Words by Noelle Chandler
Photos by Jim Kocher

Joel Scott Shade spends so much time behind the piano that when it’s time to step out onto the stage, he relishes the freedom. “I’m able to be incredibly silly and go to some really bizarre extremes,” he says, about playing the lead role in Playhouse Merced’s Willy Wonka. “It’s easily the most fun role I’ve ever played.” Joel, of course, is playing Willy Wonka, the beloved recluse and candy king for whom the show is named. He’ll be sharing the stage with all the classic characters from the novel and films: gum-smacking Violet Beauregarde, shrill and demanding little Veruca Salt, gluttonous Augustus Gloop, starry-eyed Mike Teevee and Charlie Bucket, the story’s reluctant hero. For those of you who’ve been avoiding any mention of chocolate in media and literature (the only logical reason not to see the movies or read the beloved Roald Dahl classic), “Roald Dahls’ Willy Wonka,” is a delightfully wonky little morality tale about being on your best (and most honest) behavior. Willy Wonka, eccentric chocolate entrepreneur, starts out the show by placing “golden tickets” in five of his Wonka Bars, spread across the world. Children who find the golden tickets are then allowed a tour of the rarely-seen magical candy factory. As the tour progresses, the children’s poor behavior leads them to perilous ends. As the story closes, only Charlie himself is still standing, proving himself the most worthy of the eventual final reward. Joe Hypes (director of last season’s musical murder mystery “Something’s Afoot” is in charge of wrangling the large cast of adults and children. “I’ve learned a lot of patience,” he says. “This show is huge. Huge in cast and huge in concept. We’ve got some really talented actors, and we’ve got a lot of new actors, not to mention more than twenty Oompa Loompas. There is going to be a lot of people on that stage, and I’ve learned patience in the craziness of it all. It’s actually become a lot of fun for me.” Because they have two very famous films to compete with (starring infamous character actors Gene Wilder in 1971 and Johnny Depp in 2005, both as Mr. Wonka), there is huge potential for comparison. But Joel isn’t worried. “You can’t base the character itself on what Wilder or Depp did,” he says. “Instead, you have to just go on stage and play and have fun. And because each of those previous characters was so quirky, I have a lot of freedom and get to be equally odd.” Fortunately, the design team is up to the task, looking to play in to preconceived cinematic notions with a multimedia approach to live theatre. UC Merced’s own Chris Volkerts will be set designing, utilizing colorful video projections to immerse audience members in the atmospheric effect of being (literally!) surrounded by candy. Cindy DeFilippo (costume designer for “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Little Shop of Horrors”) is once again looking forward to filling the stage with more of her own brightly-colored costume creations. While simultaneously producing a modernized Christmas Carol at the Gallo Center in Modesto, Playhouse Merced’s Main Stage chose to go with “Roald Dahls’ Willy Wonka,” instead of something holiday-themed. “It’s such a fun, family-oriented show,” Joel contends, “and the music is incredibly catchy and it leaves you with that warm, happy feeling that only a good experience with family can bring. Isn’t that exactly what you want around the holidays?” “Roald Dahls’ Willy Wonka,” opens Dec. 4th and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2pm until Sunday, Dec. 20. Tickets range in price from $8 to $20, and student rush tickets (unsold tickets available ten minutes before every performance) are $5 each with a student ID. Call 209-725-8587 or visit www.playhousemerced.com for more information.

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