Temple B'nai Torah kids set to perform 'Willy Wonka Jr.'

Children at Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh are building their acting chops, and strengthening their confidence, as they get ready to take the stage for a production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” for four shows in December.

The reform congregation will host “Willy Wonka Jr.,” a children’s stage show based on the famous Roald Dahl books about the eccentric candy man and his quest to find an heir through his golden tickets. The play marks the second of two productions the temple hosts each year, and the actors will consist of children ages six to 16, who have been practicing their lines and their songs.

“That’s what children’s theater should be about,” Samantha Epstein, director of the production, said. “It’s about learning about the theater, learning about what it takes to put on a show.”

Sara Fioribello, 17, choreographer and stage director, is in her eighth year working on shows at the congregation. She said the children have been extraordinary since day one of production, and is impressed with how much they’ve learned their lines before off-book day, which is the day they rehearse without a script in front of them.

“The kids are awesome,” Fioribello said. “They really understand their characters, their roles, and they’re really getting into it and learning their lines before off-book day, which is really nice.”

During rehearsals, the kids take the stage to practice their scenes and rehearse their dance moves and songs, working together to create well-choreographed sequences. Matthew Tumbarello, 9, who plays Grandpa George, said he practiced his songs frequently, and is confident of his performance come show time.

“To me, it’s really easy,” Matthew said, “because I like singing.”

Epstein said that choosing “Willy Wonka Jr.” for the children’s show was an obvious choice, because the source material is filled with a colorful cast of characters for the kids to dive into.

“There is so much opportunity for the children to shine, which is really beautiful,” Epstein said.

Arielle Minkowsky, 11, said she feels good about playing the titular role of Willy Wonka, adding that the rehearsal experience has been fun because she gets to act with friends. This will be the sixth production for Arielle, who’s been performing in shows for the past two years.

“I really like to be in shows, and I love putting on costumes,” Arielle said.

Cast member Elijah Baroukh, 12, will play Charlie Bucket, the lucky child who finds the golden ticket and is sent on a magical adventure through Wonka’s chocolate factory. Elijah said he enjoys practicing his songs and learning new choreography while meeting new people.

“I made a lot of new friends from this,” Elijah said of the show, “and I met a lot of new people. It’s just a really great community.”

According to Epstein, most of the performers are members of the temple, whose friends help fill out the rest of the cast. Members of the production and stage crew consist of the cast’s family members, who help paint and build the colorful sets to be used in the show.

Since performing in shows since she was five years old, Epstein is no stranger to the stage. Her experience taught her how important theater can be for a young mind to develop social skills.

“It really is great to get them involved in all the processes,” Epstein said. “But it’s also about coming out of their shell. So much of being a kid is building confidence, and I personally grew so much of my confidence on the stage as a kid.”

Alexandra Manascirov, 14, who plays Violet’s mom, Scarlett Beauregarde, said the show has helped her deal with social anxiety.

“I love it. I love the people,” Alexandra said of the production. “This place just really helps get me out of my shell and makes me feel more comfortable.”

According to Fioribello, everyone in the production has been supportive of one another, and members of the cast and crew always make sure to maintain a welcoming environment.

“Everyone is so awesome,” Fioribello said. “It’s such a family community here, so if you see when we come in, everyone gets a hug. Everyone is like, ‘How was your day?’ We all kind of de-stress before we all go on stage.”