NILES­ — Niles High School students are extending a golden ticket to community members and inviting them into the fantastical world of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Students will debut their performance of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” starting at 7 p.m. Friday, with a second showing taking place at 7 p.m. Saturday. Performances will take place at the high school, 1441 Eagle St. in Niles.

On Wednesday afternoon, students gathered in the auditorium for a dress rehearsal. The show was written by Richard R. George and is adapted from Roald Dahl’s book. The play is directed by David Smith, the special education inclusion teacher.

Eleventh-grade Niles New Tech student Nick Runholt also helped to lead students in the play as a student director.

The play follows the life of an impoverished youth named Charlie, who is given the rare opportunity to see inside prominent candy maker Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, after Charlie finds the last of five golden tickets.

Inside the factory, Charlie is witness to a number of Wonka’s latest sweet inventions.

Runholt said he hopes that audience members appreciate the whimsy of the play.

“I would like it to be wondrous and I would like people to appreciate that is more fantasy than it is realistic,” Runholt said. “Because it’s a chocolate factory where everything is made of candy.”

Smith said he was drawn to have students perform the play based on the fun characters and well-known story line with a strong message.

Smith and Runholt cast 25 students in the play. 

Lucas Boling, an 11th grader, was given the opportunity to star as Willy Wonka. On Wednesday, Boling was dressed for the part, with factory goggles strapped to his head and Wonka’s iconic cane in one hand. 

Boling has been involved in the high school’s play productions since he was a freshman and has also acted at the South Bend Civic Theatre. In fact, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was his first production as a seventh grader and he played an Oompa Loompa. Boling said he is glad to have graduated to a bigger role since his early acting days.

“Now I’m playing Willy Wonka. I really enjoy playing the role,” Boling said. “Wonka is a showman and he wants to show off everything he has.”

Fellow actor Macy Grimes, an 11th grader who is starring as one of the two narrators, said she has a passion for acting and has starred in five of the high school’s productions since she was a freshman.

As a narrator, Grimes said her naturally bubbly personality helps her to connect with the audience, while guiding them through the tale.

“I really enjoy that I get to do what I love doing, which is talking to people,” Grimes said.

Students have been rehearsing the play for about six weeks and since then Smith said he has seen students embrace their roles and learn a few things along the way.

“The kids learn hard work and commitment,” Smith said. “It shows them how to manage their resources to bring everything together.”

Smith encouraged the community to see the play and support the high school students.

“I think it is a great way to see local talent,” Smith said. “And a great way to see how high schoolers can come together to create something unique.”