Willy Wonka Kids – A Summer Blast!

The August 1st performances of Willy Wonka Kids at Marco’s Art Center Theatre (ACT) sold out to a crowd of parents, siblings, teachers, and community members. The young cast of 18 poured their hearts and souls into the production, and in a brief two weeks of rehearsals, they pulled off a rendition of Willy Wonka Kids that is vibrant and energetic. It was a Golden Ticket to the whimsical world of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Hyla Crane, Executive Director of the Marco Island Center for the Arts, gave a warm welcome to a crowded theater and reminded the audience of the importance of keeping arts alive for the children and that every child deserves art! According to Crane, all summer programs offered at the Marco Island Center for the Arts are offered for free, so that no child shall be denied access to art due to cost and so parents shall be able to put two, three, or four children in the program. Crane added, “In 2021, we hired three instructors for over a six-week period and taught eleven summer workshops. In 2025, we offered 30 classes over seven weeks serving over 315 children.”

“Fast forward to 2026,” Crane continued, “we offered eight weeks with 18 instructors and offered 37 workshops, which included the two-week full-day workshops here at the Art Center Theatre (ACT), each culminating in its own musical performance and in the end will serve over 400 children.” Crane thanked the generosity of some very remarkable individuals in the community and made special mention of the following: United Church of Marco Island, Island Country Club Foundation, and The Collier County Community Foundation.

The Every Child Deserves Art initiative has also expanded its outreach by distributing 150 art kits each month to underserved communities through the Our Daily Bread Mobile Food Pantry, with a goal of reaching 1,500–1,800 children between 2025–2026.

Congratulations to the talented young cast of ACTors in the production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Kids: Ava Craig, Sophia Bellini, Cassandra Rianna, Luke, Imogen Goodman-Williams, Madelyn Goodman-Williams, Amelia Morze, Stella Morze, Vivienne Tierney, Grace Ogg, Kinsley Dolan, Lola Grace, Ali Traver, Arina Ignashkina, Jackie Smid, Shailyn Duran, River Huisman, and Marco Visa-Vagner.

A big thank you to Director Jodi Palmieri and Technical Director Dr. Cindy Gomez, and to Sound Designer and Light Designer Ron Clark and Assistant Light and Sound Engineer Ari Kuperman.