“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination...”

The words of the musical hit glorified in two movie productions is the subject of the Covington Louisiana Actors Playhouse System, play this weekend at the Elmer E. Lyon Performing Arts Center at Covington High School.

Complete with black lights, bubbles, Oompa Loompas and, of course the golden ticket, the production of “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” involves about 45 high school students both on and offstage. Cast members include: Deangelo Renard as the Candy Man, aka Willie Wonka; Annie Gambino, Chloe Willamson, Michelle Pendergast, Stephany Kippers, Kelli Cross and Chelsea Magee as the Oompa Loompas; Zack McClain as Charlie Bucket; Brandi Dimatteo as Mrs. Bucket; Hunter Christopher as Mr. Bucket; Alexis Spell as Gradma Josephina; Rachel Flaming as Grandma Georgina; Max Welch as Grandpa George; Alex Lemonier as Grandpa Joe; Blake Lee as James; Morgan Allen as Matilda; Sarah Auxilien as Phineous Trout; San Henry as Augustus Gloop; Stephanie Raborn as Mrs. Gloop; Morgan Laurant as Veruca Salt; Gary Mendoza as Mr. Salt; Mary Malbrough as Violet Beauregard; Brittany Williams as Mrs. Beauregard; Erin Kennedy Ms. Teevee; Robert Crawford as Mike Tevee; and the ensemble members Chase Hefte, Katie Pete, Filiberto Morales and Raven Tallitsch.

In addition, many of the cast members assisted with set construction. Other production staff include Olivia Matte on sound; Katie Boudreaux and Scarlett Taylor, spotlights; Sarah Berardi and Jacob Arceneaux, running crew; Adair Watkins, Cedric Bridges, Bonnie Stokes and Ric Watkins, costumes; Bridges, programs and posters; Watkins, publicity; and Stokes house manager.

The play will be performed today and tomorrow at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 each.

Students come from area high schools far and near to participate in the summer workshop, a type of summer stock for the performing arts high school student.

Dr. Ric Watkins, producer and music director, began the CLAPS program in 1996. While there were grants that helped start the program, the productions are now financially self-sufficient, relying only on sponsorships and ticket sales.

“The program started because we were the only auditorium in the parish at the time. While it was difficult for students from other high schools to join the productions during the year, we opened the summer program to students from all schools, even neighboring parishes,” Watkins said.

An audition system of singing 16 measures and a cold script reading must be passed for students wishing to participate. There is no cost; this is not a summer camp. Students who may be the best at their particular school compete with one another for roles in CLAPS.

The group produces and performs four plays in six weeks- three musicals and a play. Watkins says the intention is to show students serious about a career in the arts what the demands are in the professional theater.

“In theater, you can always find a job if you have skills. So that’s what we try to instill in students,” Watkins said. It may not be glamorous or the lead, but if you know how to do a variety of things like makeup, sets, lighting or costumes, Watkins says you can always have a job.

All types of students are able to participate, providing a mix of socio-economic backgrounds. Watkins said this is also important in the professional theater. During the summer, former students visit and talk to the aspiring professionals. “I can tell you how to get to Broadway from here because I’ve done it” is a favorite topic of graduates. Watkins says it is always interesting for the students to talk to someone they know locally to get “real world” experience, not just their teachers.

Last week, the group produced “Aladdin Jr.” Next week “Sleeping Beauty” and “Treasure Island” will end the summer for CLAPS. Gary Mendoza said the real challenge is breaking down sets and lighting from one production and resetting for another show in two days.

The three directors, Watkins, Cedric Bridges and Mendoza, all teach at Covington High School and have professional experience in many facets of theater. Watkins recently received his doctorate and has worked in some capacity in over 200 professional and amateur musical theater productions. Bridges began his career in opera and has been involved in 30 to 40 professional and college productions. Mendoza has been a performer, director, lighting designer and playwright and is serving as the technical director for CLAPS.

Each one also performs small cameo roles in the summer productions.

Other musical productions for this season are Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s play “Treasure Island.” “Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” performances are June 25-27, at 10 a.m. “Treasure Island” performances are June 25-27 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. All tickets are $5.