Pure Imagination To Come to Broadway

Make way for Willy Wonka: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a musical version of the beloved Roald Dahl book. The show will open on Broadway in spring 2017. Warner Bros., and other film studios are aggressively developing projects for Broadway. A version of the musical has been running in London’s West End since 2013, and is expected to close next year. That production has been commercially successful, but critics were mixed. The musical is expected to be revised before it opens here, including incorporating music from the film, as well as some of the dialogue.

They have hired Jack O’Brien (“Hairspray”) to direct the Broadway production, replacing Sam Mendes, who directed the West End version, though Mr. Mendes will remain a part of the shows producing team.   Joshua Bergasse (“On the Town”), replaces Peter Darling. This is not a transfer of the London production.

Hopefully the casting will include the wonderful Zachary Levi as Willy Wonka.

The musical,  features music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Mr. Shaiman and Scott Wittman; the writers previously collaborated with Mr. O’Brien on Hairspray. The book for “Charlie” is by the playwright David Greig. The lead producers are Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the second musicalization of a Roald Dahl book to reach Broadway. Matilda the Musical, was based on his book and has been running on Broadway since 2013.