ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List:
Family Friendly Shows On Our Radar
Peter Blair, Executive Producer
Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director
Katie Johannigman, Associate Artistic Director
Presents
ChiIL Mama and Marriot are partnering up on 2 giveaways, once again. Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences James and the Giant Peach: 2 winner/4 tickets each ($60 value) And/Or Marriott Theatre's In The Heights: 2 winners/a pair of tickets each ($120 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 17th pending availability. Enter at the end of this feature for your chance to win.
REVIEW:
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiILMama.com
Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is imagination incarnate. The book, film, and stage adaptation have long been family favorites of ours. In the capable hands of director/choreographer, Tommy Rapley, this story comes alive on stage at Marriott in all it's glory. Adults will adore this colorful cast and stellar storytelling as much as the kids do. Kudos to all the humans and bugs on cast and crew for a truly delightful production. When we caught opening weekend, the young kids in the audience were laughing often and entirely engaged with the on stage magic and mayhem.
I had the special delight of sharing the experience with 3 recent graduates of Northwestern University's theatre program, including my son, who had director/choreographer, Tommy Rapley, as their acting professor for 4 years. They were all enthusiastic fans of the production, and I can't tell you how jazzed I am to still be able to bring twenty somethings to a Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences show! My kids grew up on Chicago regional children's theatre and I'm so excited that my oldest is now working in the industry and getting the next generation of kids introduced to the wonder and joy of live theatre. Studies show exposing kids to theatre increases empathy and creativity. And you never know what a show might spark and what future plans may unfold.
Marriot's JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is such a fun show. The costumes, puppets, props, music, and staging are playful and a joy to see. We particularly loved the unique choreography for Marriott's theatre in the round configuration which played out on multiple levels and directions so even the youngest audience members have great sight-lines.
We also dug the steamer trunks lining the perimeter of the stage, providing a treasure trove of props and costume changes.
The entire cast is hilarious and crazy talented. Special shout out to Kai Edgar as “James,” Andrés Enriquezas “Earthworm,” Lucy Godinez as “Aunt Sponge,” and Leah Morrow as “Aunt Spiker”.
The puppets are a must see. Don't miss this!
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences invites theatergoers of all ages on a remarkable voyage with Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Roald Dahl’s beloved story is brought to fantastical musical life, running through March 30, at 10 Marriott Drive. The one-hour musical journey is directed and choreographed by Tommy Rapley with music direction by Ryan T. Nelson. Each performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the cast.
“I am thrilled to be bringing James and the Giant Peach to Marriott Lincolnshire families,” said director Tommy Rapley. “This whimsical musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic contains the perfect blend of playful, spooky, heartwarming, mysterious, imaginative, and downright hilarious storytelling that I love as a director. The themes of forgiveness, the importance of family, and the boundless love between parent and child are particularly moving and vitally important to share with young audiences. At the heart of our story, James is the ideal character to welcome young people into adventure, as he leads young audiences on a journey that blends grief, hope, love, and joy."
When James is sent by his aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that launches an expedition of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of a gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. After the peach rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, they learn to live and work together as a family. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score by the Tony Award-nominated team of Pasek and Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) and a curiously quirky book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas). JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is the perfect voyage for young theatergoers.
This production of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH stars Kai Edgar as “James,” Andrés Enriquezas “Earthworm,” Lucy Godinez as “Aunt Sponge,” Alex Goodrich as “Ladahlord,” Christopher Kale Jones as “Green Grasshopper,” Garret Lutz as “Centipede,” Leah Morrow as “Aunt Spiker,” Juwon Tyrel Perry as “Spider”, and Elizabeth Telford as “Ladybug” with understudies Emily Ann Brooks, Crystal Claros, Milla Liss, Tommy Thurston and Annie Yokom.
The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences team is led by Associate Artistic Director Katie Johannigman and Interim Artistic Associate Annie Yokom, with Costume Design by Amanda Vander Byl, Lighting Design by Ben Carne, Scenic Design by Milo Bue, Wig Design by Ray Sanchez, Props Design by Leo Bassow, and Sound Design by Michael Daly. The creative team also includes Assistant Director & Choreographer Emily Ann Brooks, Dialect Coach Sammi Grant, and Stage Manager Marcus Carroll.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH plays most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances and plenty of Spring Break performances. An ASL interpreted performance will take place on March 16 at 10am. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates vary. Tickets are $15.75 (plus tax and handling fees). Call for substantial group discounts on over 20 tickets. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.
Also Now Playing Through March 17th:
Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights
Highly Recommended!
★★★★ Four out of four stars, Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiILMama.com
FLASH GIVEAWAY:
Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences James and the Giant Peach: 2 winner/4 tickets each ($60 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 30th (see below) pending availability.
Enter for your chance to WIN James and the Giant Peach Tickets HERE
*Your information will never be shared or sold and will only be used in the fulfillment of this contest.
Marriott Theatre's In The Heights: 2 winners/a pair of tickets each ($120 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 17th (see below) pending availability.
Spring forward and WIN big, Chicago! ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows are giving away tickets to some of the hottest shows in town! Enter through midnight Monday 3/12. Winners emailed and announced Tuesday morning on both sites and social media.
Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often! Good luck, and thanks for reading ChiILMama.com & ChiILLiveShows.com, your guide to fun in Chi, IL and beyond.
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