The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has chosen a scrumdidilyumptious musical. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, which is co-produced with the Rotary Club of Huntsville, will delight and entertain the whole family.
HFA President, Karen Cassian, is excited to see this fabulous production taking shape and would like to thank all of the volunteers who are going to make it happen. “Without our talented volunteers, putting on a production like this would not be possible, and as an organization we are eternally grateful for their support. I would especially like to thank our Director, Sarah Vanasse, for all the expertise, time and energy that she is devoting to this process.”
This year’s Rotary President Jennifer Jerrett added, “this will be the ninth community production we have partnered with the Huntsville Festival on and we couldn’t be more happy with the way each of the productions has gone. With Rotary’s long history of presenting musical theatre in our community, having the Festival’s expertise and the ability to present out of the beautiful Algonquin Theatre has allowed us to renew this long tradition. We look forward to many collaborations to come.”
Director Sarah Vanasse is a Drama/Music/Art/French Teacher at Tawingo College and has an exceptional background in musical theatre. Sarah suggests that “It is not uncommon for artistic directors to propose grandiose ideas to their creative partners in amateur theatre, but to also prepare themselves for the possibility that they will have to settle for less. To use a popular motivational quote, they ‘shoot for the moon’, expecting to ‘land among the stars’. The creative team behind Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka has kept us aiming straight for the moon. They continually find solutions to complex ideas so that we can bring the magic of Roald Dahl’s fiction alive on the Algonquin Theatre stage.”
We have come together to create a professional-calibre stage production that could not be thought possible without the dedication and energy of so many members of the community. With the talented cast, orchestra, incredible set designs, special effects, costumes, props, lighting, and choreography, Willy Wonka is going to be an enchanting musical that you will not want to miss.
Willy Wonka Director Sarah Vanasse
There are 50 cast members in this show and while there are many returning cast members from previous shows, there are many new faces, both adult and children alike. The producers are thrilled to have Mike Pearse (Seussical JR, Guys and Dolls, The Drowsy Chaperone, TEN!) playing Willy Wonka and talented newcomer Alexia Evans playing Charlie.
Opening night for the play is Friday, March 31 with a total of six performances culminating with a matinee on Sunday, April 9. Tickets can be purchased at the Algonquin Theatre or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
The story
The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder and new songs by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Dolittle) and Anthony Newley. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka follows enigmatic candy manufacturer, Willy Wonka, 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.
Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats; the fifth is a likeable young person 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. Filled with awe and wonder, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka will take audiences of all ages on a fantasy ride into the land of pure imagination!
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka runs from the end of March until April 9, 2017. For more info visit huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
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