ELYRIA — Even without Slugworth to offer anyone an Everlasting Gobstopper, “Willy Wonka Junior” remains the sweet story of an ambitious candy man and the child who adores him.

The play is this summer’s offering from the Lorain County Children’s Pioneer Theatre, now in its 33rd season. In a weird coincidence, the Lorain Place Youth Theatre program chose to tackle the same show this summer — with its performances slated for later this month.

“We don’t know how that happened,” said Kim Simons, coordinator for the Elyria show.

Pioneer Theatre’s program runs from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for four weeks, culminating in next weekend’s performance. During the first two weeks, the kids had workshops in the mornings that included a visit by a magician and a demonstration of the “science of bubbles” and how bubbles can be used to create illusions on the stage.

For the rest of the day (all day for the last two weeks), the actors worked on the production itself — staging, choreography, singing and acting.
Pioneer Theatre’s production boasts 60 kids performing as the leads, city folk, squirrels and other roles.

“We invent things for them to be on stage as much as possible,” said director Jack Palur.

When the youngest actors, affectionately called “minis,” aren’t on the stage, they work on projects related to the show, like making lollipop props.

All of the actors have pitched in to create the world of Willy Wonka. The kids built and painted all of the set pieces with guidance from the tech director and have also worked on sewing costumes.

Their hard work on the sets and on their scripts is much appreciated.

“The kids have more talent than most adults I’ve worked with,” Palur said.

Brennan Kilbane, 14, is the show’s Willy Wonka. This is his second year in Pioneer Theatre and his first year having a starring role. “I just realized it’s more work, but it’s a fun role to play,” Brennan said.

He prefers the Gene Wilder’s Wonka to Johnny Depp’s — Depp is creepy, he says — but his goal is to create his own candy man.

Not all of the characters are likeable, but the actors are happy to play them.

Veruca Salt, the spoiled brat who wants the whole world, is played by Madilyn Knowlton, 12, who has been performing with Pioneer Theatre for eight years. “It’s like a second Halloween,” she said.

Some of the actors are maybe a little bit like their characters. Daniel Schmuhl, 14, is the television-watching, video-game-playing Mike Teavee. In this version of the story, Teavee dances a tango with his mother.

“I get to drop her often,” Daniel said, smiling.

“He has to drop me, but he keeps pushing me,” said Allie Norris, 10, who plays Ms. Teavee.

The participants like the friendly atmosphere of the youth theater and the fact that everyone gets involved.

“You don’t have to make the cut,” said Maddy Massey, 12, who is back for her fifth year. “There are auditions, but you always get a part.”

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