By SAVANNAH BARR

s.barr@bradfordera.com

It will be a sweet time indeed when Willy Wonka comes to the stage at Bradford Area High School. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets will be available at the door for $15 per adult, $10 per senior citizen or student and $5 for children younger than 5.

More than 40 students are involved in this production, which is the first districtwide school musical in six years.

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Bradford Area School District students rehearse for their upcoming musical production of “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.”

Era photo by Daniella Langianese experience,” said director Andrew R. Dutko, BAHS vocal music instructor.

“Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” allowed for filling the cast with a wider age range than some other versions. Cast members run the gamut from kindergarteners to seniors. And this version is sure to tug on the heartstrings of those who love the 1971 film.

“Its strong tie to the original movie, ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,’ certainly makes it much easier for the audience to access the rich art and charm of Roald’s work through a theatrical medium,” said Dutko.

The stage and auditorium will be filled with fanciful, candy-colored creations such as a pink candy boat, a nut-sorting machine and fizzy lifting drinks to create an immersive audience experience. Assisting Dutko will be musical veterans Nanci K. Garris, Mikayla Schaumleffel, Emily Frederick and Courtney Renko as choreographer.

Jennie Jones, BAHS instrumental music teacher, will direct a live orchestra of more than a dozen students and members. Songs will include “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.”

Owen Troisi will play the charming yet eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka. Charlie (Patrick Smith) will bring his Grandpa Joe (Ethan Lundgren) along on the exclusive tour of the candy factory. The four golden ticket winners will be Sebastian Smith as the gluttonous Augustus Gloop, Eda Edwards as the spoiled rich girl Veruca Salt, Payton Eddy as gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde and Damian Royer as television-obsessed Mike Teavee.

Their parents will be Felicity Cramer as Mrs. Gloop; Ambrose Rogers as Mr. Salt; Ella Hope as Mrs. Beauregarde and Violet Papinchak as Ms. Teavee.

Charlie’s family will be played by Astro Boon as Mr. Bucket, Taryn Thompson as Mrs. Bucket, Gianna Addotta as Grandma Josephine, Erica Everetts as Grandma Georgina and Wren Harris as Grandpa George.

Fenix Harris will bring newscaster Phineous Trout to life.

Oompa-loompas will be Cory Rose, Silas Quino, Madison Ronan, Cecilia Rogowski, Stefan Darr, Andrew Wright, Rynae Darr and Marielle Thompson. Doing double duty as more oompa- loompas will be Astro Boon, Erica Everetts, Taryn Thompson, Felicity Cramer, Fenix Harris and Wren Harris.

Jacob Moore will appear as a cook and member of the crowd.

Each elementary student will play a school child and a squirrel. They are Jeremiah Seastrunk as James, Willow Smolak as Matilda, Harper Butler as Sophie, Jett Warfield as Danny, Claire Warfield as Amanda, Elleyanna Wright as Billie, Tenley Bell as Lavender. Also appearing are Carolynn Spencer, Dawsen Green, Inez Quick, Miles French, Liam Childs, Kenzie Clark, Kaylie Schwab and Lennon Phillips.

Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley wrote the music and lyrics, while Bricusse and Tim McDonald adapted the original story to the stage.

The show is presented by special arrangement with Music Theater International.

Boosters will offer refreshments and “candygrams” that audience members can send to the cast and crew. There will also be a display of cast photos and biographies and a golden ticket photo backdrop for selfies.

This opportunity will be one of enrichment for cast, crew and advisors alike.

“Having three new music teachers in our district meant an opportunity to teach some of the extracurricular of the job,” said Dutko. “In order to have a strong musical theater program it is vital to get younger students involved.”

He hopes this experience will give district members confidence to try more extracurricular events within their own school’s programs for years to come.

“Every cast member is valuable when we all put effort into it,” said Dutko. “Each contributes a unique characteristic that no one else can replicate.”

He hopes this production will bring the community together for a few hours of whimsy and imagination.

“Theater should always be a way to escape and entertain,” said Dutko. “Creation brings unity and every community needs that.”