Willy Wonka Jr. at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center -- August 5 and 6.
Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6
Ohnward Fine Arts Center, 1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa IA
A delicious stage treat praised by Broadway World as "goofy, loud, and imaginative - superlatively so," the one-act musical comedy Willy Wonka Jr. will enjoy August 5 and 6 performances at Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center as the 10th performance by summer students in the venue's theatre camp, previous entertainments having included the Jr. versions of the musicals Annie, Seussical, Honk, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty & the Beast, and Moana.
Based on Roald Dahl's internationally best-selling children's book Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, as well as the 1971 movie classic starring Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka Jr. follows the titular, eccentric, enigmatic candy manufacturer as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. When young Charlie Bucket finds a golden ticket, it's the chance of a lifetime, and along with the Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, and Augustus Gloop, the boy is is swept inside of the mysterious factory with his Grandpa Joe. Inside, the winners encounter a magical world full of amazement, innovation, sugary treats, and, of course, Oompa-Loompas. But as the winners begin to let their greed and selfish nature's get the better of them, it seems that everything at the factory may not be as sweet as it seems.
Serving as director of Willy Wonka Jr. is the Ohnward Fine Arts Center's executive director Richard Hall, with the show's music direction by Linda Polk, Julie Weirup, and Shannon Soenksen, chorography by Mandi Kuster and Ella Lemke, and Jenna Williams acting as accompanist. Among the dozens of youths in the show's cast, Willy Wonka is played by Axel Carlson, Charlie Bucket by Daniel Hagen, and Grandpa Joe by Matthew Kola, with Charlie's fellow contest winners portrayed by Caroline Otting (Violet), Serenity Heinrich (Veruca), Bradyn Notz (Mike), and Myles Schnoor (Augustus).
Willy Wonka Jr. will be presented in Maquoketa on August 5 and 6, with a 7 p.m. curtain on Saturday and 2 p.m. curtain on Sunday, and admission is $8-15. For more information and tickets, call (563)652-9815 and visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
