Director Portia Ezell said that auditions have already been held, and that the casting was completed roughly two weeks ago. The first rehearsals started on Thursday, June 4, Ezell added.
“I’m amazed at the talent of people in this community,” said Ezell, who added that the production of “Willy Wonka,” the group’s fourth summer musical, will ultimately cost between $8,000 and $10,000. The royalties alone to productions like the one being performed can cost $2,000, she went on to say.
Alex Campbell will be playing Willy Wonka, Zachary McIntosh will be playing Charlie Bucket, Dean Jackson will be playing Grandpa Joe, Frankie Brown will be playing Grandma Josephine, Don Geisler will be playing Grandpa George and Sally Geisler will be playing Grandma Georgina.
Robert Ingram will be playing Mr. Bucket, Amber Jackson will be playing Mrs. Bucket, Wayne Goolsby will be playing Candy Man, River Sittig will be playing James, Jamee Noel will be playing Matilda, Jonathan Darnall will be playing Phineous Trout, Anthony Campbell will be playing Augustus Gloop and Claudia Jones will be playing Mrs. Gloop.
Tabitha Snell will be playing Veruca Salt, Rob McIntosh will be playing Mr. Salt, Leiren Potter will be playing Violet Beauregarde, Chelsea Wynn will be playing Mrs. Beauregarde, DaKota Overton will be playing Mike Teevee and Lindsey Darnall will be playing Ms. Teevee.
Playing as the Chorus of Cooks and Kids are Toria Hart, Anna Knight, Faythe Rea, Patsy Banister, Kassy Harris, Kirsten Kline, Eva Watkins and Elizabeth DeVelvis. Playing as the Kids are Adam Calhoun, Emma Tilley, Jarod Ballengee, Jordan Jones, Emily Johnson and Belinda Perry.
Playing as the Oompa Loompas are Natalie Lynne, Courtney DeVelvis, Summer Choate, Hannah Colin, Alexa Agosto and Shyanne Hemenway. Playing as the Squirrels are Hayley Knight, Alexander Perry, Ashlen Burcham, Beau Hendricks, Paxton Calhoun, Payton Hendricks, Zoi Burcham and Lily Ballengee.
Last year, they performed “Alice in Wonderland,” and before that “The Wiz” and “Seussical: The Musical.”
