Willy Wonka takes the stage at Central Elementary School

Editor’s note: The Central Valley Elementary School’s Drama Club production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” made its debut this past Wednesday in the school’s auditorium. What follows is a piece by Sheila Duffner on what went into the effort before the curtain rose. Central Valley - More than 75 fourth- and fifth-grade Central Valley Elementary students have been acting, singing and dancing in preparation for their production of “Willy Wonka Jr.,” the stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory published in 1964 by British author Roald Dahl. This story chronicles the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric candymaker, Willy Wonka. Most are familiar with the movie versions of the book made famous by Tim Burton’s more recent take on the book by the same title starring Johnny Depp and the 1970 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. Directed by Pat Murray, this year’s production is shaping up to be a wonderful progression from last year’s inaugural Drama Club performance of “School House Rock Live! Jr.” The director acknowledged the support she and the Drama Club has received from all facets of Central Valley Elementary, including Principal Theresa Reynolds and Assistant Principal Christine Conway. “Kids, I have worked at a lot of schools in my more than 25 years of school productions, and I can tell you that the support we get from your principals and their staff has been the best,” Murray told her cast. Murray’s direction is flanked by the choreography and music direction talents of Central Valley’s Michele George and Jeanette Russell whose “day jobs” are as the string orchestra director and general music teacher/choral director, respectively. Additional rehearsal support has been provided by third-grade teacher Lorraine Yeager, who has also worked with her fellow third-grade teachers to work study of Roald Dahl into their curriculum due to the interest sparked by the upperclass students. “When students are actively engaged in the arts, it truly is the process of bringing the production to the stage that is so very important,” said Monroe-Woodbury District Music Coordinator Linda Dziuban. “What I have observed is the amazing process that our students are so enjoying even as they are working so hard.”