The stage is set for a deliciously satirical treat with “Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody.” The musical from producer Richard Kraft, features a lineup of illustrious songwriters including Riki Lindhome, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell, and Daniel Mertzlufft, each contributing their signature style to the production. On June 3rd at 8am PST, they will debut the first 3 demo tracks from the eagerly anticipated musical comedy inspired by the viral Willy Wonka event in Glasgow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and at willyscandyspectacular.com.
The producers are also excited to announce that the World Premiere staged reading of the musical will debut at the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Fest at the Pleasance King Dome from August 9th to 26th 2024.
- “Willy’s Candy Spectacular” – Actor John Stamos performs “a post-apocalyptic opening number that traces the downfall of civilization back to the disastrous event in Glasgow. This track is the brainchild of Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, known for their work on Broadway’s “First Date” and ABC’s “Once Upon a Time.”
Songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner explain, “We love musicals with epic opening numbers. And we thought — what could be more epic than John Stamos singing about the end of humanity and linking our species’ demise to an underwhelming immersive experience in Scotland?”
- “Dreamed to Dare” is penned by Daniel Mertzlufft – who launched the viral TikTok musical “Ratatouille the Musical” – and features TikTok singing sensations The Sharpe Family and the actual sad Oompa Loompa actress Kirsty Paterson from the viral Wonka Experience in Glasgow (playing a character inspired on her own experiences) as the attendees prepare to enter the world of dreams (or nightmares?).
“Not many shows have such high stakes and absurd characters that we deserve a bombastic anticipatory ensemble number – but with a plot like this I couldn’t resist!” exclaims Daniel Mertzlufft.
- “Where Dreams Go To Fly” is an uplifting number written by Emmy-award winners Doug Rockwell and Tova Litvin, capturing the unbridled optimism of the impresario behind Willy’s Candy Spectacular. Their previous works include songs for “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and “Julie & The Phantoms.”
“There’s such a fine line between soaring optimism and crushing defeat. In our song, we’ve tried to capture the range of emotions one goes through when creating art, even when that art is mind-numbingly awful,” said Doug Rockwell and Tova Litvin.
