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Thanksgiving weekend, the Second Street Players will draw the curtain for Willy Wonka, the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
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“We always try to do a family friendly show for the holiday season,” says director and play-reading committee member Susan Newark. “I actually suggested the show.”
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And, with a background as a professional musician and a fondness for author Roald Dahl, Newark applied to the Board of Directors of Second Street Players to direct the musical.
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The story—in case you haven't read the book or seen the movie—is about a “world famous candy man” who sets out on a quest to find an heir to his chocolate-covered throne.
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“I particularly love Dahl's writing, as I homeschooled my son who hated to read and when I introduced him to the books of Roald Dahl in middle school, I found them fascinating as well,” she says. “I also particularly like working on children's theatre shows with and for children because of the cool fantasies that can be done with sets, costumes, special effects, etc.”
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And few shows offer more opportunities to capture and tantalize the imagination than that of Willy Wonka. Newark's husband, Jack—whom she met 29 years ago at a summer stock theater—is designing the set, and scenic artist Bill Walton will lend his talents in that department as well. “The set will be the biggest challenge, and hopefully will be the big “wow” factor for when the curtain opens for Act II and Wonka's factory tour begins,” Newark says.
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To cast the roughly 20 actors and actresses ranging in age eight and up, Newark began by looking to the Children's Theatre Program at Second Street Players. “We are blessed with a great children's theatre program here,” she says.
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The show opens Nov. 23rd, and continues through Dec. 2nd. For tickets, show times, and information, visit Secondstreetplayers.com.
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