In collaboration with the King’s College Theatre Department, Wilkes-Barre’s Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, 71 Public Square, will stage a special adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach” this weekend.
Performances are slated for Friday, July 12, at 10 a.m.; Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Sunday, July 14, at 2 and 6 p.m. in the Chandelier Lobby, and are free to the public. To earn the sensory-friendly designation, shows are put on in a supportive and caring environment that makes adjustments for the enjoyment of people with autism and other sensory sensitivities, as well as their families and friends.
Jarring sounds are reduced, as are strobe and spotlights, and house lights will remain dimly lit throughout the shows. Volunteers and specialists will be on hand as staff in quiet and activity areas in the lobby should guests need to leave their seats during the performance. Other forms of support and education, such as social narratives and character guides, will be available, too. The cast and crew, including director Skyler Makuch, received advisory assistance from the TDF National Autism Friendly Performance Training Program to make the event possible.
The play tells the story of young James, who discovers a magic potion that transforms the fruit of his wicked aunt’s peach tree into enormous proportions and sends him on a fantastical adventure.
Tickets are limited and can be reserved through the box office or by calling 570-826-1100.
Patrice Wilding is a 13-year employee of the Lifestyles Dept. at The Times-Tribune, where she worked her way up from a clerk to a web video producer to a full-time reporter, writer and copy editor. An Olyphant native, she graduated from Mid Valley Secondary Center and earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with concentration in media arts, political science and communications from Wesley College, Dover, Delaware. She lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, Justin, and their son, Johnny. Contact: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5369; @pwildingTT
