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Youth's enduring spirit is celebrated in colorful ways as the curtain goes down on the Alle-Kiski Valley high-school musical season.

"Peter Pan" flies again at Valley High School, New Kensington, from Thursday through Sunday, and Willy Wonka throws open the doors of the chocolate factory once more in "Willy Wonka Jr." on May 14 and 15 at Evangel Heights Christian Academy, Buffalo Township, and Cheswick Christian Academy closes the season with "Snoopy!!! the Musical" on May 22.

If there really is an attraction for "children of all ages," these productions well could be it.

"There's a cast of over 100, pirates, Indians, animals, 60 pounds of glitter and actors that fly, and that's just the first act!" says an enthusiastic Larry Tempo, director of "Peter Pan," the timeless tale of the boy that never wants to grow up. "Kids will like the action, adventure and flying. Adults will be taken back to their youth," Tempo says.

In approaching "Willy Wonka," director Nicole Dufford asks through a smile, "How can you go wrong with candy?"

It is based on Roald Dahl's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and was adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald. Willy Wonka, the world renowned candy maker, is off on a journey to find an heir for his factory, accompanied by a tuneful soundtrack that includes songs such as "The Candy Man," "Pure Imagination," "I Want It Now" and "Oompa Loompa."

The stage production has been adapted to include scenes and characters from the films "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," which starred Gene Wilder, and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Johnny Depp.

"I am working on making the scenes come alive rather than leaving it all up to the imagination," Dufford says.

Tempo says he chose "Peter Pan" for its many challenges. "We have never staged this show before," he says.

The audience will enjoy the story that they know, assures senior Alexandra Langer, who plays one of the Lost Boys, "and it will have that Larry Tempo twist to it." They will see Neverland through Tempo's vision, she says.

"This is a big show, and it took a lot of hard work to put it together," adds Valley senior Klase Danko, who plays Tiger Lily, the Indian chief of Neverland.

She is confident that the audience will relate. "I think that everyone has their own little Peter Pan inside of them," Danko says.

Senior Nikki Fantuzzo, who plays Peter Pan, says the role gives her a chance to be someone that she never thought she could ever be, she says. "This character is the complete polar opposite of me. I mean, who, in their lifetime, ever gets to really fly?" she says.

"I love being in musicals, because you get to be people that you could never be in real life," Langer says.

"Peter Pan" really does allow the inner child to come out for everyone says Elise Zavadak, who plays Wendy Darling. "This is definitely a showstopper musical," she promises. "When you put singing, dancing and acting all together you could simply not achieve anything better for those who love to perform."

Performing "Willy Wonka Jr." is "a great way to exercise the imagination" says sophomore Madisson Heinl, who plays Violet Beauregarde, the obsessed gum-chewing golden ticket holder in Wonka's contest.

"The characters are so unique, and anyone can relate to them at some point in their lives," she says.

It is a happy journey into the world of the "freedom and happiness" of childhood, Heinl says, "not to mention chocolate."

One thing for sure, says senior Nicholas Greiner, who plays the title role of Willy Wonka, this production is "the purplest I've ever participated in." "It's exciting to be onstage. I just enjoy being around everyone and singing," he says.

Senior Andrew Rupp, who is Mr. Bucket, who screws on toothpaste caps for a living, agrees. "There is nothing like going out for the final curtain call and knowing that the countless hours that you spent working hard were all worth it," he says.

Every year, the shows have "gotten better and better" Maura Allen says. "Now that I am a senior, I am looking forward to this being our best play yet," she says.

Allen plays Grandma Josephina and is one of the Oompa Loompas.

Sophomore Jay Miller has been cast as the young-at-heart Grandpa Joe. "I'm preparing by remembering what my grandfather was like and how much he meant to me," he says. "I also throw in a little crazy humor and spontaneous insanity," he adds, laughing.

Claire Harvey, a freshman portraying young Charlie Bucket, says this is a "great family musical" that everyone will love. It's filled with bright colors, talented acting "and absolutely beautiful" singing says Emily Drum, who portrays Mrs. Violet Beauregarde, Violet's mother.

"Plus," Andrew Rupp says, "at $5, we're the least expensive show out there."

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