Dundee Middle to present 'Willy Wonka'
Like a child in a candy factory, imaginations and dreams will run free this weekend with Dundee Middle School's production of "Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka."
For director Mona Jethmalani, seeing students have the chance to show off their talent is one of the highlights of putting on the musical.
"The best part is seeing where they start at the beginning and seeing how much they grow through the whole process," Jethmalani said. "By the end, just to see them come alive on stage and see how much confidence they build and seeing creativity take over make it so rewarding."
A musical like the imaginative "Willy Wonka" gave students plenty to work with, explains Jethmalani.
"Dundee Middle School has had long tradition of doing shows on a large scale," said Jethmalani. "We do have immense talent and the community values the arts very much."
The musical also gives students a chance to branch out and try something new.
Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29, at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre.
Seventh-grader Hoff Campbell is taking the stage for his first school musical role as Charlie Bucket, one of the main characters in the play.
"It's kind of hard to sometimes act like the young Charlie at heart and always be running around having fun," said Campbell. "He's always positive through everything. I'm not a negative person, but it's sometimes hard with all the challenges in life to always stay positive."
But even as a newcomer to the stage, Campbell is already seeing his talents improve.
"I felt nervous at first but now I'm really feeling in place and that this is a good thing for me," said Campbell, "and I could have really good future in the arts department. I'm having fun being with all new friends I probably wouldn't have known without doing the play."
Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" certainly encourages fun as it takes its audience into the wild fantasy world of candy magnate Willy Wonka's secretive factory.
The musical centers in on the life of a poor young boy, his mother and his bedridden grandparents. But their lives begin to change the day Wonka announces a contest to tour his factory; it seems as if the entire world is trying to win one of five spots.
When Charlie is lucky enough to win a ticket into Wonka's factory, he takes his grandpa Joe with him on what promises to be the highlight of their lives. But little do they know exactly what they're getting into and the kind of lessons they'll learn in the most unexpected ways.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the book that is the basis for the play, was written by children's author Roald Dahl and first published in 1964. It was made into the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" in 1971 with Gene Wilder as the title character. Since then, it has seen a revival as a movie remake in 2005 starring Johnny Depp, along with gaining popularity in musical theaters across the country.
One of the best parts of the play is the level of fantasy and imagination involved, explains eighth-grader Colin Bokowy, who plays Willy Wonka.
"I've done more modern based musicals before and (there isn't) much imagination," said Bokowy. "It's a life full of color and you can eat everything in chocolate. In fact, ('Willy Wonka') is a lot different because it's so imaginative."
Another great benefit is the experience it allows for performers, says eighth-grader Brandon Meng, who plays Grandpa Joe.
"In elementary school you had school plays but they were very small scale and you couldn't show a lot of your professionalism or ability," Meng said. "(This play allows) for more musical freedom."
The cast is optimistic about the performances they will be putting on and that they will be able to capture all the magic of the mysterious Willy Wonka and his amazing factory.
"The show really allows people to really think and dream and imagine," said Meng. "Since some stuff (that happens) is unlikely, it allows people to explore their imagination."
If you goWhat: Dundee Middle School's production of "Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka"When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29Where: Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan DriveTickets: $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniorsCall: (847) 622-0300'Willy Wonka' castAmber Ahrens, Paolo Alimario, Vanessa Allen, Carly Andersen, Nicole Anetsberger, Lorelei Arteaga, Mallori Bachleda, Jessica Barber, Cassidy Barfield, Molly Barnes, Nick Bartnik, Taylor Becker, Maddie Beus, Alec Bognar, Colin Bokowy, Natalia Borucki, Taylor Brown, Valerie Brown, Megan Burke, Alexis Cabrera, Emily Calderon, Hoff Campbell, Leslie Cardona, Zoe Carrie, Natalie Cash, Kyle Chan, Brandon Chapel, Carly Clayton, Kelly Conrad, Kayleigh Cosden, Anna Croissant, Kristina Csonka, Janelle Cueto, Angelina Dandan, Amy DeLaTorre, Peyton Day, Megan Donahue, Cynthia Dorado, Sam Dudych, Brett Enger, Katalina Erbes, Blake Everett, Kristy Fang, Cody Ferencz, Emily Fohr, Carlee Fosco, John Fougerousse, Jessica Franco-Potenza, Morgan Fredriksen, Alyssa Fry, Andy Fu, Katherine Gajewski, Rachel Gallagher, Ellie Gentile, Morgan Gillespie, Quinn Goll, Jocelyn Gonzalez, Claire Grashorn, Eli Gregory, Kit Griffin, Haley Gurney, Emma Hansen, Brooke Hayes, Joshua Hengels, Nadine Hernandez, Kaylee Hofman, Morgan Howe, Maddie Hunsberger, Sarah Jaeger-Cook, Anita Jankowski, Megan Janowski, Lisa Jaskowiak, Christine Johnsen, Emily Jorgenson, Sean Kilbourne, Tyler Kollin, Caitlin Komosa, Kellie Konstantinidis, Billy Krueger, Emily Kucek, Madi Lanham, Jayne Larsen, Taylor Loga, MacKenzie Lyons, Tara MacCarthy, Matt Mansour, Audrey Martin, Sam Matsukis, Kiana Mays, Nikki McVikker, Brandon Meng, Miah Minard, Veronica Money, Emily Mrzlak, Wes Mundil, Mark Myers, Kelsea Nolan, Ethan Nueva, Mariel Nueva, Monika O'Brien, Sarah Ochal, Esther Onate, Lilian Ondera, Haylie Oneby, Kishan Patel, Melanie Petrow, Archit Potharazu, Eddie Pudlo, Jessica Ramsey, Tara Randazzo, Daniela Renteria, Eryn Sanclemente, Lindsey Seaborn, Dominic Simmons, Kimmy Skvarla, Dakota Stark, Alec Taylor, Gina Tomasello, Marissa Torres, Mackie Traub, Elena Voiculescu, Jacinda Wagener, Alexis Walley, Kiely Weidner, Hannah Weir, Alissa Wika, Matt Wolf, Rachel Wolfe, Natalie Wozniak, Valerie Wozniak, Nikki WronaTrue18121496Colin Bokowy, 14, of Algonquin, plays the lead role in Dundee Middle School's production of "Willy Wonka."Nikoleta Kravchenko | Staff PhotographerTrue