Open Forum

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

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Rebecca [Reisert
St. Xavier High School
Louisville, KY

rreisert@saintx.com
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Quite a number of years ago, we had 10 large Elmo dolls....we painted their hair, facial features and clothing with black light paint and 5 "puppeteers" dressed in black wore them strapped to their calves and controlled their arms with fishing line. So, we went to a blacklight effect every time they appeared. They were a big hit and we auctioned off the puppets at the end of the run (Take Home You're Own Oompa Loompa) and we made quite a bit of money to not only pay for them but also support the next show.

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Kelley Marchant 

International School of Islamabad

Theatre Teacher

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2024 13:35
From: Rebecca Reisert
Subject: High School students playing Oompa Loompas

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

------------------------------
Rebecca [Reisert
St. Xavier High School
Louisville, KY

rreisert@saintx.com
------------------------------

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

Definitely did not do traditional Oompa Loompas.  I went back and read the book and made them to represent the purple of Wonka.  It talks about the importance of purple and how they were taken in so they had a place to live and not be out in the "wild".  I totally looked at the overall story as the representation as the turn of the industrial revolution and machines starting to take over for man.  

It all depends on what your overall perspective is for the show and what you feel you want your concept to be all about :). 

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

Definitely did not do traditional Oompa Loompas.  I went back and read the book and made them to represent the purple of Wonka.  It talks about the importance of purple and how they were taken in so they had a place to live and not be out in the "wild".  I totally looked at the overall story as the representation as the turn of the industrial revolution and machines starting to take over for man.  

It all depends on what your overall perspective is for the show and what you feel you want your concept to be all about :). 

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!

Loved doing the junior version! Since my high school students produced it for the middle school (and couldn't be actors), we kept it simple. I dressed the high school crew as OL-perfect for transitions. Middle school OL were either on stage level while others were on platforms or vice versa just to keep them separated without worrying at all about height. Green/white stripes with oversized black jumpers and boots. Hair inspo from the original drawings (wild/unkept silhouette). Goggles and fingerless gloves because of our overall steampunk aesthetic in the factory. Squirrels were my favorite: cardboard on sticks maneuvered by the high school OL. When I say simple, that's what I mean! Would love to talk anytime. Such a great show! 

Definitely did not do traditional Oompa Loompas.  I went back and read the book and made them to represent the purple of Wonka.  It talks about the importance of purple and how they were taken in so they had a place to live and not be out in the "wild".  I totally looked at the overall story as the representation as the turn of the industrial revolution and machines starting to take over for man.  

It all depends on what your overall perspective is for the show and what you feel you want your concept to be all about :). 

My high school will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March.  I'd love my fellow directors to share how they portrayed Oompa Loompas in productions of this show or Willie Wonka with having high school people (or adults) playing those roles.  We've looked at having them perform on their knees like Lord Farquaad  or possibly using some sort of puppetry.  We don't have enough students that we can use just our shorter cast members to play these parts.  How have you done it or seen it done?

Also, if you've produced this play, how did you portray the squirrels?

Thanks!