The production was chosen by student vote at the end of last year and has been in the works since the fall. They held auditions in September and rehearsals began in November. According to music director and FLVT teacher Dana Visser, the beloved story offered the perfect mix of whimsy and creativity.
"We chose Willy Wonka because there are so many unique characters, fun songs, and awesome opportunities for dances," said Visser. "It's a great chance to showcase our talented students."
In addition to the three evening performances, the cast and crew are also hosting five daytime matinees exclusively for other schools—four shows per day over two days—giving student performers even more chances to shine.
Grade 9 student Minsung Kim, who plays the iconic role of Willy Wonka, is soaking in every moment of his final musical at FLVT.
"I'm so excited to be playing Willy Wonka, the main character and the chocolate maker himself. It feels like a dream—which is ironic because my character is going to be the one making dreams come true," said Kim. "Everyone in the group is having a wonderful time and we're making great memories together."
Fellow Grade 9 student Bella Carroll stars as Charlie Bucket and shares that the experience has been personally meaningful.
"Willy Wonka is one of my dad’s favorite movies. He was pretty excited when I told him I’ll be playing Charlie and I can’t wait for him to see the show," said Carroll. "It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve made a lot of close friends in Grade 7 and 8. It will be hard to leave them when I go to high school."
You can get your tickets to the chocolate factory today by visiting the FLVT website here or on EventBrite.