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Willy Wonka features 3 local actors in community musical

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All from southwest Wisconsin, (from left) Cary Kann, Shawn Zeeh and Mary Beth Specht are big players in the Willy Wonka production slated to start at the Elkader Opera House Sept. 29. Kann has designed all the sets and backdrops and plays Mr. Salt, the wealthy father to the obnoxious ticket winner want-it-all, Veruca. Zeeh is the lead character, Willy Wonka himself, Specht is costume designer and also plays Mrs. Beauregarde, whose daughter is the always-gum-chewing ticket winner, Violet. (Submitted photos)

The ticket winners, reporter, and town kids are pictured in front of the Wonka Gates—a set not quite complete yet, but designed by Cary Kann, of Prairie du Chien, nonetheless.

Charlie, Mr. and Mrs. Bucket, and Charlie's grandparents are pictured in the "Bucket Shack," designed by Cary Kann.

By Correne Martin and Cheri Moser

The Opera House Players announce the most scrumdidilyumptious musical of the 2016-2017 season, rounding off its 50th year as a community theater group. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka opens Thursday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Elkader Opera House.

The story follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever finds 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. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory—or suffer the consequences.

This family-friendly production features 17 different backdrops, five large set pieces and two medium-sized set pieces—all of which have made finding room backstage kind of like putting together a puzzle.

This production is comprised of 34 cast members from 11 different communities including 21 children. Three of the adult cast members are from southwest Wisconsin.

Performing in the role of “Willy Wonka” is Shawn Zeeh, a kindergarten teacher for the Wauzeka-Steuben School District. Shawn is new to the Opera House stage. He has been interested in auditioning for past productions but didn’t until this year, when he was awarded the lead role.

“This is an exciting opportunity and an amazing group of talented people to work with. I'm looking forward to a wonderful performance and seeing it all come together,” he said.

“We’re really enjoying Shawn. He has such a booming voice and a great stage presence,” said Cheri Moser, who is co-directing the musical along with her husband, Jonathon. “Also, his personality has been a great addition to our group.”

Sharing the stage with Zeeh are Prairie du Chien residents Mary Beth Specht and Cary Kann. Specht will play the role of Mrs. Beauregarde, whose daughter is the always-gum-chewing ticket winner, Violet. Kann will play the role of Mr. Salt, the wealthy father to the obnoxious ticket winner want-it-all, Veruca. Kann is also responsible for much of the artwork and set design the audience will enjoy while watching the show.

“Cary has been in a lot of Opera House plays. He’s designed every single set and put them all in scale so they can be easily built with the help of our crew,” Moser noted.

Though she’s also a veteran with the theater group, Specht is in charge of costumes for the first time with Willy Wonka.

“I love her attitude. She’s a super shopper and knows how to keep everyone in good character while also fitting everyone’s body shape and size,” Moser said. “She’s simply taken our ideas and run with them.”

Putting the show together this season has been so much fun for everyone involved. The first full run through with costumes was over the weekend, in fact.

“We have a large cast made up of mostly kids so the energy in the room is infectious,” Moser added. “This is my favorite part of it all. The lines are memorized, the costumes are there and the sets are done. Now we can just work on perfecting it and focus on the small character details.”

Willy Wonka is a musical based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. In 1971, Paramount brought the book to life on the big screen with Gene Wilder in the title role of “Willy Wonka.” In 1972, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score, which included “The Candyman”—which is also in the score of the stage production. Oompa Loompas, Mrs. Gloop, the Salt family and other colorful characters will take audiences of all ages on a fantasy ride into the land of pure imagination!

Willy Wonka runs Sept. 29 through Oct. 8 at the Elkader Opera House. Showtimes are 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 2., and 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 6-8. Tickets should be purchased in advance by calling (563) 873-2378, emailing tickets@icsbbs.com, or visiting Moser Pharmacy in Elkader.

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