The Candy Man can….

CENTRAL VALLEY — The North Main Elementary School Drama Club will present “Willy Wonka Jr.,” in two, free community performances involving more than 100 students on Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. in the Central Valley Elementary School auditorium.

“Willy Wonka Jr.” is a fully staged and costumed production featuring fifth-grader Jeremy Lanuti as Willy Wonka and fourth-grader Andrew Miller as Charlie Bucket.

The cast also features Nathaniel Convers, Grace Coury, Isabella DiTroia, Ethan Divon, Sophia Giler, Ernesto Henriquez, Andrew Kaplan, Luke Lauterbach, Connor Loeffler, Christina Miracle, William Nowosielski, Cassidy Patterson, Dean Pesce, Christopher Pezzella, Gina Pirraglia, Mackenzie Smith, Lindsay Tabakma and Olivia Theokas.

Based on Roald Dahl’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the play follows the adventures of five lucky children who win a contest to tour the famous Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory.

Magical rooms of candy making machines, chocolate rivers, and the mysterious “Oompa-Loompas” make this a fun-filled musical adventure, according to organizers.

Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald, this story of the world famous candy man and his quest to find an heir features songs from the classic family film including “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination.”

The production, under the direction of North Main music teacher Pat Murray, features costume design by Kathy Fisher and Theresa Weissburg; set design by Albert Murray and Kathy Castro; choreography by Christine Lauterbach; and accompaniment by Richard and Tyler Schacher.

- Nancy Kriz