Lincoln Elementary School to Stage "Willy Wonka" This Week

If you ever wanted your very own Oompa Loompa, or even if you just recited the famous line about the magical helpers in the Chocolate Factory as a child, you won’t want to miss School’s rendition of the much-loved musical “Willy Wonka.”

The show, starring Lincoln fifth and fourth graders, is open to the public for two performances this week – 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 and 7 p.m. on Friday, June 10, both at Lincoln.

Directed by Lincoln fifth-grade teacher Alma Hazel, the musical is based on the book by Ronald Dahl. Hazel took most of her ideas for the staging of the Lincoln production from the original Gene Wilder movie, which she recalls from her childhood.

Lincoln borrowed the scenery from a school in Phillipsburg, N.J. Lincoln also bought several props from another school in New Jersey that performed the show recently.

The majority of the props were made by Lincoln's art teacher, Heather West, with the exception of the Everlasting Gobstopper Machine, which was built by the father of cast member Nicole Neith, a fifth grader who is performing in the role of Mrs. Gloop. Lincoln theater-goers might recognize Neth from her role in last year’s musical, “Cinderella.”

Hazel and the cast began rehearsing the show in late December 2010 and rehearsed once a week until April 2011. In April, they kicked it up a notch, rehearsing twice a week. In May and June, the cast practiced every day after school until 5 p.m., although not every student attended every rehearsal.

Tickets for “Willy Wonka” are $2 for all seats. Contact Lincoln Elementary School for more information.

The cast of “Willy Wonka” includes:

Fifth Graders: 

• Willy Wonka – Ben Wilson
• Charlie Bucket – Trevor Calse
• Grandpa Joe – Blake Yoachim (repeat performer – was in Cinderella)
• Augustus Gloop – Darius Trupp
• Mrs. Gloop – Nicole Neith (repeat performer – was in Cinderella)
• Veruca Salt – Gretchen Eugster (repeat performer – was in Cinderella)
• Violet Beauregarde – Vicky Feinberg (repeat performer – was in Cinderella)
• Mr. Beauregarde – Miles Zakos (repeat performer – was in Cinderella)
• Mike TeaVee – Mekhi Flannigan
• Ms. TeaVee – Hannah Farkus 

Fourth Graders:

• Mr. Salt – Tommy Murgutroyde
• Mrs. Bucket – Edna Creelman
• Mr. Bucket – Zach Fainor