Join James and his larger-than-life insect friends as they travel from the dismal Painswick Orphanage in London, England across the ocean to the “City That Never Sleeps” – New York City. Get in on the fun as the cast sets sail on an epic adventure across the Atlantic where James learns the meaning of friendship and that friends are the family that you choose.
Ronald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach is a beloved children’s tale with a musical score by the Tony Award-nominated team of Pasek and Paul. The story chronicles a young orphaned boy, James, and his journey after the tragic death of his parents.
Let’s take a closer look at his story and the journey he takes with new friends.
The Background of James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach is a musical that is a hit with children and adults alike as it explores the meaning of friendship and family and how life can change in an instant.
The musical chronicles the life of an English boy who is living in a London orphanage after the death of his parents. James is claimed by his two aunts who are of questionable character and have plans to use him as a slave to help them in their criminal pursuits.
Once the aunts, Spiker and Sponge, remove James from the orphanage and take him home to Dover, England, the boy quickly realizes that his life has not taken a good turn. The aunts are criminal masterminds who prey on unsuspecting tourists. While the boy may have escaped a dismal orphanage, he has replaced that with an even more squalid life with the aunts.
In an attempt to get away from the cruelty of his aunts, James takes the advice of a strange man by the name of Ladahhord who gives him a magical potion. With the potion, James creates a gigantic peach near the tree outside. While the aunts see the massive fruit as a chance to make money on the oddity, James ends up finding a door on the peach where he enters and finds human-sized insects.
The story continues with James, the insects, and the peach headed off on an adventure that takes them into the ocean and toward New York City. After days of floating, fighting hunger and sharks, the crew ends up landing at the Empire State Building where they encounter the aunts who fled England.
This quirky story and outlandish characters are a joy to watch as James and the strange insects make their way into the world and discover the ups and downs of friendships.
Backdrops for James and the Giant Peach
The story of James and the Giant Peach spans from the streets of London, across the Atlantic and onto the iconic New York City Empire State Building. Some of the backdrops you may want to use include these popular ones.
For scenes at the aunts’ home in Dover England, this Yokum’s Cabin Cut Backdrop #0283. This backdrop depicts the exterior of a run-down wood cabin with a practical door that is covered with a cloth flap that shows trees and hills.
For scenes in the ocean, this Sky and Ocean Backdrop #2316 shows a simple blue sky, clouds, and ocean backdrop.
For scenes when the characters arrive in New York City, this Daytime New York Skyline Backdrop #2226 shows Downtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building.
Explore all of our James and the Giant Peach backdrops on our show suggestions.
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For the scenes requiring a lush, green backdrop, our 
Woodsy Option
Village Scenes: The French Village Outside the Beast’s Castle 
