Clearfield High School Theater is putting on the production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for their spring musical. They are the first high school in Utah to perform it. 

“It’s cool to be the first high school to produce Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Alyn Bone, Clearfield theater teacher and director said. “That’s a huge thing.”

Being the first school to produce this show is a lot of work. The process is long and exhausting. “You have to acquire the royalties, make sure you have the right cast, design costumes and props, build set, get performance tracks, choreograph, block scenes, rehearse, get a stage crew together, figure out lighting, and make sure the timing is right,” Bone said.

This work doesn’t fall on the director alone. The stage crew works hard to get this all done on time. The show would fall apart without them. 

“Every single detail has to be thought of in the show,” Emilio Sessions, stage manager, said. “Every part is important from somebody’s shoelace to the spotlights.” Sessions has been working along with the rest of the crew on this show for four months.

Cast members have countless rehearsals to get the show “performance ready.”  They spend many hours in out of school rehearsals and at home practicing their dances and music. 

“It’s a lot of afterschool commitment and a whole bunch of memorizing lines, learning dances, and learning to work as a team,” Josie Ertel, Madame Gloop, said.

“There is so much that goes into a production like this,” Kyson Jeppeson, Charlie Bucket said. “It’s rehearsals, blocking, and learning music in a short amount of time. But it is so much fun.” 

The story of Charlie and the Chocolate factory has an inspiring theme and message behind it that touches the people working on the story in different ways.

“I love this show because it is super silly, but still emotional,” Sessions said. “It has heartwarming moments and still is hilarious.”

“This show is very powerful,” Jeppeson said. “It tells you that it’s OK to enjoy simple pleasures. Find things in the world that make you happy.”

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about everyone having a chance,” Ertel said. “Charlie got his ticket. He only had one shot, one chance to get that ticket. That inspires me because all I need is one shot to accomplish something huge.”

“My mom read Roald Dahl’s books to me as a kid,” Bone said. “I feel connected to his stories because of her. She loved them and made me love them.” Bone’s mom passed away last year. Putting on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gives her a way to feel closer to and connect to her mother in a different way.

Performances of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are April 24-27, 29 at 7 p.m. with a matinee at 1 p.m. on April 27. Tickets can only be purchased online on the CHS website at chs.davis.k12.ut.us/activities/events-tickets.

Clearfield High students have worked very hard to put on this show. It requires hard work, dedication, and no shortage of imagination. And as Willy Wonka said, “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination!”