 The “Oompa-Loompas” will be performing in “Willy Wonka Jr.” tomorrow evening, Nov. 8 in the Bishop Union High auditorium. Photo submitted Special to The Inyo Register
Playhouse 395 is pleased to announce its fall youth production of “Willy Wonka, Jr.”
This fast-paced musical, based on the Roald Dahl classic, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” runs for four days only, Nov. 12-15, in the Bishop High School auditorium.
Following a brief prologue that sets the stage, the play opens in a decrepit shack, home to the poverty-stricken Bucket family. Mr. and Mrs. Bucket (Andrew Hallenbeck and Lisa Graham) live there with their bed-ridden parents, Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine (Billy Stinnett and Casey Ellis) and Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina (Dakota Winkler and Teresa Crider), and their son, Charlie (Nic Hilton). The world-famous candy maker, Willy Wonka (Eric Bridges), announces a contest, with the winners being invited to tour his secret factory, and then receive a lifetime supply of chocolate.
Five golden tickets are hidden in ordinary bars of “Wonka Chocolate” and, naturally, sales skyrocket. Announcer Phineas Trout (Jake Duncan) keeps the world apprised of the progress of the contest and gradually the tickets begin appearing, all over the world. Each child who finds a ticket can bring a guest along, and the final ticket is discovered by (you guessed it!) Charlie himself.
The big day arrives! In walks the gluttonous Augustus Gloop (Joey Seaver) with his mother (Anna Herbst), the demanding Veruca Salt (Nicolette Musch) and her father (Jamie Greer), gum-chewing Violet Beauregard (Madelina Pratt) and her mother (Annie Cram), the video-addicted Mike Teavee (Ray Eckland) and his mother (Jennah Seaver) and finally Charlie and Grandpa Joe.
Willy Wonka greets them all, explains certain precautions, then leads them on the tour. Along the way, they encounter the factory workers, the Oompa-Loompas (Lindsey Berger, Kendra Brown, Amanda Carmean, Alyssa Dalton, Abi Francis, Brett Gosorn, Olivia Grali, Allison Hallenbeck, Kylie Schat, Kevin Sprague and Heather Totheroh). The tour visits different rooms in the factory and, one by one, the children fall victim to their own weaknesses until the last one is standing … but at this point we invite you to come hear the actors tell the story themselves.
Led by director Karen Keehn, assistant director Carlie McKinley, vocal director Diana Lanane and choreographer Heather Totheroh, the children have been learning and rehearsing the elements that make up this great show since early September. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, producer Susan Kunze and stage manager Iain Greer are working with their crews to make this another top-notch production, in the Playhouse 395 tradition.
The play opens Wednesday, Nov. 12 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 15, with performances scheduled for 7 p.m. each evening, with one 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon.
“Golden Tickets” may be purchased from the playhouse’s Web site, Playhouse395.com, or in person at the box office at 168 W. Line St.
For more information, visit the Web site, or call 920-9100. Come out and enjoy an evening of delightful family entertainment and, yes, chocolate will be available during intermission!
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