Page 6 August 8, 2013 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance Willy Wonka Comes to Torrance By TerriAnn Ferren the drums in the orchestra for the On stage at the James Armstrong production, so you can officially say Theatre now through August 17 is this is a family affair for the Shields. one of the most ambitious musicals Craig told me, “I went to college for yet to be presented by the Torrance percussion at Chapman University Theatre Company (TTC)--Roald and have been doing musicals since Dahl’s Willy Wonka. The TTC thrives I was about six years old. It’s going under the tutelage of Gia Inferrera- to be a fun show.” Makenzie, who is Jordahl, Producing Artistic Director home-schooled said, “I had heard a for the Company. Director Mark lot of good things about this place Torreso, Assistant Director Elyssa and my friend Logan, who is playing O’Grady, Stage Manager Taylor Cajka, Charlie, and like, ‘You have to come Music Director Rick Heckman and audition,’ and my other friend is Choreographer Crissy Lozano joined playing Violet, so I auditioned and together and worked hard to make this place is so great. It is really fun. Willy Wonka the biggest production My first play was when I was seven. ever attempted by the TTC. It was the The Little Princess at the Putting on a play takes a lot of work. Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa I was reminded of that last week when Monica. I live in Torrance.” Makenzie I visited the final rehearsals and music told me she has seen both the 1971 run-through of Willy Wonka. Most of and the more current version of Willie us remember one of the two popular Wonka. I asked this father/daughter movies made of the story of Willy stage team how this play is different Wonka, but few have seen the stage than the film and Makenzie said, production. Rehearsals were in full “Well it is live theatre, so anything swing when I walked up the steps can happen, but it’s really similar of the George Nakano Theatre where to ‘cuz it isn’t animated—similar, the entire cast was running lines and but kind of different.” Perry added, finalizing marks and cues. Right away “Well, the title of this script is Roald I was struck with the varying ages in Dahl’s Willy Wonka, so it is a new this play. Grandparents, parents and work. It’s only about 10 years old children are all represented. Luckily, and uses the songs from the ’71 film. I was able to catch up with the team behind Willie Wonka in rehearsal. Willie Wonka played by Jared Pugh. There are also added ones, but the script is this wonderful show. nothing like the film. But there are similar Mark Torreso took time from his directing talent is amazing. The kids are great. These really great and hard-working. I think it is elements, the children are the same, some responsibilities to share, “I have been directing children are a little bit more mature on stage going to be a really great show.” characters were eliminated or combined. 32-33 years. I was staff director for Disney than most--they’ve done it before, so as they Elyssa O’Grady rekindled her love of Charlie has a father in this script.” Makenzie for 10 years and then I wanted to open my get up there you are amazed by how quickly working in the theatre this April when she added, “Dress rehearsal is next week and my own theatre. So I did that and have been they pick up, how strongly they listen, and joined the Torrance Theatre Company (TTC) costume is awesome.” running my theatre for seven years. It’s in they try. It is incredible.” and told me, “This is so much fun. Mark has I then spotted Cindy Shields, who plays Anaheim called The Gallery Theatre. Gia I then spoke with Taylor Cajka, who has been such a wonderful mentor and has been Mrs. Gloop (mother of Augustus Gloop). and I love working together. The James stage-managed several shows including teaching me so much. The special effects Cindy shared, “I have always loved this Armstrong is such a wide, wonderful space Fiddler on the Roof. “I have worked on more and the costumes are something everyone show. I have directed this show for children and you want to fill it, so we went a little serious shows, so this is a change--sort of remembers about the movie and I think and I can’t believe I am playing a part that I bit further and we fly a few people here upbeat and happy and parts kind of funky, everyone behind the scenes is working hard never thought I would get to play. I directed and there. It is a pretty special production. but more avant-garde, so it’s really fun,” to bring that to life. It’s going to be a great it Willy Wonka at Calle Mayor Middle I have never done Willy Wonka, but I have said Taylor. “I have been part of the arts all show. Everyone comes to rehearsal with a School. I get to do their musical. I love directed for Torrance before. I did Lion in my life and this is something I want to do smile on their face--and if they don’t, they working with the kids and