HOW TO GO
What: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka
Where: Turner Pavilion, Veterans’ Park, Springfield
When: 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 2
Admission: no cost; donations are accepted
More info: call 937-324-2712 or go to www.SpringfieldArtsCouncil.org.
The Summer Arts Festival has your golden ticket and you won’t even have to purchase a Wonka Bar, Everlasting Gobstopper or Fizzy Lifting Drink to get it.
The Ohio Performing Arts Institute will produce and perform “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2 at Turner Pavilion in Veteran’s Park.
This one-night only performance is presented by the Springfield Arts Council and is appropriate for all audiences. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted.
The musical, the first of two on this year’s festival schedule, follows the beloved 1971 film adaptation of author Roald Dahl’s classic book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” about an eccentric candy maker who hands out golden tickets to five lucky children to tour his wondrous factory.
Four of the five have behavior issues, along with the protagonist, Charlie Bucket. Each learns a lesson and one may get a lifetime supply of chocolate if they can make it through Wonka’s surprise-filled factory.
“This is a musical fantasy, a perfect show for the park,” said D. Scot Davidge, the show’s director, artistic director and founder of Ohio Performing Arts Institute. This is the group’s first show for the Arts Festival.
The musical follows the movie’s script with some additions according to Davidge. There are 110 local kids and adults in the cast, ranging in age from 5 to 50, including 36 portraying Oompa Loompas, where there were just six in the film.
“This is what community theater is about – getting the community involved,” said Davidge.
The show has a few musical numbers not in the original film as well, with around six musicians playing live.
“It’s a big production based around small numbers,” Davidge said. “Expect humor and fun, fun, fun.”
The Arts Festival will continue its local musical productions with “Grease” July 17-20.
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