"Footloose" isn't the only musical on a local stage. Three summer arts programs are staging productions of their own:
Newburyport Summer Stock stages "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" today and tomorrow at Newburyport High School auditorium on High Street.
Under the direction of program creator Mike Pirollo, a teacher at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School in Newburyport, the show features students in grades five through 10 from Newburyport and the surrounding communities.
The family musical is based on Roald Dahl's classic story of the famous candy man and his quest to find an heir. It features songs from the film, like "Pure Imagination," "Candy Man" and "I Want it Now," and plenty of singing and dancing by the Oompa Loompas, under the direction of choreographer Kristen Marroncelli.
Piloted in the summer of 2008, Newburyport Summer Stock is designed to introduce students to various aspects of theater production, beginning with the audition process and ending three weeks later with performances of a live show. This year, more than 30 students signed on as actors, singers, dancers, directors and set, costume and lighting designers.
The cast includes Kyle McIntire, Ashley Casellini, Adam Woo, Catherine Casellini, Dylan Wack, Kate McCauley, Anna Moreland, Jade Carpenter, Patrick Farrell, Jordan Dunn-Pilz, Matt Caswell, Meghan Timony, Kate Finn, Colin Budzyna, Christina Beck, Ally Russell, Abby Seabrook, Connor Glynn, Zoe Johnson, Meghan Healey, Davi Dunn-Pilz, Lindsay Howard, Rose Hart and Kaylee Raymond.
Crew members are Christian Caswell, Nick Constantine, Mary O'Brien, Ollie Strattner and Izzy Dill Okaya, and stage managers are Brian O'Connor, Adlai Faigen and Hannah Flynn.
Performances are today at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and tomorrow at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5.
"Aladdin Jr.," a stage version of the animated Disney film, hits the stage tomorrow through Sunday at Byfield Community Arts Center, 7 Central St., Byfield.
Presented by TTS Players' children's summer theater program, it is directed by Newburyport's Kathy Heywood. Tyler Beaupre of Amesbury plays Aladdin, with Alexa Jackson of Amesbury as Jasmine. TTS executive producer Mike Fay handles the role of the genie.
Performances are tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Call the box office at 978-463-3335 or visit www.tts-players.com.
Moonlight Productions presents the Tony Award-winning musical "Music Man" next weekend at First Congregational Church, Andover Street, Georgetown.
The show will feature a multigenerational cast, with Jeremy Benson of Boxford as a larger-than-life Harold Hill and Kerry Donovan of Georgetown as Marian the librarian. Georgetown's Gunnar Lekborg is Winthrop Paroo and Kerry's younger sister, Jenny, handles the role of Maud Dunlop with her soprano voice.
Performances are Thursday through Saturday, July 30 through Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating, $12 general admission and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under. Visit www.moonlightproductions.org.
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