Scrumdidilyumptious! "Willy Wonka, Jr." opens at Asheville Community Theatre

The Youth Production Class at Asheville Community Theatre will perform Willy Wonka, Jr. October 26-28, 2012.  Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the world-famous candy man comes to life in this stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featuring the songs from the classic family film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

Willy Wonka, Jr. is directed by Jeff Catanese with musical direction by Aaron Price and features a cast of 30 students between the ages of 7 and 15. Performances are Friday night at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.  All tickets are $5.00.  

Willy Wonka, Jr. follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka's rules in the factory--or suffer the consequences.

“From an audience member’s perspective, it’s really powerful for a child to see an entire cast made up of children,” said Chanda Calentine, Education Director at ACT. “And from a student’s perspective, they learn first hand about the fun and the hard work involved in being in a musical theatre cast.”  

For more information about the production, or about upcoming classes, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org or call 828-254-2939 x21 for Education Director Chanda Calentine.