Shelley Butler directs the stage adaptation by David Wood to begin at the Costa Mesa, California stage Nov. 3 and run through Nov. 19 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

James and the Giant Peach centers around "a giant peach that magically appears on an old tree near the house where James lives with his two dreadful aunts," reads a show synopsis. "When he finds a secret way inside the peach, James makes his escape with some of the greatest pals kids can have, six very funny but fractious bugs, who must learn from James about how to get along.  In the peach — which is first a ship and then an airship — they cross the Atlantic Ocean to their new home in Central Park."

The Dahl story was adapted for the 1996 live-action/stop-motion animation film directed by Henry Selick — who also created Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves and Susan Sarandon were among those who lent their voices.

The design team for James and the Giant Peach includes Sibyl Wickersheimer (set), Angela Balogh Calin (costume), Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz (lighting) and Josh Schmidt (sound). Kristin Ahlgren is stage manager.

The 2006-07 Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) season will continue (Feb. 9-25, 2007) with Jonathan Bolt's adaptation of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper — which replaces the previously announced Jason and the Golden Fleece — and the world premiere of The Only Child, a new musical play by Quincy Long with music by Dennis McCarthy (June 8-24, 2007). Tickets to James and the Giant Peach at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, CA, are available by calling (714) 708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.