San Diego Junior Theatre Opens Season 79 with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
San Diego Junior Theatre launches its 79th season with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” running Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park, located at 1600 Village Place, at the corner of Old Globe Way. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Joey Price, with music direction by Michael Tyree and choreography by Theresa Maigue Bendorf, this fantastical musical invites audiences into a world where imagination knows no bounds and, as JT’s Season 79 theme promises, anything can happen.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” follows young Charlie Bucket, a kind-hearted boy whose life changes when he finds one of five coveted Golden Tickets hidden inside Wonka chocolate bars. Along with the other lucky ticket winners, Charlie is granted a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious factory, where chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels, the great glass elevator, and Wonka’s curious Oompa-Loompas await.
The musical features an original score by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, along with songs from the beloved 1971 motion picture, including “The Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Oompa Loompa Song,” and “Pure Imagination.”
At the heart of JT’s production is a story about the power of imagination, the importance of kindness, and the extraordinary possibilities that can emerge from even the most ordinary circumstances. Charlie’s journey from a small home on the edge of town to the fantastical world inside Wonka’s factory embodies the spirit of JT’s 79th season: sometimes, all it takes is a little courage and an open mind to discover that the impossible might be within reach.
“’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is the perfect show to open our 79th season,” says Price. “It is a story filled with wonder, imagination, humor, music, and heart. Most importantly, it reminds us that extraordinary things can happen when we allow ourselves to dream. That is exactly what we hope audiences will experience throughout Season 79.”
It will run on Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Junior Theatre will provide an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, November 7 at 2 p.m. For optimal seating, members of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community can purchase tickets in the red seating section online or reach out directly to the box office at boxoffice@juniortheatre.com.
To purchase tickets, visit www.juniortheatre.com or call the box office at 619-239-8355.
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