Willy Wonka KIDS ShowKit

Bring the magic of Broadway to your classroom and school theater with these student adaptations of classic Broadway musicals. Each of these treasured tales is teacher-tested, kid-friendly, and custom tailored for success.  

The ShowKit includes the following resources you need for a successful production with easy suggestions for staging, costuming, and sets, making it a perfect opportunity for an all-school collaboration:

• Director's Guide, which includes:
• A three-ring binder allowing you to carry all of your production information in one place and expand and customize the binder to meet your production need
• The Actor's Script section of the Guide features a full-sized script for easier viewing
• Expanded resources in all production and curriculum areas that reach three levels of directing experience: beginning, intermediate and advanced
• Downloadable resources including audition materials and editable forms
• 30 Actor Scripts
• Piano/Vocal Score
• Digital Content Access – including accompaniment tracks, guide vocals, choreography videos, and show resources!

Note: school name, director name, and an email address MUST be provided to receive the licensing agreement and digital content. Your order cannot be completed without this information and will delay the arrival of materials.

The vocal parts have been carefully adapted to be sung by unchanged or changed voices and the script and score have been custom-tailored to make the show appropriate for young performers through the ninth grade. Upon placing your order, you will receive a Dramatic Performing Rights License from Hal Leonard Corporation which will allow your organization unlimited performing rights for one year. 

Who is eligible to purchase this showkit?
Accredited schools using actors in Grades K-9, including American schools with an APO address
Homeschool organizations

All other organizations must order directly from Music Theater International (MTI).

SHOWKITS ARE NON-RETURNABLE.

Overview/Synopsis:
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. With a flexible cast size, a tour-de-force role for the title character, songs from the film classic and some clever new additions, Willy Wonka KIDS runs about 30 minutes and will delight performers and audiences alike!

Songs:
Golden Age of Chocolate
The Candy Man
(I've Got a) Golden Ticket
At the Gates (Pure Imagination)
Factory Reveal Sequence
Oompa-Loompa 1
Oompa-Loompa 2
Burping Song
I Want It Now!
Oompa-Loompa 3
Oompa-Loompa 4
Finale

Cast of Characters:
Willy Wonka
Willy Wonka is an enigmatic character; at once mysterious and mischievous but also charismatic. There are a number of directions to take with Wonka, ranging from Gene Wilder's version in the original film, Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, to Johnny Depp's portrayal in the 2005 film, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, and everything in between. Pick a young man (or a young woman) who is charismatic, engaging and has a great voice (in the case of a young man, preferably a changed voice). The actor should be able to be funny and serious and change between the two on a dime. It is preferred that Wonka double as the Candy Man, as it helps reinforce that Wonka has staged the Golden Ticket competition and is somewhat controlling this contest along the way.
Candy Man goes from neighborhood to neighborhood selling candy, much like an ice cream truck. He should be pleasant, charismatic, and friendly. The Candy Man sings the song "The Candy Man" and has some work with Charlie. It's possible for a girl to play this role, but she should play the role as male, otherwise the title of the song may not make sense.

Charlie Bucket
The role of Charlie Bucket is the emotional heart and soul of the musical. The actor performing Charlie should have an unchanged voice and lots of pluck and enthusiasm. Think a male "Annie." Charlie is in nearly every scene, so make sure you select an actor who can handle the demands of a sizable role.

Grandpa Joe
Grandpa Joe is the grandfather we all wish we had when we were Charlie's age. He is caring, patient, sweet and always reminds Charlie to remain cheerful. Cast an actor who can be kind and funny.

Mr. and Mrs. Bucket
Mr. and Mrs. Bucket are great roles for young people who have nice voices, and are natural nurturers. Mr. and Mrs. Bucket can double as Oompa-Loompas in the second half of the show.

Phineous Trout
Phineous Trout is the reporter who announces the winners of the Golden Ticket contest throughout the show. The role requires some singing, and can be played by either a boy or a girl. If played by a girl, be sure to change the pronouns appropriately.

The Oompa-Loompa Chorus
The Oompa-Loompa Chorus can be as small as a handful of performers or as large as your stage and theater can accommodate. Consider casting your youngest performers as Oompa-Loompas and augment them with a handful of older students who can take the lead and serve as Oompa-Loompa wranglers.

Augustus Gloop
Augustus Gloop is the overachieving eater who represents the evils of eating too much. Be extremely sensitive in casting this role as it is tempting to cast an overweight young person and that can be scarring-especially if the child struggles with this issue. Consider casting a thin child and creating the illusion of size via the costume. Either a boy or a girl acting like a boy can play Augustus.

Mrs. Gloop
Mrs. Gloop is Augustus' mother who has overindulged her son with food. The role requires a character actress who isn't afraid to take positive risks both in her acting and her singing.

Mike Teavee
For this adaptation Mike Teavee is not just a TV junky. He is also addicted to video games, the Internet and any other mindnumbing technological device. Mike is bratty, loud and obnoxious. He does not know the word "no." Mike could also be portrayed by a girl playing a boy.

Ms. Teavee
Ms. Teavee is a take on all television moms of the distant past. Think June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver) or Marion Cunningham (Happy Days) or even Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch). She's perfectly put together and a bit vacant.

Violet Beauregarde
Gum chewer extraordinaire, Violet Beauregarde hails from Snellville, Georgia, so it's nice if she has a Southern American accent, but not necessary. Violet should stand in stark contrast to Veruca Salt. Veruca is a wealthy refined brat; Violet is more of a bluecollar, middle class brat.

Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt is the wealthy, class-conscious, spoiled brat. She is often portrayed with a high British accent that is by no means required (brats come in all nationalities). Veruca's solo number "I Want It Now" is deceptively tricky and comes late in the show, so select a young woman with a strong voice. Veruca should contrast sharply with Violet Beauregarde in terms of look and physical type.

Charlie's three grandparents
Grandma Josephina, Grandma Georgina and Grandpa George Charlie's three grandparents are mainly non-singing character roles. Cast performers that are innately interesting, who have good comic timing and are solid actors. These actors can double as Oompa-Loompas in the second half of the show.

James
James is Charlie's friend from school. He has a few lines and sings the introduction of "The Candy Man" along with Matilda and Charlie.

Matilda
Matilda is also a schoolmate of Charlie's, but she's a bit of bully. Matilda has a few lines and sings the introduction of "The Candy Man" along with James and Charlie.

The Candy Man Kids
The Candy Man Kids sing "The Candy Man" and their numbers may be expanded as you see fit and your program will allow. The names of the characters have been drawn from other Roald Dahl books. Feel free to assign additional names to match the number of performers you cast. (All students like to go home and exclaim "I'm playing Alfie in Willy Wonka JR." versus "I'm just Kid 2 in 'The Candy Man.'") You may also cast a single class to perform these roles, as they appear only in this number unless you choose to double them as Cooks and Oompa-Loompas.

Mrs. Beauregarde
Mrs. Beauregarde is a teacher of geography and has invested a great deal of hard-earned money on therapy for her orally fixated daughter, with less than stellar results. The role is virtually non-singing. Her accent should match Violet's.

Mr. Salt's
Mr. Salt's solution to most problems is to buy his way out. He is upper class, and usually portrayed with a high British accent. (But this accent is not necessary-just make sure Veruca and Mr. Salt sound like they hail from the same place.) He sings very little. A female actress playing male may also play the role.

The Squirrels
The Squirrels are non-speaking, non-singing roles and you can cast as many as necessary. This is a great part for beginning actors.