BRAC’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is a golden ticket worth grabbing

See all the magical photos from this production in our gallery here.

Forget the chocolate. The real treat inside Willy Wonka’s factory is the talent on the Historic Owen Theatre stage, making this a golden ticket worth grabbing.

Branson Regional Arts Council’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is colorful, funny, heartfelt and filled with just enough pure imagination to make you feel like a kid again.

(Photo by Joelene Powell)

For me, there was a little nostalgia wrapped into the evening. I grew up with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe, and watching those familiar characters come to life on the Owen Theatre stage took me right back to childhood. BRAC’s cast does not try to recreate those performances. They make the characters their own while holding onto the wonder that made so many of us fall in love with the story in the first place.

BRAC Executive Director Luke Menard welcomed the audience before the lights dimmed and the production began.

At its heart, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is about much more than candy and golden tickets. Charlie Bucket lives in poverty in a household still carrying the loss of his father, yet he possesses something money cannot buy. His innocence, kindness, integrity and respect for others stand in sharp contrast to the excess surrounding the other golden-ticket winners.

Remmy Ray understands the heart of Charlie.

Ray’s expressive eyes immediately draw you in, but his melodic voice and ability to convey Charlie’s innocence stood out for me. There is a sweetness to his performance that never feels forced. Whether Charlie is dreaming about chocolate, sharing a quiet moment with his family or discovering that an impossible dream might actually come true, Ray makes you believe him.

Julie Brinkman brings warmth and tenderness to Mrs. Bucket, particularly in the family’s quieter moments surrounding the loss of Charlie’s father. Lamont Wade is a delight as Grandpa Joe. His humor, enthusiasm and chemistry with Ray make their relationship one of the strongest parts of the production and brought back some of those childhood memories for me.

And then there is the Candy Man.

Tom Cartwright’s Willy Wonka is sly, witty and wonderfully unpredictable, with just enough mystery to leave you wondering what he is thinking. A raised eyebrow, a knowing expression or a perfectly timed pause can earn a laugh before he ever says a word. Cartwright makes Wonka his own, and his strong vocals and energy give the character a commanding presence whenever he takes the stage.

Richard Marks was another personal favorite as Mr. Beauregarde. His larger-than-life personality and comedic timing earned some of the biggest laughs of the performance I attended. He commits completely to the character, and it works.

Those were my standouts, but “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is not a production carried by a handful of performers. It takes a village to create Wonka’s world, and this cast works together beautifully. From the Bucket family to the golden-ticket winners, their parents and the ensemble, each performer adds another layer of personality, humor or heart.

The vocals were tremendous and easily one of my favorite parts of the evening. Individual voices shine, but some of the strongest moments come when the cast comes together. The music moves from the tenderness of the Bucket household to the big, energetic numbers inside Wonka’s world, with “Pure Imagination” delivering the familiar magic audiences hope to hear.

Choreographer Elijah Lyons keeps the stage alive with movement that is energetic, fun and well matched to Wonka’s larger-than-life world. Even on the Owen’s intimate stage, the musical numbers feel full without feeling crowded, with dance captain Mila De La Vega helping carry that energy throughout the production.

Co-directors April Gilbert and Sean Neil Myers bring all of those pieces together, balancing the spectacle of Wonka’s factory with the quieter moments that give Charlie’s story its heart. Brinkman, who also serves as music director, deserves credit for the vocal strength heard throughout the production.

The production team completes the transformation. Costumes, lighting, sound, props and set design take the audience from the simplicity of Charlie’s home into the colorful and unpredictable world behind Wonka’s factory doors. Those elements do not simply decorate the stage. They help tell the story and give the performers a world in which to play.

There may be standout performances, but there are no small contributions in a production like this. The cast, ensemble, directors, music director, choreographer, technical crew and volunteers all have a hand in creating the magic audiences see from their seats.

For all the chocolate, music, humor and colorful characters, Charlie remains the reason the story works.

The other children enter Wonka’s world focused on what they want. Charlie enters grateful simply to be there. That difference is where Ray’s performance shines and where this production finds its heart.

BRAC’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” gave me plenty to laugh at, beautiful vocals to enjoy and a few moments that took me right back to childhood. More importantly, it reminded me why this story has lasted: imagination may open the door, but kindness, integrity and gratitude determine what we do once we walk through it.

My recommendation? Grab the golden ticket. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” continues through Oct. 11 at the Historic Owen Theatre in downtown Branson. Menard also announced “Anastasia: The Musical” will open BRAC’s 2027 season.

Tickets and performance information are available through the Branson Regional Arts Council.