By Autem Bush
Celebrating their 30th Anniversary this year, The Pyramid Players recently brought Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, Jr. to the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium that included an art show featuring the works of Pyramid Artists statewide.
Willy Wonka, Jr. was The Players’ 16th annual community-inclusive production, who study their craft at Pyramid, Inc., an arts-focused nonprofit day program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
While The Players assumed the adult and ensemble roles in the musical, the cast was peppered with community youth actors, who lent their talents as the ticket-holding children and the Oompa Loompas. Also joining the cast in the title role of Willy Wonka was former Player and local rising performer Reid Soria of Autism Sings, LLC.
“The Players were excited to share the stage with some of the best local talent in our community,” said Nicole Fahle, Pyramid Performing Arts Coordinator and show director, who also thanked Mosaic Theatre Company, Niceville High School Theatre Department and The Story House Theatre for lending talent, time, costumes, props and sets.
The performance provided a glimpse into the abilities of a group of people whose talents too often go unrecognized. Cast members learned that hard work and dedication permit them to excel, not only on stage, but in their personal lives as well.
According to Pyramid Chief Operating Officer Marilyn Yon, “When Pyramid opened in 1994, it was to provide services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” she said, “but it was the introduction of the visual and performing arts program that paved the way for students to explore their abilities, to discover talents and to create something amazing from within themselves.”
For more information, contact at Pyramid Director Carrie Lawrence at 850-862-7139 or clawrence@pyramidinc.org.
