get your
ticket A number of familiar faces to take the stage in MASC’s ‘Willy Wonka’
Most everyone — from Gen-Xers and Millenials to today’s Gen Z population — has seen a Willy Wonka movie. And whether you’re a fan of the original with the late Gene Wilder, or Johnny Depp’s darker adaptation, it’s a safe bet that you even know the odd names of some, if not all, of the colorful characters.
This week, Wonka, and his Oompa Loompa army are paying a visit to Marshall for Marshall Area Stage Company’s presentation of Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka” for its 25th Anniversary Summer Musical. This “World of Pure Imagination” comes to the stage at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts at Marshall High School on June 21-29, with a cast of nearly 50 actors, a live orchestra and a dedicated crew. And if you’re from Tracy, you will definitely recognize some of those colorful characters. Among the thespians who hail from more than 10 area communities are Xander Brinkley, along with Alexis Dahmes, Ava Dahmes and their mother, Erin.
Director Ryan Juutilainen hopes
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We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams.
— WILLY WONKA
• ‘WONKA’ COMES TO MARSHALL
The beloved children’s story “Willy Wonka” comes to life on the stage of the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts at Marshall High School, 400 Tiger Drive in Marshall. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 18 & under and can be purchased online (https://tinyurl.com/2s4z43sa) or at the door. Show dates and times are: June 21, 22, 28, 29 at 2 p.m. and June 23, 26, 27 at 7 p.m.
the fact that the movie is such an iconic piece of pop culture will draw many fans of the story to the musical.
‘“It’s very well-known,” he said. “The movie version — everybody’s seen the Gene Wilder movie and the newer version; it’s something that’s in people’s minds and they recognize it. MASC picked this show because it’s recognizable, something the general public will want to come and see. We figured Willy Wonka is something that would catch people’s attention. When I heard they were doing this, I really wanted to get in on it.”
Juutilainen, who said he is a big fan of the original movie, said the story is a good one, but the production has so much more to it than that.
“I would go with the colors,” he said. “There’s kind of a discrepancy in socioeconomics — the Bucket family was very, very poor, and you’ve got Golden Ticket winners that have money Varuca (Salt) comes from a wealthy family that owns a nut business, and her father bought thousands of Wonka bars to find that Golden Ticket, whereas Charlie got lucky with just a couple of bars.”
The color scheme presented by MASC shows the discrepancy between the Bucket family (wearing brown, bland garb) and the other winners, who are dressed much more colorful.
“Everything except the Bucket family has a lot of color, especially when you get into the factory,” Juutilainen said.
Rehearsal started at the end of April and has been going basically five days a week since then. Juutilainen said the cast — mostly children — have worked hard this spring.
“The kids have been phenomenal,” he said. “They’re excited that we’ve got lots of choreography that we do, lots of movements, lots of up-tempo singing. It’s an overall well-rounded experience.”
Juutilainen calls Wonka a family story, and in this case, it truly is a family affair for some, as many family members are brought together on stage: Chris Shuckhart (Wonka) and his son, Ethan (Candyman); Oliver Citterman (Charlie Bucket) and his mother, Ashley (Mrs. Beuregarde); and Erin Dahmes (Ms. Teavee) and her daughters Lexi (Oompa Loompa and Cook) and Ava (Squirrel).
Lexi said she has seen the original and likes all the candy that almost plays a character in and of itself.
“I also like the Cook scene,” she said. “The dances are fun, and watching Brinna (Snider, who plays Violet Beauregarde) blow up. It’s been fun; my dad doesn’t like it because we’re never home that much. He likes seeing us more.”
Erin said she is a fan of the original Wonka movie, mostly because of Gene Wilder’s performance.
“He didn’t have to overplay the creepy,” she said. “He was fun with the light undertones of the creepiness.”
This will be Erin’s fifth MASC play, and the third time she takes the stage with Lexi.
“It’s a lot of fun to be in theater with her,” she said. “This is the first time I get to be in a show with Ava … it’s been a lot of fun introducing her to this; it’s really fun being able to see how much she enjoys theater. It’s a big part of my life, and I love being able to share that with my girls.”
Erin also has sisters and nieces performing in Wonka.
Brinkley said Wonka is a good choice for this year’s play.
“I was familiar with the movies before we started doing the play,” he said. “This one incorporates parts from both movies in some way. It’s more like the original, but it does have charm from both.”
Tina Snider, who directs plays and musicals at Tracy Area High School, is the stage manager and assistant director. She said having a popular show like Wonka was a big reason so many people showed up for try-outs compared to other years.
“They know it, they love it, they all have characters they like,” she said. “There’s a lot of talent in this group. When the Bucket family sings together, it is so great because they’re all strong, beautiful singers. It’s been so much fun.”
Snider said there are two different Wonka musicals MASC could’ve chosen from; the one they went with has more familiar songs that people will recognize.
“In other musicals, all the songs are different,” she said. “Most people are used to the first version and are looking for a song; the last thing you want to do when you go to a musical where you’re anticipating something and then you leave disappointed. You have to have some songs that you can sing along to.”
Juutilainen said as much as he loves being a part of this year’s musical, it didn’t come without challenges.
“Theater is a whole different story than TV,” he said. “There’s a scene in there where we actually make Grandpa Joe and Charlie float — we came up with a way to do that on stage. It takes a little creativity — that’s the part I like.”
TAHS choir director Wendy Johnson served as vocal director for Wonka, and TAHS band director Katelyn Elton and Tracy Area Elementary School first-grade teacher Shelbi Grimley play in the orchestra.
