Photo by Jesse Farley
Third, fourth and fifth graders at Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School put on a production of 'Willy Wonka' last night. The show runs tonight at 7 p.m. at the school and is under the direction of Jason Phipps.

By Jesse Farley

Special to The Ridgway Record

The lights went down, and the excitement of the kids and parents in the auditorium intensified as the third, fourth, and fifth graders took the stage at Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School to perform ‘Willy Wonka’ last night.
The students took the audience on the familiar adventure through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory with song, dance, and lively performances.
The play is under the direction of Jason Phipps, who has worked in the drama department for 13 years. Phipps has been working with the students and setting up the play for the past five weeks.
“Last year, the parents said to me, ‘Come on, do Willy Wonka,” he said while introducing the play. “They wanted to try a big challenge, and there is no bigger challenge than Willy Wonka.”
With moving sets, large, colorful props, and 120 students performing the musical, it is indeed a massive production. Phipps and the entire cast pulled it off in fantastic fashion with great direction and phenomenal performances.
“If you put nothing into it, then you’ll get nothing out of it. But if you put expectations, if you give standards, put standards on myself, then you get these results,” Phipps commented after the show.
‘Willy Wonka’ will be performed again tonight at 7 p.m. at Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School. The entire cast will be switching roles except for Cheyenne Geletka as Willy Wonka, Luke Guyer as Charlie, and Nick Simon as Grandpa Joe.