watching them Winter back in 2006-07 and I also was a part professionally and am going to school for. leave with one.” As I spoke with Elyssa, she blossom and hopefully set a good example of Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which was I go to Chapman University. When I was told me of how to behave on stage and off.” in 2008. They treat you like family, Torrance in second grade, I was in my first play and Shortly after speaking with Cindy, I does, so it’s nice to be here and everybody when I was in eighth grade, I did backstage chatted with Logan Gould who plays is supportive and working together and the and I fell in love with it. Everyone has been Attend a free homebuyer workshop Find out what it really takes to DirectorMark become a homeowner Torreso Attend a free and Separate myths from truths. Learn more about Taylorhomebuyer workshopAttend a free finding, financing and owning a home in today’s Cajka,homebuyer workshop informed homebuying decisions.become a homeownerFind out what it really takes tobecome a homeownerFind out what it really takes to Manager.Find out what it really takes toStagehomebuyer workshop real estate market. Know what to expect — and what will be expected of you. So you can make Separate myths from truths. Learn more aboutbecome a homeowner Date: SATURDAY 09/07/13Separate myths from truths. Learn more about Time: 10 AM TO 12 PM something that captured the essencefinding, financing and owning a home in today’s real estate market. Know what to expect — and of this cast, “One little girl--I was Location:WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE what will be expected of you. So you can makeinformed homebuying decisions. what will be expected of you. So you can make walking her to her car one day and informed homebuying decisions.3400 TORRANCE BLVD. SUITE 104 TORRANCE CA 90503 informed homebuying decisions. she told me, ‘Just being here is like I Date: SATURDAY 09/07/13 won my own golden ticket,’ and that Date: SATURDAY 09/07/13 Date: SATURDAY 09/07/13 was just a heartbreaker. That is what10 AM TO 12 PM Location: WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE Perry Shields (Vice President of the Torrance into seventh grade and last year I did with3400 TORRANCE BLVD. SUITE 104 TORRANCE CA 90503Contact me to reserve your seats today!10 AM TO 12 PMWELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGECharlie and he told me, “I am in sixth goingit is all about.”10 AM TO 12 PM Time: Time: Location: WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE 3400 TORRANCE BLVD. SUITE 104 TORRANCE CA 90503 Theatre Company), who plays Mr. Salt, and the Torrance Theatre Company Fiddler on 3400 TORRANCE BLVD. SUITE 104 TORRANCE CA 90503Liz Worden Makenzie Browning, age 12, who plays his the Roof, and recently did with the Kentwood Home Mortgage Consultant Phone: 310-265-9574 daughter Veruca Salt, took time from their Players, Oliver. I was the Artful Dodger. I Contact me to reserve your seats today! rehearsal to chat with me. Perry said, “I have think this is very, very cool.” Logan was310-487-8957Cell: Contact me to reserve your seats today! been doing theatre since high school, so if I very excited about this particular productionhttp://www.wfhm.com/elizabeth-wordenelizabeth.worden@wellsfargo.com Contact me to reserve your seats today! add up the years it’s about 38 years. I have and told me he looks forward to a career in476064NMLSR ID Liz Worden Home Mortgage Consultant been involved with the Torrance summer theatre and is doing all he can to garner all Liz Worden Home Mortgage Consultant musical in one fashion or another since 1980, the experience he can get. He told me he310-265-9574 Phone: Liz Worden Home Mortgage Consultant Phone: 310-265-9574 so 33 years. I met my wife in 1980 when asks his friends, family and anyone else to http://www.wfhm.com/elizabeth-worden Cell: 310-487-8957 Cell: 310-487-8957 we did the musical Guys and Dolls at El come to his plays. elizabeth.worden@wellsfargo.com http://www.wfhm.com/elizabeth-worden http://www.wfhm.com/elizabeth-worden Camino College--Cindy Shields. We met in As I sat in the room with the orchestra476064 NMLSR ID elizabeth.worden@wellsfargo.com elizabeth.worden@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 476064 that show. We were married six years later.” and the entire cast as they went through Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without476064NMLSR ID notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Perry told me Cindy is playing Mrs. Gloop their paces, I was impressed with their ©2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. in this production. Later that evening, I was professionalism. What astounded me was that 102780 - REV 5/13 to find out their son Craig Shields is playing See Willy Wonka, page 7 Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without
Torrance 08_08_13
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