Bob Herzog as Willy Wonka. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati ends its 89th MainStage Season with ROALD DAHL’S WILLY WONKA JR. directed and choreographed by Jay Goodlett. Words and music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy A. McDonald, based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to life in this stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which features the songs from the classic family film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
LOCAL 12’s Bob Herzog will play the famous chocolatier, Mr. Willy Wonka, in the production.
Featuring a memorable score by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Dolittle) and Anthony Newley, “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR.” follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory–or suffer the consequences.
ROALD DAHL’S WILLY WONKA JR., The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, through April 12. 7:30 p.m. Friday April 4; Saturday April 5, 2 PM and 5 PM; Sunday, April 6 and Saturday, April 12, 2 PM; Taft Theatre, 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets $7-$25. 1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.
Find your Golden Ticket and you could live out a Willy Wonka fantasy! Chocolate bars will be given out at two TriHealth Priority Care locations – on Saturday, March 15 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Priority Care Western Hills, 6139 Glenway Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211; and on Saturday, March 22 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Priority Care Mason, 8350 Arbor Square Dr., Mason, OH 45040. Five lucky winners will join Bob Herzog as he throws out the first pitch at a Cincinnati Reds game and see ROALD DAHL’S WILLY WONKA JR., plus win a Reds Heads Kids Club Membership and more great prizes.
Don’t miss Kid’s Kuisine, a tasty fundraiser for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, presented by Cincinnati Magazine on Saturday April 5 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Taft Theatre Ballroom, 317 E. 5th Street. Kids Kuisine guests will enjoy food and drink from exciting sponsors while area restaurants will showcase creative kid’s menus. There will also be “Play with your Food” stations plus young chefs will get inspired at the cooking stage. Children’s tickets are $15; adult tickets are $25 purchased in advance. To purchase call Chris Ohmer at 513-562-2777 or visit cincinnatimagazine.com/events.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s production of ROALD DAHL’S WILLY WONKA JR. is made possible by the generous support of TriHealth. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is supported by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Children’s Theatre’s Season Sponsors are the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation. Media sponsors are LOCAL 12, The Cincinnati Enquirer and Q102. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
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