Collins Middle School Drama Club Presents ‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.’
‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.’ to run Apr. 9-11 at Collins Middle School Auditorium
SALEM (Apr. 2, 2026) – The Collins Middle School School Drama Club, led by educators Jacob Pini and Micaiah Jones, presents its spring 2026 musical, ‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.,’ based on the book by Roald Dahl, Thursday through Saturday, Apr. 9, 10 and 11 at the Collins Middle School Auditorium.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Apr. 9-10, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Apr. 11 at 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for students. Presale tickets are available at cmsdrama.ludus.com while tickets will also be available at the door.
‘James and the Giant Peach’ depicts James, an orphaned boy, who escapes his abusive aunts by traveling inside a magically grown, house-sized peach which represents a safe and nurturing place. Thus, it allows him to overcome trauma and fear and transforms him into a confident young man.
“We considered a number of options for this year’s production, and decided on this show through discussion with the production team and consulting other drama teachers in the area,” said Mr. Pini, a music educator at CMS. “Personally, this show was appealing to me because, despite being based on a children’s story, the music and acting requires a real maturity and dedication from our students, blending traditional musical theatre concepts with contemporary music styles and nuanced storytelling.
“Students are able to explore themes of belonging, loss and family, and the show presents students with the unique challenge of portraying over-the-top, fantastical characters,” Mr. Pini added.
Consistent with the District’s core value of belonging, the production features 55 students in the cast and 25 in the stage crew who will handle lights, sound, set pieces, costumes, props and makeup. Uniquely, the production also received a welcome hand from Salem High School students, who are assisting with set and props construction and painting, and lighting design.
SHS musicians, under Coordinator of Music Ben Chertok, will also provide the musical score.
“We are very fortunate to have numerous Salem High School students who have also volunteered their time to assist,” Mr. Pini said.
‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.’ is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International, New York, NY.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
