Erik Wagner stars as Willy Wonka in the Ocean City Intermediate School musical open to the public on Friday, Jan. 16., at the high school.
Ocean City Intermediate School students have been rehearsing for three months, and on Friday (Jan. 16) they'll perform "Willy Wonka Jr.," a musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl book ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") and of movies starring Gene Wilder (1971) and Johnny Depp (2005).
Allisun Wiltshire, left, stars as Charlene 'Charlie' Bucket, while Jared Warrington is Mr. Bucket.
"At the first rehearsal, we had no idea what we were doing," said sixth-grader Erik Wagner, who stars as Wonka.
"And here we are," he said, pointing to lights, props and costumes as the cast prepared for a dress rehearsal on Tuesday. "It's all coming together."
The show is open to the public, and here's information on how to attend the single performance:
Where: Hughes Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School (entrance on beach block of Sixth Street)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16
Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 for students and available at the door or at Ocean City Intermediate School during school hours.
Wagner, 12, said he has performed in shows since second grade, including Youth Opera of South Jersey productions of "Sweeney Todd," "Brigadoon" and "West Side Story."
_____
Sign up for free daily news updates from Ocean City.
_____
He joins a talented cast that includes 13-year-old Allisun Wiltshire as "Charlie" Bucket.
"It's been fun growing up with everybody," said Wiltshire, an eighth-grade who has participated in OCIS productions since fourth grade. "You have to be humble and study hard to learn the role."
Maddy Presnall, left, plays Mrs. Salt and Heather Decosta the spoiled Veruca Salt.
Michelle Tornblom, a seventh-grade social studies teacher, has been working with the student cast three days a week since October. It's her first time directing an Intermediate School show, though she has directed productions at the high school.
Willy Wonka Cast
- Willy Wonka – Erik Wagner
- Candy Man – Ben Wiley
- Charlene “Charlie” Bucket – Allisun Wiltshire
- Grandpa Joe Bucket – Micah Waid
- Mr. Bucket– Jared Warrington
- Mrs. Bucket– Julia Wilson
- Grandma Josephina – Rosalie Graham
- Grandpa George – Mark Faverzani
- Grandma Georgina – Andrea Teofanova
- Jamie (Charlie’s Friend) – Gabbie Eiler
- Matilda (Charlie’s Friend) – Ashley Mathers
- Patricia Trout (TV Reporter) – Kayla Rauner
- Angela Gloop – Gabby DiMarco
- Mrs. Gloop – Nora Faverzani
- Veruca Salt – Shannon Decosta
- Mrs. Salt – Maddy Presnall
- Violet Beauregarde – Gabby Waid
- Mrs. Beauregarde – Sophia Meyler
- Michelle Teavee – Lauren Mirsky
- Ms. Teavee – Jemma Kraft
- Oompa Loompa 1 – Rodolfo Reyna
- Oompa Loompa 2 – Emma Rodriguez
- Oompa Loompa 3 – Morgan Decosta
- Oompa Loompa 4 – Katie Muller
- Oompa Loompa 5 – Gracie Sando
- Chorus –Sofia Keir, Sarah Huber, Ana McGrath, Ashley Meng, David Palomenque, Grace Wiley
Additional cast members:
- Natalie Argento
- Emily Braun
- Taryn Cupit
- Sally Dahl
- Shea DeMarco
- Elaina DiMaren
- Eliza DiMaren
- Katherine Doliszny
- Lauren Doliszny
- Ethan Eiler
- Estelle Gimbel
- Noelle Graham
- Andi Helphenstine
- Bernadette Hoffmann
- Keira Janto
- Madeline Keefer
- Ava Kelly
- Vanna Kelly
- Lauren Lamour
- Aria Lindberg
- Riley Madden
- Madison Majors
- Hannah Martin
- Phoebe Miedama
- Loralei Mullins
- Julia Newman
- Sarah Rodriguez
- MacKenzee Segich
- Lilly Teofanova
- Mia Terrazzini
- Sophia Tucker
- Sophia Wagner