Original ‘Willy Wonka’ Actors Join Parody Musical

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After more than 50 years, two actors are diving back into the world of Willy Wonka (sort of). Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen, two of the child stars of 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, will participate in a live stage reading of Willy’s Candy Spectacular, an upcoming musical parody inspired by a disastrous Wonka event that made international headlines earlier this year.

Cole played the insatiable Veruca Salt in the classic movie starring Gene Wilder as chocolatier Willy Wonka, while Themmen played the cowboy hat wearing Mike Teavee. Both will participate in a live reading at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, serving as narrators. Cole will lead the cast from Aug. 9 to 18, with Themmen stepping in from Aug. 19-26.

Willy’s Candy Spectacular was inspired by a real-life Wonka event in Scotland, which organizers advertised as “immersive experience” that would transport Willy Wonka fans to a “magical realm.” They advertised the event using lush, AI-generated images. Unfortunately, this “magical realm” turned out to be a nightmare housed in a drab warehouse, with the experience so depressing it earned comparisons to a meth lab and instantly went viral..

Kirsty Paterson, who was dubbed the Sad Oompa Loompa in the real-life Glasgow disaster, is also among the cast for the live reading of the musical. Other actors include Shelly Regner (Pitch Perfect series), Eric Petersen (School of Rock The Musical, Shrek: The Musical), Nicole Greenwood (In Plain Sight), Wilkie Ferguson (Broadway’s Motown: The Musical), Cassandra Parker (Cabaret), singer-songwriter Monica Evans and Chris Villain (Freakshow).

The musical is produced by The Little Mermaid Live producer Richard Kraft, and his Kraft-Engel Productions. Kraft and Andy Fickman are writing the book for the musical, which has been releasing songs in recent weeks in anticipation of it eventually hitting the stage. Riki Lindhome, Daniel Mertzlufft, Doug Rockwell & Tova Litvin, Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, Megan Cavallari, Kate Miccuci, Jennifer Lucy Cook & Kraft are the songwriters behind the musical.