By LOIS KINDLE
lekindle@aol.com
Join East Bay Theatre for the opening of its 53rd season with the whimsical story, James and the Giant Peach: The Musical, Nov. 5-7 at East Bay High School's Kathryn Hill Auditorium, 7710 Big Bend Road, Gibsonton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all shows are at 7. Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved 1961 book, James and the Giant Peach follows an orphaned boy on a magical, imaginative journey as he searches for belonging and discovers what it means to find a family.
Adapted for the stage by Timothy Allen McDonald, the musical features a delightfully quirky score by Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The cast of characters includes Sara Dynan as James, Ryan Melendez as Ladahlord, Isabella Tovar as Aunt Spiker, Evelyn Dynan as Aunt Sponge, Christopher Murphy as Earthworm, Hampton Cherry as Green Grasshopper, Rylee Jimenez as Spider, Abigail Forsha as Ladybug and Jeidangely Dueno as Centipede.
“It has always been my focus to give the students a wide variety of theatrical styles to work on,” said East Bay Theatre director Krista Blanchette.
James and the Giant Peach is a mix of musical theatre, children’s storytelling, complex characters and creative staging.
“This show is a real education for my students,” she continued. “And it’s a fantastic show for our community to enjoy. The music is wonderful, and the theme, ‘home is where you make it,’ is universal.” Cast members share their enthusiasm. “I’ve really enjoyed how challenging the process has been,” said senior Isabella Tovar.
“I’ve never performed in anything like this show before. It’s a show for people of all ages. Adults who read the book or saw the movie when they were younger can now share the story with their own children.”
“This show isn’t grounded in reality, so the audience really gets lost in the story,” added senior Ryan Melendez.
“I enjoy how all of the characters are over the top. All the roles have big personalities, which is what I love about my own role.” James and the Giant Peach is the first show of East Bay Theatre’s 2026-27 season. With a cast and crew of more than 25, this is a show you won't want to miss.
All tickets are $8 general admission and are available at the door or online through Eventbrite. Cash, Cash App and Venmo are accepted at the door. Credit cards are accepted online at https://tinyurl.com/yr2hvhax/.
All proceeds benefit EBT to cover the costs of licensing, future shows and community service projects.
For more information, call 813-671-5134 or email krista.blanchette@hcps.net/.