WESTLOCK – Community theatre is happening in a big way in Westlock with the multi-school performance of Willy Wonka Junior on Nov. 28, 29, and 30 and again on Dec. 5, 6 and 7.
“Willy Wonka is looking for somebody to take over his factory when he retires,” said Lalenya Gasse, production director.
“The first act follows the kids finding the tickets and getting to go to the factory.”
“Our second act, we go to the factory, and they (the ticket-winning kids) get to see the factory for the first time, at the same time as the audience does.”
“He follows them through their adventures to see who is worthy of running the factory,” adds Gasse.
There are 58 students involved, including students from RF Staples, Westlock Elementary, St. Mary’s, Dapp School and some home schools.
“We've really turned it into a whole community event rather than just a school event,” said Gasse.
Having the production include students from several area schools makes this a special production where students get the opportunity to perform, build friendships and connections they may not have otherwise experienced.
This production gives students who may not have had a chance to participate in theatre to do so.
Thecast is as follows:
Willy Wonka played by Katrina Monro (Grade 11)
Charlie Bucket played by George Shumway (Grade 10)
Veruca Salt played by Deanna Foster (Grade 11)
Augusta Gloop played by Rayna Kneller (Grade 7 at St. Mary)
Mike Teavee played by Parker Little (Grade 9)
Violet Beauregarde played by Cadence Robinson (Grade 9)
The stage manager is Tori Neuman (Grade 9), she has been organizing the backstage crew and will be the one running the show when it goes up.
“To bring in some of our Westlock Elementary kids to be Oompa Loompas gives them the chance without too much pressure,” said Gasse.
While some students are taking centre stage, others are working behind the scenes building sets and making sure the lights and sound are working.
The students have invested many multiple days and hours to build the sets, set up the 14 microphones to capture the sound clearly and perfect the lighting.
One Sunday the crew spent a combined 75 hours on set design, building and painting.
“They're the unsung heroes,” said Gasse.
“Trinity Barth, Raine Berry and Alexander Alexis (all Grade 11) have been instrumental in painting and creating our set.”
“Zackary Jingling-Melnyk (Grade 10) is running our soundboard and is going to manage 14 individual mics and our choral mics to make sure our talented cast are heard.”
“Breton McCarron (Grade 11) is our resident tech hero; he is responsible for our lighting design and built most of the set on stage.”
“Breton is in the theatre as much as the directors, and we couldn't have done this without him.”
On Dec. 7 there is a dinner theatre, and it is the alumni night.
“We induct our new alumni and we welcome back alumni from RFC,” said Gasse.
Tickets are available either at the RF Staples front office and they can do cash or check purchases.
Tickets can also be purchased at MTech Printing & Signs here in Westlock or they go online to Simplytickets.ca to purchase tickets.
The shows start at 7 p.m. in the Cultural Arts Theatre.
