2025 LHS Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Opens to Capacity Crowd

Max Wasilew as Willy Wonka enters the stage after emerging from his factory. Photo - Justin Scott

Justin Scott - School News

8 Mar. 2025

It is the biggest weekend of the year for the Lowell Performing Arts Center (LPAC) and Lowell theater students. The 2025 Lowell High School Musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, debuted on Friday at LHS.

Directed by Amanita Fahrni, assisted by Heidi Kolp, Julia Crawford, Anna Mainero, Tim Haan, and Nathan Masterson, the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is well known. The story of Charlie and the Chocolate is well known. For those who haven’t seen the movies or read the book, Charlie lives in poverty with his parents and four bedridden grandparents in a tiny house. His family struggles to afford food, and Charlie has a bit of a sweet tooth often dreaming of creating candy. Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of the world's most famous chocolate factory, suddenly announces a contest: five Golden Tickets hidden inside chocolate bars will grant a visit to his secretive factory and a lifetime supply of sweets.

The winners include:

Augustus Gloop – a gluttonous boy obsessed with food., played by Harper Postema.
Veruca Salt – a spoiled, demanding rich girl played by Marley De Jong. Salt is traditionally portrayed as an English girl, but in this adaption was of Russian origin.
Violet Beauregarde – a competitive gum-chewer played by Elyse Veldman who is given a “pop-queen” like attitude.
Mike Teavee – a boy obsessed with television and gadgets, with a proclivity for rebellion, portrayed by Anderson Stoner.
Charlie Bucket – the kind-hearted and humble protagonist from a low-income family portrayed by Natalie Saylor.

Max Wasilew took center stage as the enigmatic and eclectic Willy Wonka. Famously played by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothy Chalemet in major motion pictures, Wasilew’s Willy Wonka was playful, charming, and had a mix of dark humor as well as the kids dropped out of his factory tour.

“I feel that by a God given miracle I’ve performed the best I’ve ever done,” Wasilew told the Ledger after the show.

“I really felt the positive energy of the crowd and was able to interact with them really well. In total I feel that our cast was absolutely on fire tonight despite so many nerves. I feel that I really saw so many of the golden ticket winners shine and really feel the crowds energy. In particular I saw Elyse, Harper, and Marley shine more than usual. Everyone in our cast really shined tonight but those three I really saw feel that energy. We have so much talent in this cast it is absolutely unbelievable. We really made something out of nothing and performed to the best of our abilities. I hope everyone can get to come and see all of my friends sing, dance, and act their hearts out,” added Wasilew.

Inside the factory, the children witness astonishing rooms filled with magical and surreal sweets, like a chocolate river, edible flowers, and Everlasting Gobstoppers. Each clearly flawed child finds their way into trouble.

Augustus Gloop falls into the chocolate river and gets sucked into a pipe.
Violet Beauregarde turns into a giant blueberry after chewing an experimental gum.
Veruca Salt is deemed a "bad nut" and sent down a garbage chute by trained squirrels.
Mike Teavee is shrunk to the a very small size after trying to be put on tv.

The adaption by LHS used a number of props including faux grass and paper mache objects like mushrooms, lollipops, and a number of seemingly edible sweets to emulate the magic of Willy Wonka’s factory. Real candy is on the set including Tootsie Roll’s “Frooties” which are in a number of containers in Willy Wonka’s shop at the beginning of the play. Set design and construction was managed by the LHS crew and Sarah Ellis, Tony Ellis, and Denise Beimers. Large props like Willy Wonka’s glass elevator and the entrance to the factory are highlights, but perhaps most impressive was the portrayal of Mike Teavee’s demise. LHS had three real televisions strung up, which were controlled by a pulley system. On each television was real footage of Stoner as Mike trying to get out of the television.

Some of the props before being brought on backstage on opening night. Each prop is handcrafted by the LHS crew.

“I think that everyone performed amazing last night. There was not a single person on that stage who didn’t give it their all, and it really showed. I think this show is truly wonderful, and everyone should come see it,” said Anderson Stoner who played the role of rebellious techy Mike Teavee.

Charlie, who remains humble and respectful, is the last child standing. In a shocking twist, Willy Wonka reveals that the factory tour was actually a test, Charlie becoming the one who wins the grand prize. Wonka offers him the factory itself, making him the heir to his candy empire. Saylor who played Charlie Bucket, rode off with Wasilew in the show’s concluding scene, just as Peter Ostrum did as a child with Gene Wilder in the 1971 film.

