Introducing ... the Students of Willie Wonka, Jr.

For our final installment on Willie Wonka, Jr., we thought you'd like to meet the students behind the scenes (and in front, too) of the production.

As you may have guessed, the plot of Willie Wonka, Jr. is similar to the movie we know and love, with just enough new to make it more fun than ever!  The two primary characters are Willie Wonka, of course, played by IMS 8th grader John Blanding, and Charlie Bucket, played by IMS 7th grader, Abigail Croy. 

John Blanding as Willie Wonka at a fund raiser last fall at Barnes & Noble. Photo by Sheri' Barker. When asked about the impact of the production on him personally, John said it was "one of the most beneficial activities" in his two years at IMS.  Abigail, who auditioned for the part of Veruca, at first thought her selection to play Charlie was a joke.  Although she's gotten "messed with" by her friends for playing the male role, she's very excited about doing so next week!

Abigail Croy as Charlie Bucket at a fund raiser last fall at Barnes & Noble. Photo by Sheri' Barker.There will be nearly sixty 7th and 8th graders on stage or working behind the scenes at the performances next Monday & Tuesday, March 8-9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Shades Valley Theatre auditorium.  (Tickets at the door are $4 for adults, $3 for students.)  See if you don't know at least one of these students:

Performance Team

Wonka                                      John Blanding
Charlie Bucket                            Abigail Croy
Grandpa Joe                               Justin Nail
Mr. Bucket                                 Chi Houston
Mrs. Bucket                               Jamelia Baker
Phineous Trout                           John Littlefield
Agustus Gloop                            Chris Bellow
Mrs. Gloop                                 Becca Barrett
Mike Teavee                              Chris Nguyen
Ms. Teavee                                Emily Passmore
Violet Beauregarde                      Maya Lewis
Veruca Salt                                Jalen Wilson
Grandma Josephina                      Sarah Hartley
Grandma Georgina                        Halley Moon
Grandpa George                           Brandon Pickett
Mrs. Beauregarde                         Lydia Keating
Mr. Salt                                     Marco Cox
Oompa Loompa Chorus  /Charlie’s Friends:
James                                       Fran Tyson
Matilda                                      Tyra Morris
Katie                                         Katianna Brennan
Sally                                         Deminise King
Sophie                                       RaShaun Showers
Alfie                                          Jaime Luvianos-Martinez
Dance Captain/Lilly                      Kayla Thomas
                                               Celeste Macon
12 Oompa Loompas!

Sound Tech                               Travis Bishop
Cue Director/Krebs’ Assistant       Quinneth Sutton
Assistant Director                       Viche Stevenson 

Design Team

Cristian Drake
Undray Eldridge
Edgar Gaspar-Ojeda
Kaleyn Gay
Caroline Japal
Ryan Johnson
Haydee Landa-Vasquez
Kelsey Lanum                   
Larisa Moore
Carlos Orellanos
Taylor Parsons
Micah Patterson
Eric Pryor
Mitchel Schafer
Alec Soulis
Maresha Sturdivant
Sinahi Tello
Sheldon Thomas

Publicity Team

Andrew Coleman
Julius Hamie
Brandi Hutcherson
Lindsey Meads
Syndey Portis
Charity Powell
Jalen Pullom
Sean Rease
Mekayli Threat
Wakita Wilson

IMS Instructors

Lesli Fason
Stacia Jacks
Brittany Krebs