Winning ticket

[Illustration courtesy Ocala Civic Theatre]

Who loves chocolate?

Who wants to visit Willy Wonka and meet some Oompa-Loompas?

Well, here’s your chance.

The Arts For All youth production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will be live on stage from July 10-12 at the Ocala Civic Theatre.

The beloved tale begins with a narrator (Kyleigh Wilkinson), who tells theatergoers that young Charlie Bucket (Peter Inhofe) is in luck at last. Up until now, he’s had a hard life with his poor family. All crowded into one little house live his mother (Grace Fontaine), his father (Greyson Sweet) and his four grandparents: Grandma Georgina (Sarah Roy), Grandpa George (Marlowe Laverdiere), Grandma Josephine (Nevaeh Parker) and Grandpa Joe (Gideon Shrable).

But Charlie finally unwraps a sweet surprise: He finds a golden ticket inside his chocolate bar, winning a magical trip to the mysterious chocolate factory owned by Willy Wonka (Leif Bouker). It’s an amazing adventure as Charlie meets the candy man himself and steps into a world of pure imagination, where fates of every flavor await, the news release noted.

And some of the other winners, and their families, encounter some truly memorable fates at the factory. There is greedy Augustus Gloop (Richard Fontaine) and his mother (V Hill), spoiled Veruca Salt (Natasha Inhofe) and her parents (Sophia Upham and Raina Wands), gum-smacking Violet Beauregarde (Caeryn Golden) and her mother (Grace Lynne Taylor) and television-addicted Mike Teavee (Thomas Hill) and his parents (Rae Westerberg and Anna Fontaine).

But perhaps the most memorable are the Oompa-Loompas (Hannah Adkins, Aslin Bikfalvy, Natalie Demos, Robin Ford, Noa Goldin, Juliette Martin, Stella Sanchez-Ortiz, Amaru Stewart, Elizabeth Widdman) who work at the factory.

“Is it a journey dark or sweet down this chocolate river, and what lies ahead for these children? A creative and colorful confection, this fantastical play is everlasting fun,” according to OCT.

The Arts For All youth cast are actors aged 9 to 17. The production is directed by Katarina Shaner. The scenic and projections designer is Babatunde Adebisi. The costume designer is Lydia Oesterich. The lighting designer is Cheyenne Dever. The sound designer is Alexa Hall. The props designer is Tara Oathout.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. July 10 and 11, and 2 p.m. July 11 and 12.

The theatre is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Purchase tickets through the box office in person or over the phone at (352) 236-2274.

To learn more, go to thecivic.org