A world premiere staged reading of Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody is set to play Edinburgh Festival Fringe August 9-26. Based on the viral underwhelming Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow, Scotland, the new musical will be staged at the Pleasance King Dome. Hear "The Unknown," the fourth demo track from the production penned by Daniel Mertzlufft (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical), in the video above.

Willy's Candy Spectacular features a lineup of songwriters including Riki Lindhome, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (First Date), Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), and Mertzlufft.

Previously titled Willy Fest, a musical parody, the project was unveiled earlier this year, shortly after the event on which its based became a viral sensation.

The Glasgow "Willy's Chocolate Experience" blew up on social media in late February, when families expecting an "immersive experience" based on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and the 2023 prequel film Wonka were greeted by halfhearted candy decorations, flimsy backdrops, and a menacing masked character named "The Unknown" (with no connection to the films). Parents reported their kids leaving in tears, police were called, and photos of the whole fiasco spread like wildfire on social platforms.

“As an avid TikTok addict, the Glasgow fiasco was my entire FYP for a solid week, and nothing was more intriguing than The Unknown," Mertzlufft said in a statement. "Who is he? Where did he come from? I never thought my obsession over these questions would lead to writing a horror song for puppets about The Unknown starting the apocalypse, but that’s the fun of Willy’s Candy Spectacular! When else do you have the ability to truly just explore the unknown!?”

In the weeks leading up to the staged readings, the production will release additional demo songs each Sunday.

Willy's Candy Spectacular is produced by Richard Kraft.

Visit WillysCandySpectacular.com.