FLVT students choose Willie Wonka Jr. for spring show

By Lethbridge Herald on April 30, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Father Leonard Van Tighem School drama students are gearing up to welcome audiences to their latest production of “Willy Wonka Jr.”. The show will be running at Yates Theatre May 6-7.

Dana Visser, music director of Willy Wonka Jr., says the process started in September 2024, when auditions took place, and students have been working really hard ever since. 

“We started rehearsals in November, so we have been working on this show for a few months now,” says Visser. 

She explains that they chose Willy Wonka Jr. for this year’s production because it is filled with fantasy, and is a lot of fun. 

“Everyone is so unique, there are such bold characters and fun songs, and awesome opportunities for dances to showcase our unique students,” says Visser. 

There will be one evening show on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and two evening shows on May 7, one at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

They will also be offering matinee shows for students from various schools to attend during the day. 

“We have four shows per day for two days straight, which is a lot of shows. But we want to give the students as many opportunities as possible to showcase their hard work,” says Visser. 

She adds that because they only have access to the Yates Memorial Theatre for two days, they want to make the most of their time there. 

“The students have been working so hard, and it is so nice to see their growth during this process, from the beginning of the project until now,” says Visser. 

She adds that before students went on Easter break, they had a great rehearsal where everyone worked together, including cast and crew. 

“We have lots of students that do our shows all throughout their junior high school and it is great to see their growth from Grade 7 to their Grade 9,” says Visser. 

One of those students is Minsung Kim who plays Willy Wonka and who is now in Grade 9. He says it is great to be able to take part of his last production as a main character. 

“My character is the chocolate maker himself; he makes dreams come true. The play is going fantastic, the cast and crew are having an awesome time, and we are creating great memories,” says Kim. 

He says he is ecstatic to go back to the Yates to perform for his third year in a row, and since it is his final year, he wants it to be the best. 

“To be a main character in my final year feels like a dream, which is ironic because my character is going to be the one making dreams come true,” says Kim. 

Grade 9 student Bella Carroll plays Charlie Bucket and says she has also been involved in the school’s productions since Grade 7. 

“It’s been really wonderful, I love the people that I have gotten to work with, and it has been a really good experience,” says Carroll. 

When talking about playing a main character, she says it is a lot of pressure, but it is great at the same time. 

“The movie is one of my dad’s favourites, he used to put it on all the time, so he was very excited for me when I got the part to play Charlie,” says Carroll.