March 1, 2005 > Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Comes to Life

by Ceri Hitchcock-Hodgson

On March 9, the California School for the Deaf will premiere its latest production - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Roald Dahl classic of a young boy on a tour of the most magnificent, and mysterious, chocolate factory in the world.

The high school cast of 25 students and the crew of 10 will present Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in American Sign Language (ASL). For the first time in the school's history, two students, Justin Jackerson and Leala Holcomb are involved in the directing of the play. They will assist the play's director, teacher Heidi Burns, who has 20 years of theater experience. Holcomb has also translated the Oompa Loopa poems from their English version into ASL and will direct those scenes.

"This performance is a lot closer to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory than the old movie. Viewers can come to watch this play and compare it with the upcoming new movie which will be released in July," explained Jackerson who directs several scenes.
The 90-minute performances will be shown beginning on March 9 for deaf and hard of hearing students. Performances will be open to the public on Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. There will be voice actors translating dialogue into spoken English during these performances.

Performances will be held in the California School for the Deaf's Little Theater located at 39350 Gallaudet Drive in Fremont.
Tickets for general admission are $12 each. To purchase tickets online, visit the school's website at www.csdf.k12.ca.us or order them from the school's Outreach Division, (510) 794-3707.