost until he discovers a magical giant peach filled with a mix of fantastical creatures. Together with Green Grasshopper, Ladybug, Centipede and more, James embarks on a most extraordinary adventure sailing across the sea to distant lands. Don't miss this smart and imaginative new musical with the magic of Pilobolus. A spectacular event for all!

James and the Giant Peach features an original score by an exciting new writing team with Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the youngest winners of the Jonathan Larson Award. They were also selected as Dramatist Guild Fellows and served as series songwriters for Disney Channel's four-time Emmy nominated series "Johnny and the Sprites." Their first show, Edges, has been produced throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.

The book is written by Timothy Allen McDonald, a noted playwright (Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, Jim Henson's Emmet Otter, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley) and director (The Phantom Tollbooth, Kennedy Center, and Dear Edwina, Daryl Roth producer.) Mr. McDonald is the Founder and CEO of New York city based iTheatrics whose clients include Disney Theatrical Productions, Music Theatre International, and Broadway musicals like Memphis.

James and the Giant Peach will be Directed by Tony Award nominee Graciela Daniele whose Broadway directing credits include Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, Once on This Island, and the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun. As a performer Ms. Daniele was in the original Broadway casts of Chicago; Follies; Coco; and Promises, Promises. Choreography will be by Michael Tracy / Pilobolus, the internationally acclaimed dance theater. Pilobolus began in 1971 as an outsider dance company and quickly became renowned the world over for its imaginative and athletic exploration of creative collaboration. Nearly 40 years later, it has evolved into a pioneering American cultural institution of the 21st century.

James will be played by Justin Lawrence Hall who recently played Michael Banks in the National Touring company of Mary Poppins. Broadway veteran Ruth Gottschall will play Spiker. Ms. Gottschall's Broadway credits include the revivals of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Cabaret, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Music Man. She was in the original casts of Legs Diamond, The Goodbye Girl, and Mary Poppins. Sponge will be played by Denny Dillon whose Broadway credits include the first revival of Gypsy and My One and Only. Marvo the Magician will be played by Steve Rosen. Mr. Rosen was in the original Broadway casts of Spamalot and The Farnsworth Invention. Most recently he played Benny Southstreet in the 2009 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls.

The ensemble includes Nick Gaswirth (Centipede), Jessica Hershberg, and Chelsea Kromback (Mrs. Trotter/ Ladybug) whose Broadway credits include Wicked and Promises, Promises. Destan Owens (Earthworm) whose Broadway credits include Smokey Joe's Café, Rent and Chicago joins the ensemble with Marissa Lindsay Palley and Nicholas Park.

Other ensemble members include Jim Stanek (Mr. Trotter/Green Grasshopper) whose Broadway credits include the revival of A Funny Thing...Forum, Little Women and Lestat. He is joined by Goodspeed alum Kate Wetherhead who played Jane in the world premiere production of Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas at the Goodspeed Opera House. Ms. Wetherhead's Broadway credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Legally Blonde. Rounding out the ensemble will be Minami Yusui and Pilobolus dancers Otis Cook, Edwin Olvera, Roberto Olvera, Annika Sheaff, Holly Shunky, Derek Stratton and one additional dancer to be announced.
Scenic design will be by Chris Barreca whose Broadway credits include Our Country's Good, Search and Destroy, Hamlet, Marie Christine, and The Violet Hour. Lighting Design will be by Stephen Strawbridge who designed the original Broadway production of Mastergate. The Music Direction will be by Chris Fenwick who was Associate Conductor for the Broadway revivals of The Pajama Game and Grease and the new musical The Addams Family. Dance Arrangements will be by Sam Davis whose Broadway credits include Associate Conductor for the revival of The Apple Tree and as Associate Music Director for Curtains. Mr. Davis returns to Goodspeed where he previously arranged music for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Li'l Abner and High Button Shoes and most recently served as Music Supervisor providing arrangements for The Norma Terris production of Radio Girl.
The Norma Terris Theatre is located at 33 North Main Street in Chester which was recently voted "Best Small Town in Connecticut" by Connecticut Magazine. Tickets ($42) are on sale now. For more information call the Goodspeed Box Office at 860.873.8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.
Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The first regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains the Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Goodspeed Musicals gratefully acknowledges the support of Continental Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals and our Official Audio Sponsor Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. Goodspeed Musicals is supported in part by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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