SCR’s Junior Players Present ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’
COSTA MESA, CA. – When a classic children’s book comes to life on the stage, it’s a real treat, especially if the book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—and Charlie is a girl!
The popular children’s play by Richard R. George, adapted from the fantasy by Roald Dahl and directed by Mercy Vasquez, will be presented by South Coast Repertory’s Junior Players on April 9, 10, 16 and 17 in the Nicholas Studio.
According to Vasquez, in choosing Jamie Ostmann to play Charlie, "I wasn’t thinking of a way to make the play different, I was just thinking of a way to make it work well. During auditions, Jamie had just the quality I had imagined, and I said to myself, ‘That’s Charlie.’”
The story of Charlie Bucket and the four other golden ticket winners who are chosen to take an amazing tour of Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory—and learn all about teamwork and self-esteem—has been made into two films, numerous plays, video games and is even a theme park in England.
One reason this adaptation was chosen by Vasquez is because it was sanctioned by Dahl himself. “It was so pure to the original text,” she said, “and reading through it, I found myself connecting to the material and becoming excited by the challenges that staging would present. With this production, we’ll also explore the darker themes within the play. We call this the ‘Dark Chocolate’ version.”
SCR’s Junior Players (grades 6-8) comprise one of two young ensemble groups of acting students who have been chosen through audition after at least two years in the Theatre Conservatory. They attend classes twice weekly during the school year, with additional rehearsal time prior to their annual performance. As the Junior Players instructor-director, Vasquez is with the students throughout this period, which consists of ten weeks of class, ten weeks of rehearsal/performance and than back to class for the remaining ten weeks.
Vasquez graduated from UCLA with majors in English Literature and Theater and received dramatic training in London at King’s College, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and SCR’s Professional Acting Program in SCR’s Theatre Conservatory. She has performed on stage at SCR, Garden Grove Playhouse, Theater Theater and Heritage Square Theater.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory By Richard R. George Adapted from the fantasy by Roald Dahl
Charlie Bucket is one of five golden ticket winners chosen for a scrumptuous tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory—where they’ll learn all about teamwork and self-esteem.
Dates: Saturday April 9 and Sunday April 10 Saturday April 16 and Sunday April 17 All shows at 1 and 4pm
Tickets: $9 (may be purchased through the SCR Box Office at (714) 708-5555 or online at www.scr.org)
CAST LIST: ALISO VIEJO Tristan Steward (Mike Teavee)
COSTA MESA Alex Schreyer (Grandpa George/Mr. Salt/Oompa Loompa) Karl Schreyer (Mr. Bucket/Mr. Beauregarde/Oompa Loompa) Lindsey Troupe (Augustus Gloop/Oompa Loompa)
GARDEN GROVE Karoline Ribak (Chocolate Muse/Grandma Josephine/Oompa Loompa)
IRVINE Brooke Boukather (Violet Beauregarde/Ommpa Loompa) Rachel Charny (Chocolate Muse/Grandma Georgina/Oompa Loompa) Reba Chawla (Mrs. Teavee) Henry Ficcadenti (Oompa Loompa) Shireen Kulkarni (Chocolate Muse/Mrs. Bucket/Oompa Loompa)
LONG BEACH Guy McEleney (Grandpa Joe)
LOS ALAMITOS Jamie Ostmann (Charlie Bucket) Emma Smith (Mrs. Gloop/Oompa Loompa)
NEWPORT BEACH Christopher Huntley (Willy Wonka)
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA Grace O’Brien (Veruca Salt/Oompa Loompa) Ethan Williams-Dalgart (Oompa Loompa)
