By Albert Lea Tribune

NRHEG students will bring the Roald Dahl classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to life this weekend.

With 20 different sets and even more musical numbers, the production promises to be an extravaganza of color, sound and surprises, according to a news release from the school.

It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

In the play, Charlie, who is played by Nicole Wallin, wins a golden ticket to the Wonka Chocolate Factory. While it’s the chance of a lifetime, he and the other five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems once they make it inside the factory.

“This is very much a family show,” said cast member Jessica Nafe. “There’s more humor in it than I realized, and while some of it is aimed at children, some of it is definitely more for adults.”

The many scene changes and the bizarre subject matter of the play have created some challenges for the crew, who have put in countless hours painting, shaping, creating and arranging the unusual items needed to bring everything together.

Crew member Abby Wacholz said there are many colors and props in the play — everything from a giant camera, huge machines and gears, flowers, lollipops, clouds, cupcakes, gumdrops, an elaborate gate and candy canes.

If you go

What: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva School High School

Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for students

“There’s even a machine which will determine whether one of the characters is a ‘good egg,’” Wacholz said. “I would never have imagined myself making any of these things.”

Justin Mortensen, who plays Willy Wonka, said he looks forward to seeing how it all comes together.

“After all this time and all this work, we can’t wait to perform for an audience,” Mortensen said. “I think people are going to really enjoy the play. It has humor, and definitely a few surprises. It’s so bouncy and happy, I think it would be impossible not to come away feeling better about the world.”