James and the Giant Peach Cast

Waterloo - "The Black Hawk Children’s Theatre has cast 20 local, talented actors in roles for its upcoming production of James and the Giant Peach. James is miserable. His aunts are cruel, he has few friends, and very little to do. All this changes when he receives a mysterious bag of glowing green crocodile tongues from a little man who promises fabulous, marvelous things. Join us as James and the creatures in the giant peach escape the ordinary and journey into the extraordinary.

The cast for the show is:

Joel Ochoa (JAMES) is the title character of this production. Joel is in 9th grade at Holmes Jr. High. He previously appeared in Jack & the Beanstalk and The Twelve Dancing Princesses. He participates in show choir and jazz band. He is also a member of the cross country team.

Linnea Nicol (AUNT SPONGE) is a Juvenile Public Defender. She graduated from Estherville High School, home of the Midgets and the Midgettes. She has worked extensively both onstage and backstage with both BHCT and the Waterloo Community Playhouse. She is the wife of Tommy and mother to John and Madeline. In her spare time, she is a Girl Scout leader.

KD Waltz (AUNT SPIKER) is a 5th grader at Southdale Elementary. She has performed at the Iowa State Fair every year since she was 3. She loves going on zombie walks and decorating the family lawn for Halloween.

Alex Sulentic (GRASSHOPPER) likes to read, play video games and hang out with his friends and family. He is a 9th grader at Holmes Jr. High. Besides acting at BHCT, he has also worked with the Sturgis Youth Theatre for five years.

Moira Buie (SILKWORM/ONLOOKER) is a 6th grader at Lincoln Elementary. She was born in Lubbock, Texas. Her favorite food is mushrooms and she would like to be a graphic designer when she grows up.

Abby Zeets (CENTIPEDE) attends school at Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta where she is in 6th grade. This is her 9th show at WCP/BHCT. She also has sung with the OPUS Honor Choir and has taken 9 years of dance, piano and percussion lessons.

Kyla Wright (SPIDER) is the daughter of Dan & Janell Wright. Some of her previous shows at BHCT include Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! and Jack and The Beanstalk. She is also a member of the Girl Scouts.

Abbey Guernsey (LADYBUG) is making her debut at BHCT. She enjoys swimming and horseback riding. The 5th grader at Lincoln Elementary also plays violin.

James Kuehner (EARTHWORM) would like to thank his older brother Jonathan for getting him interested in theatre. James is a 6th grader at Lincoln Elementary. He likes Legos and anything that has connections to Star Wars. His favorite subjects in school are math and reading.

Emma DeGroote (GLOW-WORM) attends Lincoln Elementary where she is in 5th grade. Her favorite subject in school is writing. She takes piano and dance lessons. She is the daughter of Joan Hewett and John DeGroote.

Jana Garcia (MOTHER/CAPTAIN/CLOUD MAN/ONLOOKER) is a recent graduate of West High School in Waterloo. She has been in love with acting for as long as she can remember. She works at Kingdom Kids Daycare and Pre-School.

Joe Mills (FIRST OFFICER/NARRATOR) plays piano, cello and clarinet, hopefully not all at once. He is making his debut with BHCT after appearing with the Sturgis Youth Theatre last year. He is a 7th grader at Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta.

Tate Friedly (LITTLE OLD MAN/SECOND OFFICER/CLOUD MAN/ONLOOKER) likes to go to action or comedy movies. He is 14 and in the 8th grade at Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta. He also likes to go salmon fishing in Lake Michigan. Other activities he enjoys are playing tennis and playing video games.

Clair Daly (CLOUD MAN/ONLOOKER) is another multi-talented instrumentalist. She plays piano, trumpet and baritone. She attends Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta where she is an 8th grader. She is making her debut at BHCT with this show.

Ethan Sankey (FATHER) has worked on over a dozen shows at BHCT. Ethan enjoys swimming and running. He has six brothers and sisters and his family is in the process of adopting a son from China. He plays guitar and piano.

Sadie Kurtz (NARRATOR) is a student at Hoover Middle School. She enjoys swimming with the USS Destroyers team and is an avid duct tape crafter.

Leah Takes (NARRATOR) is a student at Hansen Elementary who enjoys music and riding her bike. She likes to draw and dance.

Kyra Takes (NARRATOR) is a 9th grader at Holmes Jr. High and plays the tuba. She enjoys working with and getting to know a wide variety of people.

Joshua Scheel (NARRATOR) is a 6th grader at Bunger Middle School. He is outgoing, energetic and enjoys driving radio controlled cars.

Annie Brown (NARRATOR) attends Southdale Elementary as a 6th grader. She is a 2013 OPUS Honor Choir member and recently qualified to sing at the Iowa State Fair in the Bill Riley Talent Search.


Performance dates and times are October 3 & 4 at 7 pm; October 11 & 12 at 2 pm. Tickets for the performance are available online at www.wcpbhct.org or by calling 319.235.0367. The box office will open for public sales on September 23rd. Box office hours are Tuesday-Friday from 1-6 pm. The box office is located inside the Waterloo Center for the Arts and can be reach at 319.291.4494.

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Source: BHCT Press Release