The River Place Student Theatre performed Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka, Jr” in front of a sold-out audience at the Dell Fine Arts Center on March 6 and 7. The audience followed the candy manufacturer as he staged a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever discovered these tickets won a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children were insufferable brats, but the fifth was a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who took the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children learned to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory — or suffered the consequences.
RPST is a non-profit organization providing students zoned to attend River Place Elementary with the opportunity to participate in a professional musical theatre experience. Students practiced for six months at St Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church. The program would not be possible without the wonderful directors, Dionn Schaffner and Radena Hampton, the dedicated RPST parent volunteers and the gracious community sponsors.
Submitted by Ellen Whitson, Photos by GypcGirlPhotography
Cast and Crew
| Addison Rivas |
| Addison Strockis |
| Adrian Maloney |
| Arjun Sathish |
| August Raemsch |
| Blake Seymour |
| Brynn Jacob |
| Camden Murkofsky |
| Campbell Nieto |
| Carter Qualls |
| Charlotte Nieto |
| Charlotte Riley |
| Claire Herndon |
| Clara Geloneck |
| Clara Stroud |
| Ella Hardin |
| Emerson Femrite |
| Emerson Owens |
| Emiliano Hernandez |
| Emily Herndon |
| Enzo Azevedo |
| Evie Li |
| Evie Philley |
| Finley Caldwell |
| Georgia Emerson |
| Georgia Ritter |
| Harper Moss |
| Harper Rivas |
| Hudson Owens |
| Isabel Gonzalez |
| Ivy Rosenbaum |
| Izzy Li |
| Jack Emerson |
| Jazlene Shahidullah |
| Joaquin Jinkiri |
| Jordan Showers |
| Josephine Fleurbaaij |
| Josie Webb |
| Kaia McLellan |
| Kyra Gonjare |
| Liam Tjokrosoesilo |
| Libby Whitson |
| Maeve Bushaw |
| Maximilian Fleurbaaij |
| Meera Arora |
| Mila White |
| Mina Benedict |
| Natalia Ardila |
| Olivia Rose Valverde |
| Owen Ralls |
| Parker Dale |
| Penelope Sarte |
| Rafa Jinkiri |
| Rhett Philley |
| Rocky Romano |
| Rowan Philley |
| Rowan Storey |
| Ruth Christensen |
| Ryan Hay |
| Sarah Ryan |
| Scarlett Wells |
| Sophia Tjokrosoesilo |
| Sutton Christianson |
| Vitalya Martinez |
| Yotam Jurman |
| Yulie Jurman |
RPST 2025-2026 Board of Directors
Dionn Schaffner, Choreographer & Creative Director
Radena Hampton, Vocal Director
Ellen Whitson, President
Suzie Martinez, Vice President
Heather Hay, Secretary
Kirsten Nieto, Treasurer
Amy Owens, Member at Large
Angelique Dale, Member at Large
Kristin Herndon, Member at Large
Marie Todd, Member at Large
Sara Seymour, Member at Large
Summer Lebleu, Member at Large
Talia Stroud, Member at Large
