South Carolina Children's Theatre will present its full-length musical production of James and the Giant Peach at its Downtown Greenville home from September 18 through October 4. The production features 13-year-olds Ben Stasiek and Leon Franca alternating in the leading role of James.
The production is directed by Peggy Trecker White, the artistic director of South Carolina Children's Theatre, according to the Greenville Journal. White holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Acting from Harvard's ART/Moscow Art Theatre Institute, according to her professional biography. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote the musical's score, the Greenville Journal reports.
Based on Roald Dahl's novel, the musical follows James as he leaves his difficult home life and travels across the ocean inside a gigantic peach, joined by a group of insects who become his companions.
From a 1961 Book to a Full-Length Musical
Dahl's original novel was first published in 1961 by Alfred A. Knopf; the author reportedly chose a peach over a cherry because he felt it was “prettier, bigger and squishier,” according to Wikipedia. Playwright Timothy Allen McDonald secured the theatrical rights from Dahl's widow in 2005 and, in 2008, hired Pasek and Paul to write the score after the pair produced three audition songs in a single week, per Wikipedia's history of the musical. The musical had its developmental world premiere at Connecticut's Goodspeed Musicals in 2010 and was released for general licensing by Music Theatre International in 2015 after revisions, according to the same source.
South Carolina Children's Theatre says the production runs just under two hours, including an intermission, and combines singing, dancing and humor. It is recommended for children in second grade and older, although the theater expects adults to enjoy it as well, the Greenville Journal notes.
A Downtown Home Built for the Show
South Carolina Children's Theatre has staged productions inside its first purpose-built facility at 153 Augusta Street since 2020. The building includes the 299-seat Bell Stage auditorium, according to the Community Foundation of Greenville. Founded in 1987, the theater moved to the facility in 2020 and has since grown into the largest children's theater in the state, serving an estimated 30,700 children and families annually, per the foundation.
The nonprofit's leadership includes CEO Katie O'Kelly, who was promoted from managing director to the top executive role in December 2024, the Greenville Journal has reported. White is the organization's artistic director. The organization offers performances and education programs and is supported by patrons and donors, according to Who's On The Move.
Accessible Pricing and Sensory-Friendly Seating
Tickets for James and the Giant Peach cost $25, but the theater has built in a way for families to attend regardless of budget. South Carolina Children's Theatre offers Pay What You Can performances, with tickets available for as little as $1, according to the Community Foundation of Greenville.
The venue also includes sensory-friendly viewing areas equipped with live stage feeds and assistive technology for audience members with sensory sensitivities, added after a 2024 grant from Greenville Women Giving. The theater has said it aims to be South Carolina's most accessible venue, both physically and technologically. Those interested in tickets or accessibility accommodations for James and the Giant Peach can call the theater at 864-235-2885.
How SCCT Expands Access
South Carolina Children's Theatre says each production includes one Pay What You Can performance, with tickets available online or by phone for as little as $1 and orders limited to 15 tickets. The theater's accessibility efforts also extend beyond pricing: according to South Carolina Children's Theatre, a Greenville Women Giving grant funded two live-feed cameras, viewing screens, side-tab curtains and microphones for sensory-friendly viewing areas in both performance spaces.
The purpose-built downtown facility supports a broader program than a single production. According to South Carolina Children's Theatre, it includes the 299-seat Bell Stage proscenium theater and the 120-seat Younts Stage flexible black box space; the theater produces five annual shows on the Bell Stage and three on the Younts Stage.