“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to perform for our community,” Lowell junior Natalie Saylor who plays one of the two leads, Charlie Bucket, said after the show. Saylor played the role of Nigel in Matilda in 2023 before being a part of the ensemble in Beauty and the Beast last year.

“Tonight was a great opening to our show and I can’t believe how many talented people I am surrounded by. Everyone in the cast, and crew is so supportive of one another and it really showed tonight. The atmosphere was energetic and encouraging and after the first few moments of nervousness, I couldn’t have been happier to be on the stage. This has been one of the best opening nights in any production I have done yet and I can’t wait to keep this energy going for the rest of our shows.”

“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to perform for our community,” said Natalie Saylor who plays Charlie Bucket.

The cast was mainly those with previous musical experience. It isn’t easy to be a part of this cast. A number of students who were in both the fall and Christmas play weren’t in the cast for the musical. It takes a tremendous amount of both singing and dancing talent. For those who don’t make it, they often join crew to help gain theater experience for next year. There were some newbies in the cast. Brant Tiede was one of the debut performances in the show which also included Ava Sanchez, Parker Roudabush, Kaleb Block, Nadine Cozzio, and Caleb Wilterink. Lowell Class of 2024 graduate Hayden Gough came back to be a character coach and local salon Station Salon did hair.

“Opening night was amazing. It’s my first time in a musical, and I had so much fun. The show went great, everything ran smoothly, and everyone performed so well. The Lowell Theater program is jammed full of so many talented individuals it’s incredible to see. Max as Willy Wonka was just wonderful. I have nothing but good things to say about the show and all the people that make the magic happen,” Tiede said who after the show will be taking a lead role of his own as senior libero on the two-time defending state champion boys volleyball team. Tiede played several different roles in the ensemble.

It was a warm evening in the performing arts center. Air conditioning has a significant effect on the haze and lighting of the show, so the performing arts program will be looking to have the LPAC cooled much more heading into the next performance.

Haze is utilized for the show to give a particular ambience. Haze machines were positioned back stage and a great amount of care is taken into consideration when it comes to exactly how much haze is released. During Thursday’s rehearsal, LPAC Director Julia “Jules” Crawford noted that one of the adjustments headed into opening night would be to slightly adjust that level. On Thursday, seniors from the community were invited to watch the show.

Here you can see the usage of haze which provides ambience for the show. A true professional feel.

It was a warm evening in the performing arts center. Air conditioning has a significant effect on the haze and lighting of the show, so the performing arts program will be looking to have the LPAC cooled heading into the next performance.

Haze is utilized for the show to give a particular ambience. Haze machines were positioned back stage and a great amount of care is taken into consideration when it comes to exactly how much haze is released. During Thursday’s rehearsal, LPAC Director Julia “Jules” Crawford noted that one of the adjustments headed into opening night would be to slightly adjust that level. On Thursday, seniors from the community were invited to watch the show.

“Opening night was such a celebration of everyone’s hard work and dedication. It takes every hand, every heart, every voice, and every moment to make this magical creation,” LHS junior Elyse Veldman said of the show. “I want to shout out our seniors! Thank you for your leadership, guidance and making this journey and show unforgettable,” added Elyse Veldman who played gum-obsessed pop diva Violet Beauregard concluded.

The Oompa Loompa’s, a major part of the show, were portrayed with many different colors of hair, costumer, and makeup.

Seniors on the cast not mentioned so far include Conner Casarez (Grandpa Joe), Ben Vonderheide (Jerry Jubilee), Aysha Vandenbosch (Mrs. Bucket), Vivyenne Skinner (Mrs. Gloop), Sarah Harper (Grandma Georgina), Ezequiel “Q” Gonzalez (Mr. Salt), Aliina Forester (Ensembler), Ania Fleszar (Mrs. Teavee), and Brylee Craycraft (Grandma Josephine). Leads backstage included Madilyn Dexter, Sam Konyndyk, Elizabeth Plank, and Jacob Mitchell among a number of others.

Harper helped organize the program’s headshots for both cast and crew which was done in coordination with myself at the Ledger. The cast and crew were aided by the pit band which included several LHS alumni including Patrick Kargl and Nick Struckmeyer. Other support staff include producer Cathy Noffke, Melissa Casarez on costumes, and stage manager Sophie Lillie.

Lowell will have shows on Saturday night the eighth, a Sunday afternoon matinee on the ninth, and shows next Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be found at https://www.cur8.com/projects/lpac. More coverage can be found at https://www.lowellledger.org/musical-2025 and a full photo album from our photo partner can be found at https://shamrocksportsphotography.smugmug.com/LHS-Musical-2025-362025, all photos downloadable for free.