Get ready to enter a world with a chocolate waterfall and river, lickable wallpaper and fizzy-lifting drinks. That pure imagination is what Hillcrest Junior High students are gearing up for with the spring musical, “Willy Wonka Jr.” 

The golden tickets are available for the 7 p.m. show Wednesday, April 15 through Saturday, April 18 at $5. It will be held at the school’s auditorium, 178 E. 5300 South in Murray. The show is based on the children’s book written by Roald Dahl.

Several students are featured in the production, but there are more than 80 students involved in the cast and crew.

“The best part of the show is watching students experience the success of a huge, multifaceted project come together as they work as a team,” said musical director Krystin Elder. “It’s unlike anything else; that’s why I keep doing it every year.”

This year, the producing team took freedom as they cast students in roles, such as ninth-grader Lauren plays the magical Willy Wonka and eighth-grader Everett is Augustus Gloop’s mother, complete with a German accent.

“Our Willy Wonka is a girl. We’re a school that thinks outside the box. We give kids opportunities to act and explore roles, regardless of gender, and to bring magic to the stage. Who earns the part is more important than who fits a stereotype,” she said.

The lead roles aren’t necessarily rewarded to the older students as seventh-grader Riker plays Charlie Bucket.

“Every year, we see students shine, some rise to challenges, who didn’t expect they could,” she said. 

Elder is joined producing the show with director Kali Blimes, assistant director Jennfier Allred, choreographer Amber Foster and auditorium manager James Beebe.

“We make a stronger show because of our collaboration,” she said.

This year’s production promises plenty of visual delights, thanks in part to art teacher Janelle Heck and her after-school prop and scene-building group.

“Willy Wonka has so many props, just think about the candy factory itself,” Elder said. “Janelle and her students are helping create some imaginative elements of the show and those students are learning what’s all involved behind the scenes.”

Auditions were held in December, with rehearsals beginning in January.

“A challenge for many first-year kids is learning to sing, dance and act at the same time,” Elder said. “By the end, they’ve grown a lot and learned something new. They’ve learned confidence and share a sense of achievement, but if I were one of the students, I’d say the best part is the friendships. Working closely together on such a big project makes them family.”