Sit back and enjoy the ride as you accompany a sweet-natured boy named Charlie Bucket and four other Golden Ticket winners on the tour of a lifetime in a mysterious candymaker's fantastical factory.
The fall musical, presented by Cloquet High School, is none other than "Willy Wonka," the beloved story written by Roald Dahl. It's a show filled with lemon drops, lollipops, life lessons, golden tickets, great music and giggles galore.
Ben Holtz, a senior, will be on stage in the title role of Willy Wonka, while Nick Short, a freshman, plays Charlie Bucket.
Theater director, Terry Tyler, is new to Cloquet, but her experience and love of performing arts runs deep. She's been actively involved as a performer and director for most of her life.
"I studied operatic voice, ballet, acting, all of that," she said. "After college, I was in plays and musicals in the Twin Cities and spent a year in New York traveling with an opera company and performing in off Broadway shows."
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Tyler joins longtime music director, Elizabeth Wilson, in putting together this year's production. The two contribute a rich blend of experience, passion and talent to CHS. And with this fall's musical, they'll bring something else that's near and dear to many peoples' hearts - chocolate.
The play will be made even more special by the addition of real-life golden tickets hidden in chocolate bars that will be for sale to children seeing the show. Five golden tickets will be given out on each of the four performance nights. Children who find a golden ticket will have the chance to join the Oompa Loompas on stage for a very special musical number.
"When you mix kids, golden tickets, chocolate and a fantasy factory together, it's quite a ride," summed up Tyler.
This year's show promises to be just that - a great ride. Performances will start Wednesday, Nov. 12, and run nightly through Saturday, Nov. 15, at the CHS auditorium.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 218-879-3393, ext. 1305, between the hours of 4-5 p.m. weekdays.
Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" is like a good bar of chocolate - sweet, fun and meant to be enjoyed. Don't miss it!
