On Friday, December 6, The Lower School Drama Club presented the musical, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory to a packed house. The production was directed by Joy Rathemacher, Lower School Curriculum Coordinator at RCDS with musical accompaniment from Robin Benowitz. The students worked for weeks to prepare for the production, practicing after school to learn lines, songs, and dance steps.
The popular musical is based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel by the same name about a young boy’s adventures inside the magical candy factory of the enigmatic Willy Wonka. Enjoyed by generations of fans, young and old, the classic children's book has been adapted for both stage and screen (in 1971 starring Gene Wilder and in 2005 starring Johnny Depp). The Lower School musical starred Lydia Lu as Willie Wonka, Lily McDonagh as Charlie Bucket, Alex Mitchell as Grandpa Joe, and featured a supporting cast of very talented actors: George Baugh (Augustus Gloop); Blaire Sheftel (Mrs. Gloop); Lila Greene (Veruca Salt); Nate Whiottemore (Mr. Salt); Alex Popham (Mrs. Salt); Kaylie Wiley (Violet); Ella Bilow (Mrs. Beauregarde); Kwame Abebreseh (Mike Teevee); Grace Silbert (Mrs. Teevee); Grace Gibson (Mr. Bucket); Emily Nocella (Mrs. Bucket); Molly Devine (Grandpa George); McLane Gmelich (Grandpa Georgina); and Reece Jones (Grandma Josephine). The Oompa Loompas included: Lucy Devlin; Christian Stone; Rachel Gardner; Zoee Chrysanthopoulos; Hudson Skove; Reed Elsas; Grayson Turkaly; Lydia Olivieri; Aine McDonagh; Evelyn Jones; Parker Gmelich; Molly McCarren; Arielle Morris; Emily Ketterer; DJ Devine; and Alex Baret.
