Get a taste of ‘Willy Wonka’

The story of a young boy with the golden ticket comes to life in Wantagh this weekend as the middle school Drama Club performs “Willy Wonka.”

The play is based on the 1964 children’s book by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” There will be three performances in the high school auditorium, including Friday and Saturday nights, and a Saturday matinee.

Eighth-grader Joey Streib plays Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of the candy factory. “He has a great singing voice and is having a lot of fun with his character, really good at reading the humor in all of his lines and delivering that,” Director Samantha Dolley said of Streib.

John Sileo, also an eighth-grader, plays Charlie Bucket, the young boy who finds one of five golden tickets to receive a tour of Wonka’s factory. “He is very mature for his age,” Dolley said of Sileo, “and really thinks about his character. He’s very funny, too.”

Playing the other golden ticket winners are Lauren Daniels as Veruca Salt, Chris Murale as Augustus Gloop, Joey Labo as Mike Teavee and Jessica Schmidt as Violet Beauregarde. The cast of 55 includes the Oompa Loompas, the pint-sized workers at the chocolate factory.

Rehearsals began in December, and Dolley said there is a lot of enthusiasm among the cast. “The kids love it,” she said. “The songs are quite infectious.”

Streib, who is starring in his fourth show at Wantagh Middle School, said he sees a little resemblance between himself and Willy Wonka. “It’s fun because you get to act like crazy and insane on stage,” he said. “It’s an interesting part because it’s not a normal, regular person.”

His favorite moment in the show is the scene on the boat, which he said is a little darker compared to the overall happy tone of “Willy Wonka.” Sileo enjoys the song at the end of Act I, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.”
“It’s really a classic that the audience should know,” Sileo said.

This is Sileo’s third show at Wantagh Middle School, and he has also been in the ensemble for a high school production. He said he likes the optimistic nature of his character, Charlie.

Dolley said that the sets were professionally made for this show, including the purple factory walls with gears and buttons, as well as the gates to Wonka’s factory. She said the strength of the show will be the singing and dancing talents of the cast.

“All of our kids have very strong singing voices this year,” said the high school science teacher, who is directing her first show in Wantagh.

“I’m really proud of these kids and how far they’ve come,” Dolley added. “These kids have been working really, really hard.”

‘Willy Wonka’

When: Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m.
and 7 p.m.
Where: Wantagh High School auditorium, 3297 Beltagh Ave.
Tickets: $15 at the door or in advance at www.seatyourself.biz/wantaghms