Beck Center for the Arts Youth Theater, one of the oldest continuously running Youth Theaters in the country, will be holding auditions on January 25 and 26, 2026 for their third production in their 77th season. ROALD DAHL’S JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Words and Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Book by Timothy Allen McDonald Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Direction by Patrick Ciamacco Music Direction by Heidi Herczeg Choreography by Liz Conway When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach... and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. Featuring a score by the Tony Award winning team of Pasek and Paul; (Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) critics rave: James and the Giant Peach is a "masterpeach!" Audition/Callback dates: (open to Beck Center students, ages 6 to 19*) •     Sunday, January 25: 12:30-3:30pm •     Monday, January 26: 4:30-7:30pm Callbacks: Thursday, January 29 between 4:30 and 8:30pm Sign up for a half hour audition slot (starting 1/12 4:30pm) online via Signup Genius https://tinyurl.com/peachauds *Youth Theater roles are only eligible to students who will be enrolled in our Winter/Spring 2026 semester. Actors do not need to be enrolled at the time of the auditions; however, participation in the production requires enrollment in our Winter/Spring 2026 semester. Students enrolled online and in person in the Theater, Dance, Music, Creative Arts Therapies, and/or Visual Arts Departments are equally eligible. *Please note that class sizes and offerings are limited at this time, so please register in advance if possible. Bottom line: if you accept a role in the show, you will need to enroll prior to the start of rehearsals. Any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Clare, Associate Director of Theater Education, at sclare@beckcenter.org. Unlike some other youth theaters, there is NO additional participation fee required beyond enrollment. What to Prepare: •     Prepare a short one-minute monologue or poem (Memorization is strongly encouraged.) •     Prepare a musical theater song, either up-tempo or ballad, up to one minute long. *An Accompanist is provided. Sheet music is strongly encouraged. •     Prepare a Headshot (picture of your student), and resume for online submission •     Prepare a list of all potential rehearsal conflicts Potential Rehearsals: February 2 – March 14, 2026 •     Mon, Tue, Weds, Thurs, Fri: between 4:30 – 8:30pm •     Saturdays: between 2:00 – 6:00pm •     Sundays: between 12:30 – 6:00 pm The show will NOT be rehearsing every day or the full time range listed. The director will pick the days that best accommodate everyone’s schedules – once conflicts and availability are known for the above dates. Tech Week: March 15 – March 19, 2026 •     Sunday between 12:00 – 7:00pm and Weeknights between 5:00 – 9:00 pm All cast members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals during Tech Week. Performance dates: March 20-29, 2026 All cast members are required to attend all performances. •     Thursday, March 26 at 10:00 am •     Fridays, March 20, 27 at 7:30pm •     Saturdays, March 21, 28 at 7:30pm •     Sundays, March 22, 29 at 3:00pm Student Matinee: Thursday, March 26 at 10:00am (will require missing school that morning.) * * * * * * Located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local, regional and international artists. For more information visit beckcenter.org.