Golden ticket to fun: Theatre to visit ‘Charlie & The Chocolate Factory’

Dublin Community Theatre invites the community to join them in a world of “Pure Imagination” with a musical journey of fun and chocolate.

Chris Pittman is not only directing and serving as the musical director for “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” but he is also leading the tour as Willy Wonka.

“I love that he is a bit eccentric,” Pittman said about the Wonka character. “I love that he is creative and whimsical. At the heart of it, he really does believe in seeing things that aren’t in your physical reality and making it present in your reality.” 

Pittman likes his multi-generational cast with ages ranging from 9 to adults in their 50s. People from Laurens, Bleckley and Treutlen counties make up the cast.

“That’s one of the best things about doing a show like this,” he said. “We have a lot of people and we truly have a diverse cast. Bringing together a musical of this size is really great for the community.” 

Hudson Hatcher will be playing Charlie Bucket. Hatcher last hit the stage as Winthrop Paroo in “The Music Man” last July.

“Hudson comes in so prepared,” Pittman said. “He’s got a good stage presence, and he is so professional.”

Hatcher likes the fact that Charlie is very kindhearted and generous. 

“I like how fun, crazy and wonky you’ve got to get in this show,” Hatcher said. “(Pittman) is very animated, and he takes everything like a compliment. He looks for the positive.” 

Hatcher said it has been fun working with Kyle Wells, who will be playing Grandpa Joe.

“He really animates everything,” he said. 

Pittman said Wells brings an authenticity to Joe.

“And he’s a great singer as well,” Pittman said. “His instincts are wonderful. It’s been many, many years since he’s been in a high school production, but he’s killing it in this production as Grandpa Joe. We’ve got to age him a bit, but that’s acting.”

Wells’ daughter, Brielle, who is in the show as one of the Oompa-Loompas, wanted to try out for the show and asked him to do it with her. He sang a song and was asked who he was reading for. 

“I told them nobody,” Wells said. “They called and said Brielle got a part and asked me to be Grandpa Joe. I said OK. It’s been fun.”

Which includes working with Hatcher. 

“That kid is amazing,” Wells said. “I think in our second or third rehearsal, he already had Act One memorized. I’m pretty sure he has Act Two memorized as well. He can sing very well.” 

Kayleigh Horton stars as Charlie’s mother, Mrs. Bucket.

“This is a really, really fun show,” Horton said. “Hudson is so sassy, but a kind boy.”

Mrs. Bucket is not only looking after Charlie, but Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina.

“(Mrs. Bucket) is so sweet and fragile,” Horton said. “Without any husband to support her, she’s doing all that she can.” 

Caleb Bryant, who will star as Mike Teavee, and Mrs. Teavee, played by Tara Heal, last played mother and son in “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” the first stage production put on by Dublin Community Theatre in 2023. Heal was excited to be in a production based on her favorite film “Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” 

“I like that I get to be fun and silly,” Heal said.

Bryant said Mike is the total opposite of himself.

“He’s not really a likable character and that has been real fun,” Bryant said. “He acts like he knows everything. He’s this brat who tries to boss everyone around. He is really infatuated with TV and being on TV and playing video games.” 

Robert Patisaul will be staring as Augustus Gloop, will be touring the factory with his mother Mrs. Gloop played by Nichole Padgett. 

“He’s like me, I like to eat,” Patisaul said. “I like doing his accents. He’s a fun character to do.”

Padgett, who has done a lot of productions with the Dublin Main Street Players, will be starring in her second play with Dublin Community Theatre.

“Of all of the characters I’ve ever played, I’ve always been typed cast,” Padgett said. “It’s easier to play when you are typed cast because you don’t have to change your voice. With Mrs. Gloop, it has been fun because I get to go over the top.” 

Lorelei Mullis knows how that is, since she will be playing Veruca Salt.

“It’s really interesting because I’m not like her at all,” Mullis said. “It’s really fun to play a role that is so different. It’s very interesting. I can go above and beyond. I can show my parents that I could be a lot worse than I really am.”

Mullis enjoys making new friends and helping some of the younger actors. Except for “Steel Magnolias,” she has been in every play for the Dublin Community Theatre.  

“There is not really another outlet for me to do this,” Mullis said. “I’m really glad that they started this because this is one of my favorite things to do.” 

Jacob Berry is playing Mr. Salt.

“It is kind of fun to play him,” Berry said. “I’ve never done a Russian accent, so that is really fun to do. I had to learn a few Russian words. I always like trying new things and this is completely out of the range of things I’ve ever done before.” 

Alexia Boynton is taking the stage as Violet Beauregarde. And just like Violet, Boynton likes to chew gum.

“She puts herself out there and she loves social media,” Boynton said. “She likes communicating with others. She loves branding herself and I love that,  and gum, too.”

This is the first-ever stage production Boynton has starred in.

“They have made me feel really comfortable,” she said. “They made me feel like I’ve done this before. Lorelei has been a really big help.”

Boynton, who is from Soperton, is friends with Horton. 

“She introduced me to the theatre, because I am very passionate about this as well as her,” Boynton said. “She has been in a bunch of these productions. It sounded like fun. We don’t have anything like this close to home.” 

Boynton has enjoyed working with Pat Brock, who will be staring as her mother, Eugenia Beauregarde.

“Eugenia is like this cheerleader and paparazzi for her daughter,” Brock said. “She is high energy and believes in her daughter like no other. It’s really over the top, but I’m over the top. This is how I am when it comes to my kids. The way I am about Violet, that’s how I am about my own daughter.” 

There are six Oompa-Loompas, 10 ensemble members which includes four from G Rhythm Studio, and six ensemble dancers and singers. In total, there are 34 cast members. They will have a 10-piece orchestra. All are music educators and band directors. Raeley Loyd is serving as the show’s choreographer.

“We’ve had dancers who have come in from G Rhythm to be part of this show who have never been in theatre before, so this is new for them,” Loyd said. “And it has been new for theatre kids to be around dancers. They are all learning a lot from each other which has been nice.” 

Loyd knew some of the cast members were not dancers when they agreed to be in the show.

“I make sure that they understand this is a safe space and that everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect,” she said. “They can ask me or the dancers questions. We’re not going to ask them to do something they can’t do. I will break it down, how it can be done or should be done, so that they can practice their moves at home.” 

Tickets for the show, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Theatre Dublin, can be purchased by going to the Downtown Dublin website (downtowndublinga.com) or by going to purplepass.com/chocolate or calling (478) 272-2560. 

“This is a really great opportunity to see a diverse group of young actors and a group of seasoned actors,” Pittman said. “Also, there’ll be a collection of people who have and have not been on stage. You’re really getting to see a professional level show done in this historic beautiful theatre. It’s going to be a treat.”