WILLY'S CANDY SPECTACULAR: A MUSICAL PARODY Casts Two Actors From Original Gene Wilder Movie
Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody is a parody stage reading of the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and the project has cast two actors from that original film.
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), was "lured out of retirement" to narrate from August 9th to 18th, and Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), will step in from August 19th to 26th.
Joining them is Kirsty Paterson, the original Glasgow Chocolate Experience disaster cast member the internet named Sad Oompa Loompa.
The ensemble cast includes Shelley Regner (Pitch Perfect series), Eric Petersen (School of Rock The Musical, Shrek: The Musical), Nicole Greenwood (In Plain Sight), Wilkie Ferguson (Broadway's Motown: The Musical), Cassandra Parker (Cabaret), Monica Evans (Singer/Songwriter), and Chris Villain (Freakshow).
The project comes from Richard Kraft of Kraft-Engel Productions and director Andy Fickman (Heathers: The Musical). Surprise guests are also being teased.
The book for the musical will be written by Kraft and Fickman, who share a mutual love of musicals, obscure show biz references and Gene Wilder.
Kraft said in a statement: "If you announce it, they will come. It was only in March that I came up with the notion for a stage musical. I had a press release before I had a show.
“Then a great team of top songwriters wrote our score of sixteen tunes. Next, the perfect director, Andy Fickman, signed on.
“And now our dream cast has assembled to premiere this crazy idea at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest. Even in my purest imagination, I couldn't have seen this all coming together so beautifully and so fast. It is simply scrumdiddlyumptious."
Andy Fickman adds: "I feel like Willy Wonka himself standing at the gates to the factory with this remarkable cast all arriving with their Golden Tickets ready to perform. Working with this glorious cast in this dreamy musical is already a joy, but to add the original Veruca Salt and Mike Teevee to the mix—my head is having an explosion of sweet treats!
The music from Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody will be created by Riki Lindhome, Daniel Mertzlufft, Doug Rockwell & Tova Litvin, Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, Megan Cavallari, Kate Miccuci, Jennifer Lucy Cook & Richard Kraft!
For more information on Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody, visit willyscandyspectacular.com
Performances will take place from August 9th to 26th at the Edinburgh Pleasance Dome in Scotland.