50 Actors Star in Willy Wonka Musical Staged by Pied Piper Players in San Mateo

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of the Pied Piper Players:

More than 50 Bay Area actors from age 5 to 50 will star this month in a stage adaptation of the classic family tale of Willy Wonka at the Bayside Performing Arts Center in San Mateo from Nov 15 to Nov. 24.

“We think this show offers a great opportunity for families to get together and get the holiday season in to full swingkick,”said Mike Meadors, Director of Willy Wonka for Pied Piper Players. “Our Willy Wonka is going to be a magical, glittering, fun-filled experience that kids of every age can enjoy.”

Wllly Wonka, of course is the character in Roald Dahl‘s 1964 children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Like the film adaptation, this Willy Wonka production vividly depicts an odd Wonka, a creative and eccentric genius. He bewilders the other characters with his antics, but young Charlie enjoys Wonka’s behavior. Wonka leads the characters through an entertaining tour of his magical, but odd, chocolate factory.

Tickets are just $18 for adults, $13 for seniors and $13 for children and can be purchased online at www.piedpiperplayers.org. Show times are:

Friday, November 15 @ 7pm
Saturday November 16 @ 2pm
Sunday, November 17 @ 2pm (Special TalkBack with cast following the show)

Friday, November 22 @ 7pm
Saturday, November 23 @ 2pm
Sunday, November 24 @ 2pm

All shows are at Bayside Performing Arts Center, 2025 Kehoe Avenue, San Mateo.

Wonka is the 26th production for Pied Piper Players, which was founded 12 years ago. Members of the cast live in communities throughout the Peninsula including Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough, Belmont, Woodside and more. Actors rehearse more than 200 hours in the weeks leading up to the show and deliver a professional performance that includes a live orchestra. All Pied Piper Shows feature full-time directors of music and choreography.