Preview of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by New Paradigm Theatre

Press release

New Paradigm Theatre (NPT), has chosen three literacy nonprofit community partners, a local Fox61 news anchor and many more delicious treats for their August production of
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Stratford Conn. - New Paradigm Theatre (NPT), a company well-known for its inventive productions that are presented with multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-gendered casting has chosen three community nonprofits that echoes the themes in their upcoming live theatre production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Click for tickets.

Each summer The New Paradigm Theatre Company’s template is to partner with another non-profit organization that reflects the theme of the summer production to raise awareness for issues and organizations surrounding the community. For “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, NPT is proud to partner with three literacy nonprofits: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Rise to Read, and The Stratford Library.

The cast members include professionals Kyle Gonyea as “Willie Wonka” (Phantom of the Opera), Lou Ursone “Grandpa Joe” (Artistic Director of Curtain Call Theatre) and Matt Scott “Jerry Jubilee” (Fox61) as well as NPT youth and other local adults.

“Each community partner has the opportunity to educate our youth on their missions and to give a speech at our Gala and the curtain speeches at our shows. They can receive donations in our lobby and sign up volunteers! We think it’s a win-win” says Kristin Huffman, Artistic Director of NPT.

Janet Lengel the Coordinator of Dolly Parton’s Library in Stratford says,
“One of the themes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is that Good Things Come in Small Packages. In the same way with our Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a young child receives a book each month at no cost. Each small book alone may be overlooked or underestimated for its benefits. However, as the child grows, the collection of books grows with each monthly book. As the child gets the books read aloud to him or her each day, the literacy skills grow tremendously. Vocabulary is developed, knowledge of the world is increased, and brain synapses are firing on all cylinders. The children enter kindergarten with a feeling of success which gives them the power and determination to fulfill their dreams just as Charlie does. As Dolly says, “You Cant Get Enough Books into the Hands of Enough Children”.

NPT will also be offering “Triple Threat workshops” for the children at the Stratford Library on July 11th and 12th.

This year NPT was awarded a grants from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as The Fairfield County Community Foundation and The Connecticut Department of Economic Development . “We think this is a huge vote of confidence for our work and mission”, says Lynn Vetare, Managing Director of NPT.