Welcome to a world of pure imagination!
Chesterton High School’s Theatre brings their wonderful version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life on stage. With the original story written by esteemed author Roald Dahl, this production tells the memorable story of Charlie Bucket, a little kid with a big heart, and his adventures inside the chocolate factory of wacky and enigmatic master chocolatier and candyman extraordinaire Willy Wonka. It’s a tale for all ages that teaches that actions have consequences and that having a strong moral compass counts.
“Working alongside everyone in the cast and crew here tonight makes me feel better,” said freshman Gannon Michna, who portrays the production’s humble hero Charlie Bucket. “The people who worked on this production are amazing and know exactly what they’re doing. While I did get a little nervous at first, having the support of everyone here made it so fun and worthwhile.”
Chesterton High School's iteration of the iconic story is closer to Dahl’s original book than both the 1971 and 2005 film adaptations, in terms of overall narrative structure. However, the story’s thematic messages remain intact, an example being how most of the main characters represent the seven deadly sins.
“We put so much work into this show and I hope people come out to see it,” said senior Zane Trent, who portrays the bizarre but magical Willy Wonka. “No matter how rough the process was to get here, it all comes together in the end. We’ve dealt with a lot of stress this past week, but I couldn’t feel any better about acting on-stage tonight.”
Through this experience, the cast and crew really bonded over their common interests and passion for theatre. Despite the challenges, they were able to overcome any obstacle through cooperation, dedication, and a strong work ethic.
“The students have made new friendships and grown closer in the past few months,” said Anne Sharp, Director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Language Arts Teacher at Chesterton High School. “Throughout this whole production, the actors honed their interpretative skills by building their characters from clues provided in the text. I am proud of the students and grateful to the Duneland community for allowing me this opportunity.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be performed at Chesterton High School on February 29 at 7 p.m. and March 1 at 2 p.m. Don’t miss this GOLDEN opportunity!