.jpg)
HARTINGTON – Students from Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools are putting on a sweet play production in 2023.
Hartington-Newcastle is presenting “Willy Wonka” this season. Students staged a public performance on Nov. 5 and two performances for their fellow students on Nov. 7.
“It is the classic story of Charlie and the chocolate factory,” longtime Hartington-Newcastle one-act coach A.J. Johnson said. “I chose it because it fit our kids. The best way to describe it would be to say that it’s a comedy with heart.”
Hartington-Newcastle, the two-time defending Class C2 state champion in play production, is set to compete in the Lewis and Clark Conference One-Act Play contest on Nov. 14 in Randolph, followed by a workshop on Nov. 18 in York and the District C2-3 Play Production contest on Nov. 28 in Creighton.
Johnson said the one-act students started practicing in September for this year’s play production.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the kids bring this to life, to give the audience a happy feeling when they leave the performance,” he said. “This play is about the feeling we want to give to the audience.”
Johnson described his one-act students as “dedicated.” “We get a lot of kids out and that helps,” he said. “Each year, we have seniors who are willing to step up and really lead our team, no matter their part in the play.
“I’m really excited for us to bring this to audiences,” he said. “The kids have worked really hard. I’m really proud of them.”
For the play production this season, Hartington-Newcastle has 52 students in the cast and 17 on the crew for a total of 69 involved.
Below is the cast list, starting with speaking roles, in order of appearance: - Willy Wonka: Cole Heimes, junior.
- Oompa Loompa 1: Austin Sudbeck, freshman.
- Oompa Loompa 2: Emilie Claussen, junior.
- Charlie Bucket: Dane Gotch, sophomore.
- Mr. Bucket: Jason Heimes, freshman.
- Mrs. Bucket: Hazel Hochstein, sophomore.
- Grandpa Joe: Dayton Sudbeck, senior.
- Grandma Josephine: Abby Anderson, senior.
- Great-Aunt Marjorie: Kaydence McCray, senior.
- Great-Aunt Georgina: Faith Pinkelman, senior.
- Reporter 1: McKenzie Bruning, junior.
- Phineous Trout: Issac Santiago, sophomore.
- Augusta Gloop: Ryell Haug, junior.
- Mrs. Gloop: Kaylee Ptak, senior.
- Reporter 2: Cohen Paden, junior.
- Veruca Salt: Mani Lange, senior.
- Mr. Salt: Carter Kelly, sophomore.
- Reporter 3: Karli Bruning, senior.
- Violet Beauregarde: Lainey Morten, sophomore.
- Mrs. Beauregarde: Kennedy Gotch, senior.
- Reporter 4: Olivia Grutsch, senior.
- Mike Teavee: Trevon Hopping, freshman.
- Ms. Teavee: Alexus Hans, senior.
- Squirrels: Emily Climer, freshman; Izzy Schaecher, junior; and Trynity Zach, sophomore.
There also are other Oompa Loompas: Kendra Anderson, Zoey Gratzfeld, Lauren Howell, Molly Kathol, Dalton Rice, Riley Sudbeck, Carmen Buschkamp, Alexia Pofahl, Abi Rice, Maddie Steffen, Dolcie Sudbeck, Austin Ahlstrom, Aidan Anderson, Colton Cavanaugh, Will Feilmeier, Ali Ford, Lincoln Grutsch, Tansey Kneifl and Gabe Reyes.
There are other reporters as well: Aaralynn Collier, Kiara McCray, Alejandra Reyes, Dolcie Sudbeck, Karissa Bruning, Tansey Kneifl, Adeline Pinkelman and Ashlynn Pinkelman.
