Scrumdiddlyumptious

One kid will tumble into the chocolate river and float away. Another will turn into a giant bubble of sorts and roll away. One more will fall victim to some rather feisty squirrels. And, naturally, there will be 13 oompa loompas hanging about, ready to do the bidding of the candy man.

One kid will tumble into the chocolate river and float away.

Another will turn into a giant bubble of sorts and roll away.

One more will fall victim to some rather feisty squirrels.

And, naturally, there will be 13 oompa loompas hanging about, ready to do the bidding of the candy man.

All will be part of the Christian Youth Theater-North Idaho's productions of the musical Willy Wonka starting tonight and continuing through May 30 at the Salvation Army Kroc Community Theater in Coeur d'Alene.

"There are a lot of special things that have to go on," said Bliss Lanier, executive director of CYT, a nonprofit educational organization. "I know the kids in the audience are going to adore it."

Roald Dahl's story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to life in this stage adaptation of "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory," which features the songs from the family film "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory."

Eighty-one local school children ages 8-18 make up the cast and an additional 35 are crewing. All are current students in CYT-North Idaho's spring session of theater arts classes. Lanier believes this will be the first time this musical version of the children's tale of magic and adventure in a candy factory will be brought to the stage in the Inland Northwest.

"It's a great show with a lot of special effects," she said. "We have some phenomenal choreography."

Kids will even be flying, thanks to a harness system being set up this week at the Kroc stage.

"As much as we can fly at the Kroc," Lanier said with a laugh.

Willy Wonka will be played by 15-year-old Andrew Steiner, who is on the stage throughout most of the two-hour production and does a wonderful job singing "Pure Imagination," Lanier said.

She said this version will be more along the lines of the original movie starring Gene Wilder as an eccentric Wonka, rather than the more recent one that starred Johnny Depp as a troubled, demented Wonka.

"The kids in the show are having a great time," Lanier said. "This one has a lot going on and they're having a blast being in it."

The oompa loompas have been preparing for their demanding role that will see them dancing, turning and twirling in unison.

"They've been working out to get in shape for this one," she said.

Lanier credited volunteer parents for helping design and build the elaborate stage that had to become Wonka's extraordinary candy factory.

The director is Trigger Weddle.

Show dates and times are May 21, 22, 28, & 29 at 7 p.m. and May 22, 23, 29 & 30 at 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are $8 for seniors and children 12 and under; $9 for adults. There is a discount matinee on May 22 at 3 p.m. where all tickets are $7. Tickets may be purchased at the CYT-North Idaho website: www.cytnorthidaho.com or by phoning the Box Office at (208) 277-5727.

Chocolate reception is Saturday at Kroc

Coeur d’Alene Chocolates is hosting a “Willy Wonka Chocolate Reception” for the Christian Youth Theater-North Idaho at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene.

The event will include treats by Coeur d’Alene Chocolates, a beverage, an entry into the drawing for a Coeur d’Alene Chocolates Gift Basket and a ticket to see the 7 p.m. performance of CYT-North Idaho’s Willy Wonka.

Tickets can be purchased at the CYT-North Idaho website: www.cytnorthidaho.com or by calling the CYT-NI Box Office at (208) 277-5727. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for children 12 and under. Proceeds will go to CYT-North Idaho to support their theater arts classes, productions and camps.

CYT to host theater camps

Christian Youth Theater-North Idaho will host eight weeks of weeklong theater arts camps from June 21-Aug 20. Each camp includes theater arts workshops, theater and outdoor games, team competitions, a camp T-shirt and a performance on Fridays with parts for everyone.

CYT-NI will also host two weeks of weeklong camps for tweens and teens ages 11-18.

• June 28 - Aug 2, campers ages 11-18 will rehearse Camp Rock in Sandpoint.

• Aug. 2-6, campers ages 13-18 will rehearse highlights from Footloose in Coeur d’Alene. Both camps include theater arts workshops, theater and outdoor games and team competitions more challenging for the older camper. A camp T-shirt and a performance on Fridays with roles for everyone are also included.

Information: www.cytnorthidaho.com or (208) 765-8600.