Call it a peachy idea.

In a partnership that will expand its reach to youth audiences, Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College is linking with the Downtown Hawai'i Theatre to stage its world premiere musical adaptation of the popular "James and the Giant Peach" play at both venues.

Paliku director Tom Holowach said the children's musical, based on the Roald Dahl book, will open at the Windward site as originally planned, with public shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 2 p.m. Feb. 11. Then the production "will go on the road, just over the Pali," for a one-night stand on Valentine's Day, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Hawai'i Theatre.

"There will also be (matinee) performances for school audiences at both sites," said Holowach, who credits the partnership to Hester Kamin, new education director at the Hawai'i Theatre, who is expanding her drama education reach to the community. She is a former drama education associate with Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

The production, featuring a cast of 13, has new elements — two shadow puppeteers and original music. The innovative use of puppets will include projections inside the peach prop — a feat facilitated by set designer Alexia Hsin Chen and lighting designer Lloyd "Sandy" Riford. The six songs and peripheral tunes are by Lisa Marinacci.

"Peach" is being touted as a world premiere, under the direction of Kris Fitzgerald as his thesis production in partial fulfillment of his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

The story is a fantasy about James, a mistreated orphan, whose life undergoes change when a giant peach appears on a withered old tree in his garden. An entrance into the peach opens a whole world of insect friends.

Kuamu Pelekai is playing James, with Melissa LaRose as Aunt Spiker and Karen Bauder as Aunt Sponge. Other characters include a centipede, a little old man, an earthworm, a ladybug, an old green grasshopper and a glow worm.

Tickets at both sites are $12 for adults, $9 for students and children. To charge by phone, call 235-7310 for Paliku performances and 528-0506 for Hawai'i.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.