Just Peachy
Things are just peachy over at the Butler Little Theatre where the shine is being put on its summer youth production, “James and the Giant Peach,” which will open July 25.
The student-led production is under the watchful eye of Amy Cannard-Bole of Chicora, who serves as an adviser of sorts.
“This is a true theater production with full sets, costumes and special effects, and while we use young people in as many positions as possible, we are grateful for the input and experience of many seasoned theater veterans to bring our visions to life,” Cannard-Bole said.
That vision is the one student director Shannon Donovan has been trying to breathe into life.
“My vision of 'James and the Giant Peach' is completely original, and it is amazing how people appeared out of nowhere with their talents and gave my vision a heartbeat,” said the Knoch High School senior from Penn Township.
Donovan has appeared in Knoch theatrical and musical productions throughout her high school career. In her junior year, she directed and wrote, with some help from the Knoch Drama Club, a show called “You,” set at a busy New York hotel.
Most recently Donovan appeared on the BLT stage in the “Fox on the Fairway” production in the spring. She plans to pursue a career in acting and directing.
She leads a cast of 20 or so students between the ages of 4 and 19 in a show about a boy and his journeys.
“The story is about an abused little boy who finds a sweet and juicy escape from his terrible life. He finds a new family and conquers the world one danger at a time,” Donovan said.
The character James Trotter is forced to live with his cruel spinster aunts after he loses his parents. Enter a man with a bag of magic, and the story unfolds.
The lead character of James is played by 9-year-old Tanner Kennedy of Brady Township. The Slippery Rock Elementary School student will be staring in his first production.
Kennedy believes himself to be very different from his character and seemed happy about that fact.
“I have my parents; I don't live with my aunts, and none of my friends are insects,” he said matter-of-factly.
He landed the role after auditioning with his sister. “I thought it would be fun, so I tried out. The best part about doing the show is meeting and talking to new people,” he said.
A couple of those new people, though only a few years older, are playing his aunts.
Andrew Sloboda of Butler, who is in the 10th grade at Portersville Christian School, will portray one of those spinsters, Aunt Sponge.
“This role is a blast because I am not a woman, and while it's been fun, it's also a challenge to act like a woman,” he said.
He is joined by John Carlson, a 2012 graduate of Butler High School, as Aunt Spiker.
And while he is not a woman beyond the superficial makeup and costume, he does see some similarities between himself and his character.
“I guess in a way, the mean, shriveled woman and I are a bit similar. I like to pretend that I have more class than I really do, and I'm admittedly a bit amazed by my reflection, and can be short tempered, although I don't think any of these things are to the degree of Spiker,” he said.
Carlson said he auditioned because of his love of youth theater. This will be his fifth show.
“It's a fantastic opportunity to make some great new friends and share in this wonderful game we call theater, and that is what keeps bringing me back year after year,” he said.
<B>WHO: </B>Butler Little Theatre<B>WHAT: </B>Summer youth production of “James and the Giant Peach,” book by Roald Dahl, dramatized by Richard George<B>WHEN:</B> 8:15 p.m. July 25 to 28<B>WHERE:</B> One Howard St.<B>TICKETS: </B>$10, available at May’s Music Shoppe, 247 W. Jefferson St.<B>INFO: </B>www.bltgroup.org
