BY MICHAEL BENAVIDES
Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS- Ranney Lower School students from the fifth and fourth grades will take to the stage in a musical production of Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka JR.”
The performances for the musical are at 7 p.m. on April 28, and 7 p.m. on April 29, at the Ranney School, 235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls. The play is free and open to members of the public.
The musical will be co-directed by Ranney Lower School Teachers Lisa Geene and Connie Congemi.
Geene said that the musical “Willie Wonka JR.” is based on Dahl’s book entitled, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Geene said the adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. The production features the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder in addition to a host of fun new songs from Dahl’s “Willy Wonka JR.”
Geene said Dahl’s “Willy Wonka JR.” follows candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy.
According to Geene, Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Wonka’s rules in the factory or suffer the consequences.
Geene said that the reason she and her colleague Congemi chose to do this musical was they wanted to get all their students involved with the production.
“We chose this musical because it features a large cast of boys and girls. We have 39 very talented fourth and fifth grade students involved in this production. Also the students at Ranney Lower School read the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in third grade so they are familiar with the basic plot,” Geene said.
“We try to choose musicals that will provide an enjoyable, positive introduction to musical theater. This version is part of Music Theater International’s Broadway Junior Collection, which is specifically tailored for Upper Elementary School students,” Gene said.
According to Geene the following fifth grade students from the Ranney Lower School are playing the following characters in production of “Willy Wonka Jr.”
They are: Lindsay Berlinliner (Mrs. Bucket), Mason Bindler (Charlie Bucket), Luke Buda (Augustus Gloop),Araiya Casriel (Violet Beauregarde), James Crowley (Grandpa Joe), Starlette Dettro (The Candy Man),Claire Farren (Veruca Salt), Sean Kennedy (Mike Teavee), Sophie Krakowski (Grandma Josephina), Brooke Lembo (Phelicia Trout), Sophia Lennon (Grandma Georgina/Mrs. Gloop), Matteo Martino – (Capt. Loompa/James), Gabrielle Morale (Mrs. Teavee), Riya Sikand (Mrs. Beauregarde/Matilda), Seth Tolchin (Mr. Salt/Grandpa George), John Welch (Willy Wonka) and Jason Woska (Mr. Bucket).
Geene said the following fourth grade students are playing the Oompa Loompas and children in the musical.
They are: Ruby Baxter, Sophia Behar,Ethan Bodner, Elle Brandt,Courtney Cane,Petra Dudick, Matthew Dupree, Ava Garcia ,Alex Gleason, Alexander Holt, Gavin Jones, Rianna Khan, Krishna Khetani, James Lawson, Sabrina Lo, Isabella Paulus, Cole Serrapica, Julia Stobie, Adam Tahi, Lynna Wang, Bianca Warren, and Lucas Yanney.
Geene said her students are currently rehearsing their lines for the musical.
“We began rehearsing after school in January and moved our rehearsals onto the performance stage at the end of March. Our Lower School art teacher, Mrs. Barbara Levine, worked with students to create a set and props. We are currently running scenes in sequence and adding the finishing touches to our choreography and blocking,” Geene said.
“The students have been very successful in memorizing their lines, songs, and movements. The cast is enjoying their time together and they work on homework and running lines together when they are not on stage,” Geene said.
“It has been a joy to work with these students, they are very enthusiastic and creative. Our entire Ranney School community is looking forward to the production; many will come to both nights of performances. It will definitely be a success and an experience that the students and their families will treasure for years to come,” Geene said.
“This is a timeless story with fun songs and a happy ending that is appropriate for all ages,” Geene said.