Staples Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long have had some challenging sets before.
They’ve created a New York neighborhood for “West Side Side Story,” a dystopian world for “Urinetown,” and the terrorizing plant in “Little Shop of Horrors.”
But “James and the Giant Peach” is deceptively difficult. A centipede falls off the giant peach. The peach has to land on the Empire State Building. Gulls attach spider webs, and fly.
Audience members for Players’ spring production will be familiar with the show. If they haven’t read the 1961 children’s novel by Roald Dahl, they’ve seen the 1996 film.
Next week, from March 21-24, they’ll be able to see a stage adaptation of it.
Beckwith Fipp, as James. (Photo/Kerry Long)
And that familiarity is especially relevant, because the musical was developed by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek. They’re the creative team responsible for “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman.”
Justin Paul is a former Staples Player himself. He graduated in 2003, after taking advantage of nearly every acting, performing and directing opportunity the high school offered.
“James and the Giant Peach” follows in the tradition of other spring Players shows, with dual appeal to adults and younger audiences.
Roth and Long have thought about doing one of Paul’s musicals for several years. They saw “James” — the first full-length Pasek and Paul collaboration — when it debuted at Goodspeed Opera House in 2010.
With its large cast size and accessibility, this is the right show, at the right time.
A large cast offers many Players a chance to shine. (Photo/Kerry Long)
“It’s very funny,” Roth says. “The music is great, in so many styles.”
He and Long are longtime Dahl fans.
They are fans of Paul and Pasek too.
“The play goes further than the book,” Roth says. “It uses music to explain themes that were not as developed — like the idea that ‘family’ doesn’t have be what you’re born into.
“Your family can be found. You never know who will end up being your family. That’s an idea that’s beautifully explored.
“And this is not just a ‘kids show,'” Roth emphasizes. “Everyone will get something different out of it.”
Despite the staging challenges — how do you get a giant peach on stage? — the directors and cast have had fun. Set designer Jordan Janota has worked hard, and creatively, fueling the young actors and musicians’ energy.
Lauren Pine, who led the orchestra for the fall production of “The Prom,” is making her Players’ vocal directing debut.
Yet this is not just a Staples Players production of a show created by a famous alum. Earlier this week, Paul returned to the stage where he got his start. He spent several hours talking about his career, and his days at the high school.
A compliment by a “random person” after his performance in “City of Angels” gave him the confidence to pursue musical theater as a career,” Paul said.
After his talk, he and the cast spent a couple of hours working on “James and the Giant Peach” he composed.
Justin Paul works with “James and the Giant Peach” cast members. (Photo/Kerry Long)
That’s only the most recent connection Paul had with the Staples production. Last fall, after “The Prom” closed, he was the one who announced that this would be the spring show. (Click here to see that video.)
This week’s visit will not be Paul’s last, either. He, his wife and 4 children will be at the Sunday, March 24 matinee. He’ll stick around after, to do a talkback with the audience.
Sitting, no doubt, under that giant peach at the center of the stage.
(“James and the Giant Peach” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 21, 22 and 23; 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, and 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. Audience members can meet the characters after the Friday night, Saturday matinee and Saturday night shows. Click here for tickets, and more information.)
