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Warren Players presents ‘Willy Wonka’ in May

“Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew- cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two? The Candy Man can! The Candy Man can ’cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.”

We all recognize this sweet song and the wild, wonderful, colorful musical from which it comes, Willy Wonka. As children, we saw Willy Wonka’s world filled with candy dreams and chocolate rivers with a desire to indulge ourselves. As adults, we realize that that world is more about finding truth, acceptance and true kindness. At this time in our world, isn’t that what we all need to give and receive?

Willy Wonka will surprise all of your senses and sensibilities and will fill you with what Willy Wonka calls, “Pure Imagination.” Come meet our cast of interesting and colorful characters.

There will be squirrels, the Golden Ticket winners, the parents of the lucky winners, the whole Bucket family, slippery Slugworth, Willy Wonka and more. Oh, and of course, there will be all shapes and sizes of Oompa-loompas singing, dancing and imparting life lessons.

“Casting for this show was quite the adventure,” said first-time director Jennifer Bailey. “Many actors with amazing talent came out to audition, making casting difficult. Ultimately, we decided on a cast of 53 wonderfully talented actors.”

The musical of Willy Wonka staged by Warren Players will include the following cast:

Allan Branthoover as Willy Wonka, Logan Johnson as Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe played by Brandon Hinton, Macy Winicki as Veruca Salt, Derek Hahn playing Augustus Gloop, Hanna Hoffman as Violet Beauregarde, Sam Smith as Mike Teavee, Megan White as Mrs. Bucket, Michael Stenberg as Mr. Bucket, Phil Gilbert plays Mr. Salt, Julie Fofana plays Mrs. Gloop, Amy Hoh plays Mrs. Beauregard, Kelsey Angove is Mrs. Teavee, Chris Spittler plays the Candy Man, Colette Bonavita as Philamina Trout, Krista Fitzsimmons as Grandma Josephine, Angela Abreu as Grandma Georgina, David Oberg is Grandpa George. The Oompa Loompa Leads are Mark Woody, Laura McKibbin, Emma McKibbin, Elissa Errett, and Emma Berardi. The teens and chorus of cooks are Jaxon Knapp (James), Jadenne Fofana (Matilida), Ryan Fitzsimmons, Ryan Egger, Abigail Wilson, Codie Spittler, Sarah Harvey, Lyndsey Dippold, Sydney Johnson, Lilly Branthoover, and Alyssa Wismar. The Oompa Loompa roles are also filled by Bridgette Branch, Brooke Barney, Emma Kisselbach, Max Smith, Anabelle Harvey, Chalina Abreu, Cayla Chapman, Adriana Royo, Ben Hoffman, Chevelle Yeskey, Adam McChesney and Amanda Johnson. The Squirrels are played by Jack Branch, Lily Berkhous, Carly Fitzsimmons, Valentina Abreu, Guenivere Nudd, Zoey Lindsey and Hailey Brewer and of course there is the sinister Slugworth played by Mark Woody.

Come see the musical Willy Wonka at the Struthers Library Theatre. What -you’ll find there as Willy Wonka croons, “will defy explanation.”

Warren Players presents Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka on stage at the Historical Struthers Library Theater May 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. and May 6 at 2 p.m.

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