KD Studio and Imagination Players Present Willy Wonka Jr.!
It is always a treat when a classic children’s book comes to life on the stage…especially when it’s Willy Wonka Jr.,—and Charlie is a girl!
The popular children’s play is adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald and based on the fantasy “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, will be presented by Imagination Players on July 12-15 in the KD Studio Theatre/Trinity River Arts Center (TRAC). Making his directorial debut with Imagination Players, is long-time theatre veteran, Andy Baldwin.
According to Baldwin, in choosing a girl 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, she 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 Willy 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 was chosen by producer Lynn Ambrose is because it is a timeless story. Baldwin was excited to make this production come to life. “It was so pure to the original text,” he 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 lighter and fun themes within the play. We call this the ‘White Chocolate’ version.”
The production is under the Direction of Andy Baldwin with Musical Direction by Lynn Ambrose. Stephanie Butler is the Choreographer with Costume design by Ryan Matthieu Smith and Mark Guerra.
Ticket prices are $15 for general admission with students only $8 with ID. Tickets are available online here, with a $2 service charge or with no service charge at the door on the days of the shows. All major credit cards are accepted.
Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased here. Prices for adult tickets are $15 and students are $8.
About Imagination Players:
Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem, and a life-long appreciation for live theatre, Imagination Players is a year-round performing arts training program for young people ages 6-19. Imagination Players students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale productions. All performances are by Imagination Players students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.
About KD Studio:
KD Conservatory, a professional film and acting institute, was founded in 1979. It provides training to actors for stage, television and film performances.
WILLY WONKA JR
Directed by Andy Baldwin
Musical Direction by Lynn Ambrose
KD Studio Theatre
Trinity River Arts Center
2600 Stemmons Frwy #180
Dallas, TX 75207
July 12-15, 2012
Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM
$8 Students-$15 General Admission
