A lavish new stage production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is to come to London, directed by Sam Mendes.
Slated for the end of 2011, the major new West End musical from the stage theatrical arm of Warner Bros, will see Mendes directing and his production company with Carol Newling, Neal Street Productions, producing the show. Warner Bros produced the 2005 Tim Burton movie. The recent success of Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is predicted to give a boost to further movie-to-stage children’s tales.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will follow Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spring opening of The Wizard of Oz, another children’s book made famous by film and making its way back to the West End stage. No theatre or casting has been announced for the Charlie project.
The musical will feature songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the successful writing duo whose latest show, Catch Me If You Can, will premiere on Broadway in Spring 2011. They also wrote Hairspray The Musical. The book is by David Greig based on Roald Dahl’s original children’s story.
The first Act of the new musical was read in New York last week and it is believed that the show will also open on Broadway after its London premiere.
LINKS
Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
russell brand would make the best willy wonka!!
I Have a Dream Original London Cast of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY are Alex Gaumond as Willy Wonka, Ben James-Ellis as Charlie Bucket, Julian Forsyth as Grandpa Joe, Charlotte Spencer as Violet Beauregarde, Peter Davison as Dr. Wilbur Wonka, Sally Ann Triplett as Mrs. Bucket, Gavin Lee as Mr. Bucket, Rachael Wooding as Veruca Salt, Andy Mace as Mr. Salt, Sheila Hancock as Grandma Josephine, Chester McKee as Mike Teavee, Denise Van Outen as Mrs. Beauregarde, Ethan Beckley as Young Willy Wonka, Paul Manuel as Mr. Teavee, Caroline Keiff as Mrs. Gloop & Billy Edwards as Augustus Gloop.
The ensemble comprises Paul Ayers, Emma Bateman, Fem Belling, Philip Catchpole, Richard Dale, Francesca Ellis, Cordelia Farnworth, Antony Hansen, Rebecca Hodge, Matt Kennedy, Jane McMurtrie, Grant Murphy, Jo Napthine, Steven Oliver, Sherrie Pennington, Niall Sheehy, Liam Tamne, Emily Luke-Taylor, Karli Vale, Jay Webb.
Swings: Gavin Alex, Maria Graciano, Ryan Gover, Corrie Mac.