Ready for ‘Charlie’?

 

Come with me, and you’ll see.

The Whitehall High School Drama Club is ready to show everyone the world of Willie Wonka as it presents “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and March 20, with performances at 7 p.m. both nights and at 2 p.m. on Saturday.


“I am looking forward to the performance,” said senior Barbara Spoor, who plays the role of Veruca Salt. “I think that everything is going well and everybody is getting their parts down. Hopefully, we’ll pull it off.”

Spoor, who is in her fifth and final musical production, said she has enjoyed her time on stage and enjoys her final role.

“It has been great becoming closer to the people in drama and helping me be more comfortable on stage,” said Spoor. “Veruca is a fun character to go out on because she’s a brat – and everybody knows that I’m not a brat in real life.”

Senior Dana McLaughlin will take on the role of the mysterious man of chocolate as part of his sixth and final production.

“I have seen both, and I would say that I am more Johnny Depp than Gene Wilder,” said McLaughlin. “The Depp version is creepier, and I like that better.”

McLaughlin said he has also learned a lot from being a member of the drama club.

“I think that it has helped me mature as a person,” he said. “It’s fun to do.”

As for the title character, the role went to a first-time drama club member in Zac Griffin.

“It is really good to be in my first show and to have the role of Charlie,” said Griffin. “I have been looking forward to being in drama club and it has been great coming together with everybody and all going after one goal, to put on a great show.”

Grampa George will be played by senior Chris Bartholomew, who is in his fourth production.

“I have enjoyed the opportunity to be around everybody and be the comic relief,” said Bartholomew. “I love this year because I get to be the senile grandfather and the performance is definitely something that I am looking forward to.”

Junior Aerial Ramey will take part in her third drama club production, playing the role of Gramma Georgina.

“I like the different music and the different kind of characters this year,” said Ramey. “I like drama because I am able to be myself and I like to be goofy and active.”

Freshman Adam Koeble is in his second production.

“I was a munchkin in the ‘Wizard of Oz,’” said Koeble. “I was looking forward to being in drama club again and being able to hang out with friends and being able to laugh.”

Freshman Jaykob Neddo said he was excited to find out that he was going to have a speaking part in his first drama club production.

“It was great to be a part of the drama club and then getting a speaking role was even better,” said Neddo.

The production is co-produced by Whitehall music teacher Chris Palmer and Marc Pratt.

“It has been good so far and we would really like to thank those who participated and helped with the recent basket party for the drama club,” said Palmer.

Tickets for the show will be available for $8 each in the junior/senior high school library and during rehearsals the week of March 15, as well as at the door for each performance.