Carla Clark | For the Republic Ally Parker, Oopmpa Loompa at left, Ciaran Hill, as Willy Wonka, Jonah Gover, as Charlie Bucket, and Hayden Grider as Oompa Loompa, pose for a photograph during a rehearsal for the Mill Race Theatre’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Robbins Auditorium at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Get ready to go on a life-changing adventure with Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners in the Mill Race Theatre’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Watch Wonka open his mysterious factory to a world of chocolate waterfalls and his army of Oompa-Loompas.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will be performed at the Columbus East High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. July 17-19 and 2:30 p.m. July 20. Tickets are $30 online at millracetheatre.org and $35 at the door. The show is rated PG, adapted from the book by Roald Dahl.
The Bartholomew County Library is also sponsoring a giveaway in the children’s department until the end of July. Any reader who finds one of 10 golden tickets inside a book can redeem it for a free ticket to the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” show of their choice.
The show is directed by Mikki Maurey, who first directed for the Mill Race Theatre Company two years ago. She enjoys the variety of working with actors of different ages, from ages 8 to 78.
For this production, Maurey’s role is primarily to help actors find their characters. During the beginning stages, she asks actors what their characters’ motivations are, what they want and why. Each production is unique, she said, describing it like “catching lightning in a bottle.”
“This group of people doing this specific show at this time is only going to happen once,” Maurey said. “You could do the show again in different places, but it would be different. It’s a short season, but it’s magical and then it’s just a memory.”
Ciaran Hill, who plays Wonka in the show, began performing with the Mill Race Theatre Company in 2011 and never looked back.
Part of bringing the iconic chocolatier to the stage was studying — watching the 1971 version of the movie over a dozen times. Part of studying your character is pulling out character traits to share with the audience and to make the performance feel more comfortable, he said.
“This show is just so iconic,” Hill said. “This show is going to be both immensely fun and a level up from anything Mill Race (Theatre Company) has done in the past. We’re really bringing our A-game to this one.”
With around 100 people in the cast, there is never a shortage of energy in the production, he said.
One of the most energetic characters is Charlie Bucket, played by 12-year-old Jonah Gover. This will be his first role in a Mill Race Theatre show after acting in church productions for the past three years.
“Charlie in general is such a unique, amazing character and I’m really excited to portray that,” Gover said. “I’m just so honored to have this experience.”
While Gover is nervous about his debut role, he hopes to turn the nerves into excitement to put on an even better performance. Charlie will be joined by four other golden ticket winners, including Violet Beauregarde, played by Maria Sanchez Cisneros.
She is still trying to become the character, she said, finding it difficult to match the attitude of a diva like Violet.
“This character I play is the most confident diva I’ve ever met in my life,” she said. “I’ve always been more of a shy person, so getting myself out there confidently and owning the stage is something brand new for me.”
Although she loves to perform, she also enjoys the friendships formed between the cast members, specifically with actors older than herself.
One of these friendships is with Kate Connor who plays Ethel Teavee, the mother of golden ticket winner Mike Teavee. Her character has to cope with her son’s delinquent behavior and holds herself together throughout the show. Off stage, she’s enjoying the community engagement aspect.
“I’ve made a whole friend group that’s 20-30 years younger than me and vice versa, but we all have a great time together,” she said.
Connor said everyone who watches the show will find something to enjoy, from Wonka’s wacky jokes to the beautifully designed sets — this show is for an audience of all ages.
The show will also have music by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic (CIP). The partnership between the group and the Mill Race Theatre Company was recognized due to the overlapping patrons of both groups, said Columbus Indiana Philharmonic development manager Lexi Schneider.
“CIP is always looking for ways that we can collaborate within our community, we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to collaborate musically,” Schneider said. “It’s just another way to show the community we care.”
