'Willy Wonka' comes to Moses Lake
Moses Lake High School will host the musical "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" beginning this week.
MOSES LAKE — Amid calls of “loompas on stage!” and “sing louder!” students and staff prepared for the premier of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” at a dress rehearsal.
Moses Lake High School will host the show’s opening this Thursday, which involved more than three months of planning and practice.
“It’s long hours but definitely worth it,” says Maddi Cloyd who is playing Veruca Salt, a spoiled English girl used to getting her way.
“Willy Wonka” will be the only musical performance this year and more than 70 students auditioned to be a part of the play.
“We began planning last spring and worked more intensely in September,” says the play’s director Don Hendrixson. “There was a tech class this summer where they worked on sound, set and other things.”
Moses Lake High School senior Mariah Miller is one of the 61 elementary, junior high and high school students performing in the play.
“I knew about tryouts and at auditions, this is the role I got,” Miller said. “I am very happy with the role and to be in the play.”
Miller plays “Grandpa George,” one of the bedridden grandfathers of the play’s main character, Charlie Bucket.
Charlie Bucket, played by Nia Watts, is one of four children with a “golden ticket” to visit the famous Willy Wonka in his chocolate factory.
The story follows Charlie as he navigates through the factory tour, which turns out to be a test of character where the prize for making it through is inheriting Wonka’s empire of sweets.
Hendrixson says participants have put more than 100 hours of rehearsal time into the play.
“There are 70 on stage including the technicians, elementary and middle school students who joined a couple times a week but rehearsals were every day, they even worked Saturdays.”
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” will open Thursday at 7 p.m. with another showing Friday at 7 p.m.
Saturday will have two performances, a matinee at 2 p.m. and evening performance at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for children 12 and under, $6 for adults to the 7 p.m. shows. Tickets for Saturday’s matinee are $5.