Rochester High School graduates Jennifer (Elliott) Estes and Jayson Elliott will present “Willy Wonka Jr.” at the RHS Auditorium on Thursday, March 28, with free admission for those under 18. Photo provided.

News Release

ROCHESTER — “Willy Wonka Jr.” is coming to Rochester.

The Northern Indiana Community Foundation and Rochester Telephone Co. are pleased to sponsor a performance of “Willy Wonka Jr.” at Rochester High School.

The show, just more than an hour in length, is written for younger performers and with an audience of children in mind.

The cast is made up of 40 children from the greater Indianapolis area who are members of former RHS students, Jennifer (Elliott) Estes’ and Jayson Elliott’s brainchild, Epsilon Theatrical Co.

The performance is slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in the RHS Auditorium. All children under the age of 18 are admitted free; adult tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.

According to a press release, the brother-sister team never forgot their time on the stage during their years at RHS. Elliott said coming “home is emotional, heartwarming and thrilling.”

Estes, a 1993 grad, and Elliott, a 1995 alum, were active in Tri-Epsilon, the drama club, and the RHS choral program. Both found that what they learned through the performing arts has shaped them.

Estes remembers experiencing improv in Maria Kelsay’s drama classes, where she learned “I was able to express myself freely … As a shy kid, it was the outlet I needed.”

Elliott said he learned from Kelsay and RHS choral director, Hope Showley, remains as the “building blocks” as he seeks to inspire a new generation of storytellers with ETC.

Both participated in a summer theater program where they spent time in Chicago and Indianapolis, visiting restaurants and attending shows. The visits exposed “small-town kids who had never seen a building taller than a silo to a world they didn’t even know existed,” shared Estes.

Elliott, who was based in New York City for nearly two decades, performed on Broadway, with touring ensembles, for the Disney Cruise Line, and in regional theaters, including Beef and Boards in Indianapolis. His signature role is the Big Bopper in “The Buddy Holly Story,” a role he has played more than 20 times all over the U.S.

Sister, Jennifer, left high school and earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, but her love of the theater remained. In 2003, she began studying improv, including at The Second City improv theater in Chicago, and became a founding member of IndyProv, which toured throughout the country. In 2018, she became a leader of a drama ministry for children, In His Light Players.

When COVID-19 closed down NYC,  Elliott made the decision to move back to Indiana.  Although he had decided to step back from performing, it wasn’t long before his older sister talked him into helping with the IHLP productions. The two have directed and produced shows, such as “Singin’ in the Rain Jr.,” “Matilda Jr.,” “Seussical Jr.,” and “Shrek Jr.”

In 2022, they wowed local theatergoers with their larger-than-life production of “Beauty and the Beast.” The fall of 2023 marked the final IHLP production, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Building off the momentum of the IHLP success, Elliott and Estes then founded the Epsilon Theatrical Co. The name pays homage to their high school drama club, Tri-Epsilon, with its goal to grow the next generation of leaders both on stage and off.

Drawing from Elliott’s performing experiences and Estes’ strong sense of community and commitment to building a dedicated and capable team, Epsilon opened its inaugural season this year at Broadway United Methodist Church in the heart of Indianapolis with “Willy Wonka Jr.”

“In today’s digital age, theater provides a tangible outlet for performers and audiences, which is why ETC exists to produce high-caliber theatrical opportunities for the enjoyment and enrichment of all participants, patrons and residents of central Indiana,” said Elliott.

“We are ecstatic for the opportunity to bring a little piece of our world back to where it all began, the RHS stage,” said Estes. “Thank you to everyone who is making this homecoming a reality. Go Zs!”