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Arts & Entertainment

High Schools Plan Fall Theater Productions

Shows range from "Our Town" to "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory."

Young thespians and their teachers at the five high schools in St. Charles are gearing up for the fall theater season. 

Orchard Farm High School will present Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at 7 p.m. Nov. 11-12 in the school gym, 2165 Highway V. Based on the children's book by British author Roald Dahl, it tells the story of young Charlie Bucket, who has a bizarre adventure while visiting a chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka.

"It's a show we've not done before," said Kathy Bhat, music teacher and director. "It looked like we had the right group of kids, and there was a lot of interest in it. It's a fun show."

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The show features high school and middle school students. There are 19 in the cast along with 16 Oompa Loompas and a dozen crew members. "It's a play with music," Bhat said. "The Oompa Loompas have to sing. That's required."

Fifty students showed up for auditions.

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"It was very hard to decide. We made a committee to do it," Bhat said.

Tickets go on sale at the high school office on Oct. 20. For more information visit the district's website

will present the comedy Chateau La Roach at 7 p.m. Oct. 27-29 in the school auditorium, 2549 Hackmann Rd. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $5 in advance and $6 at the door.

"It's about a French hotel that's infested with cockroaches, and the owner is trying to hide it from the guests," said Catherine Burke, a student in charge of publicity for the show. "It's a funny story for all ages."

The play by Lauren Wilson is directed by instructor Jeffrey Tandler. For more information visit the school's website.

David Rogers' Here and Now will take the stage at . Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 8 p.m. Nov. 11-12. Tickets cost $6.

"Here and Now is a play within a play. It is a story about a high school putting on a play about a group that meets every Thursday at their school consisting of students, teachers and parents. We see a number of situations that arise," said teacher and director Sharon Morgan in an email. "I chose this play because it says powerful information to students, teachers and parents."

The show will involve roughly 40 students. For more information visit the school's website.

will present The High Schooler’s Guide to the Galaxy by Bryan Starchman. The show runs Nov. 10-14 in the high school auditorium, 3601 Droste Rd. 

The comic play focuses on four freshmen as they enter the new world of high school and learn the survival skills necessary to survive the experience. The show is directed by instructor Barb Bowlin.

For ticket prices and other information call 636-443-4216.

For our final act, will present the classic play Our Town. Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19 in the Dr. Gil Lauer auditorium in the high school. 

Tickets cost $5 for adults (18 and older), $4 for students (5-17 years of age) and children 4 and younger are admitted free.

"Our Town tells the story of a fictitious town, called Grover’s Corners, in northern New Hampshire at the turn of the century. It chronicles the lives of Grover’s Corners’ citizens, from young Joe Crowell, a newspaper delivery boy, to Dr. Gibbs, the town doctor," said Nick Saubers, director and instructor, in an email.

The show has a cast of 30 and crew of 20. "This Pulitzer Prize-winning play has been a defining piece of American theatre for nearly a century. This production is sure to breathe new life into a timeless classic," Saubers said.

For more information visit the school's website.

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