Purple Cat to present ‘Wonka’

Production will be the group’s first at the Playhouse

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Purple Cat Productions will present “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” this weekend at the Youngstown Playhouse.

It will be the troupe’s first production at the theater, which it relocated to earlier this year.

“Willie Wonka” is directed by Amy Rigby, who recently helmed productions of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Alice in Wonderland” for Purple Cat at Southwoods Executive Center.

“Willy Wonka” will feature a cast of nearly 30 actors on the Playhouse’s main stage.

Performances will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $10 for general admission seating and can be purchased by calling the Youngstown Playhouse at 330-788-8739, Ext. 3, or visiting the theater box office at 6600 Playhouse Lane (off Glenwood Avenue) during regular business hours. Tickets can only be purchased with cash or checks, and there are no online sales.

Based on the 1964 Roald Dahl children’s classic and subsequent musical movie, “Willie Wonka” tells the story of little Charlie Bucket and the “magical golden ticket” that changes his life — and the lives of his family — forever.

Featured in the show are Mark Castro as Willie Wonka, Eric James Trebus as Charlie Bucket, Russell “Radar” Pavlov as Grandpa Joe, Matthew Fertig as Mike Teevee, Michael Kawecki as Augustus Gloop, Kristin Seidler as Violet Beauregarde, and Laurie Wilson as Veruca Salt.

Rounding out the cast are Darlene Anderson, Jami Crook, Monica Crowe, Alice Dreher, George Frobel, Kayla Hamm, Ashley Harris, Alfred Holes, Timothy Johnson, Danny Kerr, Scott Leishman, Rachel Levoff, Samantha McCue, Lonnie Morris, Iris Pegan, Ben Reese, Melissa Roller, Christine Slabe, Richard Stanton, Jimmy Sutman, Nikki Taub, Gay Weatherall, Stacy Woods, and Pauline Zuccaro.

For information about the musical or Purple Cat Productions, call 330-788-8739.