Turlock Youth Performing Arts’ production of “Willy Wonka” will make its debut on July 24 at 7 p.m. at the Turlock Community Theatre, 1574 E. Canal Drive.
A second performance – with American Sign Language interpretation – will be held July 25 at 7 p.m.; the final performance will be a matinee, at 2 p.m. on July 26.
Tickets are $18 if purchased in advance by visiting TurlockYourthPerformingArts.org, or for $20 at the door.
“We’re right on schedule, believe it or not,” Tom Oakley, who is co-directing the production with former TYPA performer Emily Wooten, said of rehearsals. “It doesn’t usually happen that way, but we work really well as a team. It’s coming along.”
Based on the 1964 book by noted children’s author Roald Dahl, iterations of “Willy Wonka” were released on the silver screen in 1971, 2005, and 2023 – making the story a widely known favorite of multiple generations.
Wooten is a Hughson native who studied theater at Abilene Christian University and now teaches theater in San Jose. She explained that TYPA’s board of directors has a big hand in deciding what play will be produced each season but believes that “Wonka” offers more than just being familiar, catchy tunes that will be popular with audiences.
“A bigger reason for me for this show is that I really enjoy the message of imagination and how it’s not limited to just one person,” said Wooten, who directed last year’s summer production of “Freaky Friday.” “We get that false belief throughout the show that Willy is the only person who can imagine in the way that he does, but he’s trying to teach us throughout the show that it’s something we call all do if we just try.”
Wonka is played by Ayden Day.
“When I heard that they were doing ‘Willy Wonka’ I knew it was the role I wanted,” said Day, who graduated from Turlock High in May. “Willy Wonka is very creative and judged for it. And I kind of feel that applies to me. I’m very out there, and people judge me for it, but I don’t really care … just like Willy Wonka doesn’t.”
“I didn’t really know the show that well, so I tried out for the role of Veruca (Salt) because I thought it would be fun to play a role like that,” said 12-year-old Stella Mayer, who will enter the seventh grade later this summer and is playing Charlie, the main child character typically portrayed as a boy. “But I definitely don’t have Veruca’s personality, and it would’ve been harder for me. The role of Charlie wasn’t what I was expecting, because this is the senior show and they just let this age group come in.”
Typically, the senior production is for TYPA’s high-school aged students. But because children – not to mention the diminutive Oompa Loompas – feature so prominently in the story, the summer production was opened to its younger members.
Recent Turlock High graduate Xavier Bettencourt will play the role of Grandpa Joe, Charlie’s plus-one for the visit to Wonka’s famed chocolate factory.
“Pretty immediately I knew that I wanted the role of Grandpa Joe because I have a golden ticket,” said Bettencourt. “The movie was a favorite of my mom’s and that got passed on to me. I saw the old Gene Wilder version, exclusively, until I was about 12 years old. In my head (Jack Albertson) was the only Grandpa Joe there was, and I just loved that character.”
“Willy Wonka” was adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics written by Bricusse and stage and screen legend Anthony Newley.
“Willy Wonka” is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
TYPA was formed more than two decades ago by a group of parents seeking a musical theater program in the community for kids 8 to 18.
