Willy Wonka comes to stage this holiday season
VOLUNTEERS hold chocolate Kisses, including Katie Best, Windsor Square, (holding strawberry in center).
Willy Wonka will find himself in a chocolate factory once again this holiday season when the Nine O’Clock Players bring author Roald Dahl’s story to life.
Showtimes are Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 23 at the Assistance League Theatre, 1367 N. St. Andrews Pl. in Hollywood.
“We’re so excited to highlight our production of ‘Willy Wonka!’ this year! It is a very special production, because in our nearly 100-year history, we’ve never put on this show before,” volunteer Katie Best said.
“It’s been a big undertaking—everything from the costumes to the props had to be imagined and created for this new show,” she added. Best is among several locals who are putting in overtime to bring the show to the stage. Others include Libby Jasper who leads the play reading committee. For this season, the committee chose “Willy Wonka Theater for Young Audiences,” a version familiar with local children who have probably seen the movie adaptation of the tale and are familiar with the story. “Tickets have been selling at a record pace, so we are excited that the community has responded so positively,” Best said.
“In addition to 17 exuberant actor volunteers, we have countless people helping to create the magic (around 60 all counted). Many of our volunteers are retired people looking to give back. A bunch are younger people using their creative energies for good in a tough job market,” she added.
NINE O’CLOCK PLAYERS CHAIR Gail Panatier, and Erin Jordan, of Paramount Pictures, show off a giant Kiss.
Retired Disney Imagineers bring their creativity and aesthetic to the Wonka set and prop design, joining professional builders to do the construction and the small army of volunteers to prep and paint the sets. Professional set painters put on the finishing touches.
A volunteer day hosted for the Young Professional Group of the Assistance League of Los Angeles helped create candy props and paint sets. Other volunteers have had prop parties at their homes, including in Larchmont, making paper-mache strawberries and giant Hershey’s Kisses.
For tickets and more information visit nineoclockplayers.com.
Category: People
