|
News Releases 
"I've heard tell that what you imagine sometimes comes true." -Grandpa Joe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
For Immediate Release: August 3, 2001
Minneapolis, MN - The Children's Theatre Company kicks off its 2001-2002 season with the Twin Cities professional premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Based on the book by Roald Dahl and adapted by Richard R. George, the production is directed by David Schweizer, with choreography by Matt Jenson, set design by James Noone, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kirk Bookman, sound design and music composed by Mark Bennett, and shadow puppet design by Anthony White.
In the beloved classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka has held a contest to select five golden ticket winners to tour his newly reopened Chocolate Factory. An astonishing journey begins when the young winners assemble with their chosen adult guests at the factory gates. Once inside, four of the children succumb to temptations expressly forbidden them by the zany and slightly maniacal Willy Wonka. Their outrageous and ghastly fates are echoed in rhyme by the fantastical factory workers, the Oompa-Loompas. In the end, Charlie stands alone to inherit rewards beyond his comprehension.
In this fantastical theatrical staging, the four nasty children, Augustus, Violet, Veruca, and Mike are undone in the hyper-imagined Chocolate River, Invention Room, Nut Room, and Television Chocolate Room. And, just as many children and their families are familiar with Roald Dahl's literary masterpiece, either from the book or film, no one can be fully prepared for what surprises will magically appear on CTC's mainstage.
"I'm so excited about adding the work of Roald Dahl to our repertoire," says CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius. "He is one of the authors who shaped contemporary literature for children. His point of view is radical and satiric, and his characters are fabulously quirky, so it seemed quite natural to invite David Schweizer back to apply his inventive and experimental skills this new production."
According to Schweizer (who directed last season's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day), although he and the creative team are creating a distinct world, they are also creating a world filled with immediacy and contemporary issues. "It is afterall, a parable about taking responsibility for your actions," says Schweizer. "But, even though it is a cautionary tale, it also begs the question, whose fault is it when bad things happen?"
Roald Dahl is one of the most beloved authors of children's fiction. He began his career writing for adults, recounting his experience as a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force during World War II. He did not beginning writing for children until 1960, when he created stories for his own children. His body of work includes James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Director David Schweizer has been directing and developing innovative theater work since the early 70's after attending Yale Drama School. He has directed the premieres of plays by Sam Shepard, Albert Innaurato, Michael Weller, and Ronald Tavel, along with creating new theatre pieces of his own in both this country and abroad. Schweizer first came to CTC last season to direct the fall production Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, his first venture into theater for children.
Choreographer Matt Jenson is the artistic director of New & Slightly Used Dance, a modern-based dance company, seen locally at the Walker Art Center and the Red Eye Theatre. Set Designer James Noone has won a Drama Desk and American Theater Wing Design award for his work on the Broadway production of Jekyll and Hyde as well as a Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle Nomination for Night Must Fall. Costume designer David Zinn has received an OBIE Award for Mamba's Daughters, as seen at South Carolina's Spoleto Festival and a Garland Award for Seattle Rep's The Cider House Rules and Henry IV, Part I as seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lighting designer Kirk Bookman has created the lighting for multiple regional theaters as well as several Broadway productions including The Sunshine Boys and Gentlemen Prefer Blonds. Sound designer/composer Mark Bennett has won multiple awards and received grants from The National Endowment for the Arts and The Mary Cary Flagler Charitable Trust for his work on broadway and at regional theatres Shadow puppet master Anthony White has studied the art and craft of shadows at the Minneapolis College or Arts and Design, the California College of Arts & Crafts, and Institute of American Indian Arts. He has been a member of CTC's resident staff since 1990.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is performed by a 17-member cast including CTC Resident Company Members, Performing Apprentices, guest artists, and student actors. CTC Resident Company Member David Cabot plays Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of theinfamous chocolate factory. In eight seasons as a CTC Resident Company Member he has been in many productions, including Pippi Longstocking, Mississippi Panorama, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This production marks Gerald Drake's 30th season with The Children's Theatre Company. In that time he has played just about everything, from the wicked stepmother in Cinderella to the bumbling crook in Pippi Longstocking. This time he accompanies Charlie on a tour of the factory as Grandpa Joe. Steven Anthony plays Charlie Bucket in his second production at CTC. Last season, he played the title role in CTC's fall production Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Several student actors new to CTC join this production. Augustus Gloop is played by Conor McDonald who has appeared in the Minnesota Opera productions of I Pagliacci and Camina Burana. Adeola Ojo plays Violet Beauregarde. Sabrina Crews, playing Veruca Salt, has been in numerous productions at Youth Performance Company, Illusion Theatre, and Hidden Theatre among others. Skilled character actor and CTC Resident Company Member Dean Holt plays the gadget-crazy Mike Teavee. Last season, Holt was a cop and a crook (Pippi Longstocking), a spellbound alegator (Mississippi Panorama), and an evil dwarf (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which runs in repertory with Dragonwings, opens August 24 and runs through November 3. Preview performances are Tuesday, August 21, Wednesday, August 22, and Thursday, August 23. Ticket prices are $9-22 for children, seniors, and students, and $15-28 for adults. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information, call the CTC Ticket Office at (612) 874-0400 or visit us online at www.childrenstheatre.org. The Children's Theatre Company is located at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and CTC will host the PAY WHAT YOU CAN performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, October 9, one week prior to the performance.
The Children's Theatre Company is nationally and internationally acclaimed as America's flagship theatre for young people and families. Each year, CTC's public performances, school matinees, regional tour performances, and Theatre Arts Training programs serve over 340,000 people.
More about CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY»
Back to News & Reviews
|
