Most know about that special golden ticket and a land filled with lollipops, gumdrops and rivers of chocolate from the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or the more recent `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.` From Feb. 5 to 7, middle schoolers from Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs will bring the classic to life with a stage production of `Willy Wonka.`
Director Candace Calvin thought `Willy Wonka` would be the perfect play for the sixth- through eighth-graders to perform because they’re familiar with the movie version.
`We’ve planned quite an amazing, colorful set. I’m excited for everyone to see all the stuff we have. We have a few special effects planned. This year, we’d like to get some kids to fly,` said Calvin, who has been directing plays at the middle school for three years.
The cast of 110, whittled down from a whopping 250 who auditioned, rehearse from November to February, but the planning starts months earlier.
`It’s a huge undertaking and actually starts the summer before, as far as picking out the play, ordering things, planning schedules,` said Calvin.
Directing a play might be hours of hard work for Calvin, but for the young actors and actresses preparing, the fun outweighs the work.
`The best part is the cast. It’s just really fun hanging out with everyone,` said Kasha Zygadlo, an eighth-grader who plays Charlie’s grandma.
Zygadlo is no stranger to theater. She attends the camp Saratoga Summer Stages each summer and most recently played the part of Dorothy in `The Wizard of Oz.` She said acting comes naturally and she likes being the center of attention.
`I like performances the best and just getting to be a different person is a lot of fun,` said Zygadlo.
Andrew Losey didn’t know if he liked theatre or would be any good at it. So when he auditioned for the play and got the lead role of Charlie Bucket, he was surprised.
`I tried to save my excitement for home so I could experience it with my family. I’m a little nervous because I haven’t done this before,` said Losey, a seventh-grader. `Remembering my lines is the hardest, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.`
Losey credits Calvin with introducing him to drama. When he had her as a sixth-grade language arts teacher, she wrote in his yearbook to try out for the play in seventh grade, so he did and he’s glad.
`I get to meet a lot of new people and I’m getting a lot of help from everybody. I’m meeting people I might have never met and I’ve never really been the center of attention before,` said Losey, who said he plans to act again.
Some students, like seventh-grader Brendan Dailey, have acting experience and don’t mind alternating between big and smaller roles.
`I’ve done a lot of plays through the years and have had big parts, so having a smaller [part] this time doesn’t matter to me,` said Dailey, an Oompa Loompa. `I like singing more than acting and just interacting on stage. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun.`
Calvin said giving students of all experience levels a chance to act is what keeps her coming back year after year. She said the kids she comes across are always great, but this year’s bunch is `extremely focused` and putting forth an impressive effort.
`I like to see the kids get a chance to bring themselves to the part and bring ideas of what they like to do and how they like to do it,` said Calvin. `The best thing is actual show day because it’s so special for them.`
Calvin has also directed `Seussical` and `High School Musical,` two plays she said were very kid friendly and fun to put on. While she’s been around acting for years, she never actually took to the stage herself.
`I have no theatre background, personally. My daughter has done it since she was about 5, and about 10 years ago she was in the national tour of ‘Annie,’ so I traveled with her all over the country. My parents also were in theatre,` said Calvin.
Next year’s production is still up in the air since she’s concentrating on getting through this one, but Calvin said she thinks she could do a put on a good show with `Annie.`
`I’ve seen it about 300 times so I’m pretty sure I could do a good job,` she said.
`Willy Wonka` will be performed in Trombley Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7.
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