Junior high thespians offer Willy Wonka Jr.
Barry Halvorson bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Barry Halvorson Rehearsing one of their scenes, Willie Wonka, played by Tyler Knezek, advises Violet Beauregard, portrayed by Marissa Hlavinka, on the negative aspects of constant gum chewing. The pair are two of the featured performers in this weekend's Wharton Junior High stage production of Willie Wonka Jr. The musical will performed at WCJC's Horton Foote Theatre. Performance times are 7 p.m.

While they might find Algebra as being one of their toughest classes, Tyler Knezek, Parkes Ousley and Marissa Hlavinka are making sure they keep the math grades up so they can do the things they really enjoy.

That list of activities includes being involved with this year's Wharton Junior High production of Willy Wonka Jr.

The students will be performing the musical March 7 to 9 at the Wharton County Junior College Horton Foote Theatre.

Performance times are 7 p.m. on March 7 and 8 and 2 p.m. on March 9. Tickets are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for students and children.

The three eighth graders are part of a cast of more than 50 students involved in this year's production.

Knezek was picked for the prime role of Wonka while Hlavinka portrays the gum-chomping Violet Beauregarde.

"I was part of the crew for our last play but I prefer being in front of the audience," Hlavinka said.

"And I wanted either the part of Violet or Veruca Salt because they are pretty important parts. But I was leaning toward Violet because she chews gum through out the play and I like gum."

In addition to her class and rehearsal schedule, Hlavinka is also involved in track and takes dance classes.

"But right now the play is first," she said. "I do like acting. And I find it pretty easy memorizing lines because it's a lot like memorizing a song and I enjoy music."

Knezek said that he is basing his performance on that of Gene Wilder's in the original Wonka movie.

"But I am trying to inject some of my own personality," he said. "I'm thinking about a number of careers but certainly being an actor is one of them. I enjoy being in front of an audience."

Another member of the junior high track team, Knezek said being part of the play cast is a learning experience that goes beyond stage work.

"I'm involved in a lot of things so it's hard to budget your time to do everything," he said. "That's something I'm having to work on so I can keep my grades up."

While he's been on the stage before, Ousley's influence on Wonka is behind the scenes as the student director.

"I'm mostly an actor but this is a way I could help the play out," he said. "And as an actor, I've had to help with the crew in the past. I'm not sure that theater is something I want to do for a career, but having experience is something I could fall back on doing."

As the student director, Ousley works closely with faculty director Jenifer Knezek, the school's fine arts teacher. And since Wonka is a musical, choir director Alana Huggins is serving as the vocal director for the play.

This is Knezek's sixth production at the junior high and one of her most ambitious in terms of both script and the size of cast and crew.

"We cast the play before the Christmas break but didn't start rehearsals until January," she said. "And we've been going full force. This is a little longer of a production than we've done in the past and it's a musical. But it's a fun production."

She said she selected Wonka because it is such a familiar story both in print and having been made into movies. She picked the "junior" version because it is geared more toward the age group she is working with.

"The music has many of the familiar songs but in keys more suited to younger voices," she said.

She added that she's been particularly pleased not only with the cast but with their parents.

"They've been a great group," she said. "At the junior high level, we have to work around a lot of different activities and family plans, including school extracurriculars like sports and then church and other things. I think it's a positive the students are involved because it forces them to learn how to juggle things, which is an important life skill. And even though this isn't a UIL competition, we still have to follow the no-pass, no-play rules. And so far, we haven't lost anyone from the production to grades, which I think is a compliment to how hard they are working."

In addition to the opportunity to see the students perform, Knezek has scheduled a special incentive to attract audience members.

Taking a page from the play, Wonka bars will be on sale during each performance with one bar featuring a prize-winning golden ticket.

The Willy Wonka cast list includes:

Willy Wonka-Tyler Knezek; Charlie Bucket-Kris Stolte; Grandpa Joe- Colin Curlee; Candyman-Demetrius Peacock; Mr. Bucket-Dustin Zahn; Mrs. Bucket-Stephanie Grissom; Phineous Trout-Dustin Black; Augustus Gloop-Thomas Keilman; Mrs. Gloop- Hailey Welch; Violet Beauregarde- Marissa Hlavinka; Mrs. Beauregarde- Tori Chumchal; Veruca Salt-Elle Shackelford; Mr. Salt-Jacob Hinze; Mike Teavee-Nathan Williams; Ms. Teavee-Jazmine Marbles; Grandma Josephina-Kaitlyn Douglas; Grandma Georgina-Madison Cline; Grandpa George-Victor Cuevas; James-Brandon Rachunek; and Matilda-Tirzah Hall.

Oompa Loompas: Presely Gajewsky, C.J. Roberts, Devyn Flynn, Hannah Gubbels, Cassidy McDonald, Hunter Ustynik, Kaitlyn Norrell, Cassey Woodfin, Dalton Woodfin, Phillip Johnson, Natalie Allen, Kristen Cullers and Stephanie Perez.

The Candyman Kids/Chorus of Cooks/Squirrels: Lara Ramirez, Joy Nusplinger, Emily Abbott, Jason Lemson, Brandon Rachunek, Hannah Harper and Andrew Cruz.

Student director: Parkes Ousley; crew: Jessica Rome, Tori Hobbs, Taylor Stavena, Austin Cruz, Egan Bennetsen and Cade Koonce; make-up: Haley Jansky and Erin Long; tickets: Haley Burger and Priya Hajari; backstage manager: Sara Sindelar; and sound: Chris Martin.