Although auditions are still months away, South Jordan Elementary’s fourth- through sixth-graders are already buzzing with excitement for their spring 2026 musical, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The school’s musicals are a beloved annual tradition, voluntarily led by fifth-grade teacher Diane Witt-Roper and second-grade teacher Matt LaFluer. Last spring, 92 students performed “Willy Wonka Jr.,” based on Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” to packed audiences over four nights.

“I loved this show and this cast,” Witt-Roper said, who first directed the show 16 years ago at Bluffdale Elementary. “I love putting on musicals for kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity. This is a free, after-school, engaging activity for students, and every student who auditions is cast in our musical.”

Sixth-grader Hadley Clark, who played Mrs. Gloop, said it was her third musical at the school.

“I want to be a famous actor when I grow up, to be in movies or on Broadway,” she said. “The part of Mrs. Gloop is a lot of fun; her German accent is fun. I was happy he got Augustus, because we're the perfect pair, we’re confident and we have fun singing together. It’s my first solo, which is exciting.”

“I found a golden ticket” allowed five children to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in the school play adapted from Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Fifth-grader Timothy Pacini played Augustus, Mrs. Gloop’s chocolate-obsessed son.

“It’s super fun being in a play with friends,” he said, adding his older brothers also have been in South Jordan Elementary productions. “It’s been fun to perform with Hadley and our costumes are awesome.”

Fifth-grader Jane Shirley portrayed Violet Beauregarde, who is fixated on chewing gum.

“I thought it would be fun to act as the bratty kid,” she said. “I’d get to be snotty on stage, and I wouldn't get in trouble for it. But turning into a blueberry was my favorite part. It's fun because it's such a fast costume process and I’m happy because it turns out so well and it looks amazing.”

Sixth-grader Navy Miller, who played Violet’s mother, is a third-year performer.

“It’s fun but challenging to play the part where my daughter blows up in front of me,” she said. “I love how many friends we make in the shows.”

Navy added, “Sometimes, it can be hard and exhausting, but when you get to perform, it's so fun.”

Jane agreed: “It is so much work and dedication. We are here for hours, but it's worth it. When you can see the people smiling and clapping, and you get the standing ovation, there’s nothing like it.”

Fifth-grader Kellan Cordova played Mike Teavee, a television addict.

“I like I get to perform and basically wear normal clothes,” he said. “My favorite scenes are when they interview me and in the chocolate factory, but seeing it all come together is the best.”

His on-stage mom, Mrs. Teavee, was played by sixth-grader Whitney Park.

“Mrs. Teavee has a lot of lines, but she has a fun personality,” she said. “I like we get to sing a song together. It’s a complicated song and we practiced it lot.”

Witt-Roper praised the cast’s commitment.

“We ask the kids to do hard things. We ask them to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, and sometimes it's hard for them, but they meet that challenge,” she said. “We ask them to do things we know they can do, and when they accomplish those, then they’re proud of themselves.”

Auditions were held in December, with each student singing the same song and reading from the script. They submitted a three-page form and signed a contract committing to attendance, behavior and academics. Parents also attended a meeting outlining expectations.

“We do not do call backs,” she said. “We had five minutes per kid for 92 kids. Then we get together as directors. It took us four to seven hours to cast parts. Then, we called to offer the main roles to 15 to 20 students.” 

Witt-Roper directed, LaFluer choreographed, and music teacher Luke Durbin oversaw vocals.

“All of us volunteer to do this because we love our craft and we want to put on musicals here at the elementary,” Witt-Roper said. “Between our parent volunteers and us as directors, we put in more than 1,600 hours.”

South Jordan Elementary fourth-grader Cy Danes looks at his birthday Wonka bar given to him from his family in “Willy Wonka Jr.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Students noticed their dedication.

Timothy said he wanted to thank the directors because “they worked super hard,” while Hadley added, “they’re amazing and providing us a chance to make memories with our friends.”

The school PTA funded the production, covering licensing and, with fundraiser support, expenses such as mic tape and batteries — totaling about $2,000.

Amongst the reasons the show was selected were the messages shared, such as Oompa Loompas singing about following directions or when Willy Wonka praises Charlie for being honest about breaking the rules in the chocolate factory, Witt-Roper said. 

“The lesson is when you make mistakes, own up to them and move forward. Messages like that from Roald Dahl’s writing stand the test of time,” she said.

Witt-Roper said casting younger students in lead roles can be a gamble, but fourth-grader Cy Danes landed the title role of Charlie with a standout audition.“What surprised us is one month into rehearsal, he not only had his full script memorized, but he had most of everybody’s part memorized,” Witt-Roper said. “I used that as motivation for other cast members, joking, saying ‘You need to get your part memorized, otherwise Charlie is going to do it for you.’ We were pleased he put in the work and was so enthusiastic about doing the show.”

By the final rehearsals, students embraced their characters.

“The kids were really developing the characters and taking all the directions we have offered to them,” she said. “I'm not just talking about the main cast; I'm talking about that candy kid, that Oompa Loompa, or a squirrel doing a basketball routine. They all took that moment to smile and shine and see people who came to support them. This is an opportunity we can give them to have moments to shine and be proud of themselves.”

More than 90 fourth- through sixth-grade South Jordan Elementary students performed in “Willy Wonka Jr” last spring. (Photo courtesy South Jordan Elementary)