Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a
April 23, 2017 Opening Night
Starring Christian Borle – Coming to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Tickets on Public Sale September 16, 2016
After “Billy Elliot” and “Matilda” another big British musical to hit the Broadway shores, next Season 2017 is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Variety has reported, that Sam Mendes has withdrawn as the director of the incoming Broadway production of Charlie , the musical that he directed in its premiere production in London, where the show is still running. Mendes cited scheduling difficulties as the reason for his exit, and all sides including lead producer Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures characterize the departure as amicable. I knew I couldn’t marry the time commitment to make a Broadway production with the development of my next projects for Neal Street, he said in a statement.
The musical is based on the 1964 children’s novel by Roald Dahl. A first reading of the first act from the show was carried out in New York in May 2010, with the intention of opening in London the following year, The show presents a more contemporary version of the original story. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was scheduled to begin previews on 17 May 2013, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, before holding its official opening night on 25 June 2013, Douglas Hodge was cast in the lead role of Willy Wonka, with further casting announced on 11 January 2013.
Previews of the show were delayed by five days until 22 May, due to “unforeseen problems in the delivery of a piece of stage engineering by a contractor. The show currently holds the record for the highest weekly gross in the West End, grossing £1,080,260.00 during the week commencing 30 December 2013. The first major cast change took place in May 2014, when Alex Jennings replaced Hodge as Wonka. In May 2015 a second slew of cast changes took place, with Jonathan Slinger becoming the new Wonka. The London Production is due to close on 7th January 2017.
The play opens with Charlie Bucket searching for valuables in a dump near his home. As he picks up candy wrappers, he speaks with a mysterious tramp, and heads home to his family (“Almost Nearly Perfect”). His home is a one-room shack under a railway arch. As he and his grandparents wait for their cabbage soup to boil, they tell Charlie about Willy Wonka (“The Amazing Tale of Mr. Willy Wonka”). After Charlie’s father returns home dispirited from lack of work, Charlie pens a letter about chocolate, folds it into a paper airplane and sends it flying out into the night (“A Letter from Charlie Bucket”).
Video – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Royal Variety Performance 2013 with Douglas Hodge.
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse
Original Novel by Roald Dahl
Music Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
More Cast and Creative TBA
