Penn-Trafford High School’s upcoming performance of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has taken senior Isaiah Cordera back to his childhood.
Having grown up watching the film, Cordera is excited to bring the character Charlie to the stage during the show’s debut weekend, April 4 to 6.
“It’s a really fun musical and with it being a classic movie growing up, I hope (the audience) also tunes into those memories of when they first watched it or read it,” he said.
The nearly 60-person cast and crew will perform the show at 7:30 p.m. April 4, 5, 11 and 12, as well as 3 p.m. on April 6 and 13.
The “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” musical, based on the 1964 novel by British author Roald Dahl, was first performed on Broadway in 2017. The licensing for the show was released in November 2023.
Senior Aidan Coiner considers it an honor to be among the first Western Pennsylvania schools to bring the musical to life.
“It’s a privilege to be able to introduce a lot of our audience members to this musical for the first time because it’s so new,” he said. “A lot of people probably haven’t seen it, so we have the honor to create these characters and what they look like for the audience.”
Despite the show’s difficult vocals, Director Janine Kucinski knows the actors are up to the challenge.
“Our students at Penn-Trafford are so musically talented and are great actors,” she said. “It was just something that we knew would be challenging, fun and something that our students could rise to the occasion and put on for our community.”
Drama guild producer Jen Haberberger has helped bring the fictional chocolate factory to the stage, Kucinski said.
“Everything that you see on the stage when they’re in the factory, (Jen) has taken a lot of time to create and bring those things to life,” Kucinski said. “She’s imaginative, just as much as Wonka is, so I think having her on hand helped out a lot too.”
The drama guild will perform the show in Penn-Trafford High School’s performing arts center, located at 3381 Route 130 in Penn Township. Tickets are available online via pthsdramaguild.com and at the door. They cost $16 for adults and $14 for students, children, senior citizens and members of the military.