Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions, and Neal Street Productions have announced complete casting for Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the new musical that begins previews March 28, 2017, prior to an official opening April 23 at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 W. 46th St.).
As previously reported, two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle, who is currently starring in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Falsettos, will head the cast as Willy Wonka. He will be joined by Tony Award winner John Rubinstein as Grandpa Joe (Pippin), Emily Padgett as Mrs. Bucket (Side Show), Kathy Fitzgerald as Mrs. Gloop (9 to 5), F. Michael Haynie as Augustus Gloop (Wicked), Ben Crawford as Mr. Salt (Shrek), Emma Pfaeffle as Veruca Salt (Finding Neverland), Alan H. Green as Mr. Beauregard (School of Rock), Trista Dollison as Violet Beauregard (A Bronx Tale), Jackie Hoffman as Mrs. Teavee (On The Town), and Michael Wartella as Mike Teavee (Tuck Everlasting).
Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust, and Ryan Sell will make their Broadway debuts alternating in the role of Charlie Bucket. Flynn's regional credits include Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, Shrek, and A Christmas Carol. Foust, a native of Tampa, FL, has been seen in productions of Annie for Kids (Rooster), Beauty and the Beast (Chip), Cinderella Kids (Jaq), Peter Pan (Michael), and Cats (Victor/Bill Bailey). Sell, who was part of the developmental lab of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has appeared in productions of Mame (Young Patrick), Peter Pan (Michael Darling), and Beauty & the Beast (Chip).
The 36-member company also includes Yesenia Ayala (Broadway debut), Darius Barnes (Cinderella), Colin Bradbury (Come Fly Away), Jared Bradshaw (Jersey Boys), Ryan Breslin (Newsies), Kristy Cates (Finding Neverland), Madeleine Doherty (The Producers), Paloma Garcia-Lee (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), Stephanie Gibson (Cinderella), Talya Groves (Motown), Cory Lingner (On The Town), Elliott Mattox (Broadway debut), Monette McKay (Memphis), Kyle Taylor Parker (Kinky Boots), Paul Slade Smith (Finding Neverland), Stephen Carrasco (Fiddler on the Roof), Kristin Piro (An American In Paris), Amy Quanbeck (Broadway debut), Michael Williams (On The Town), and Mikey Winslow (On The Town).
Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features music by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Shaiman, a book by David Greig, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. The production includes additional songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 Warner Bros. motion picture.
The Broadway production will also have scenic and costume design by five-time Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, lighting design by four-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Andrew Keister, puppet design by Obie and Drama Desk Award winner Basil Twist, projection design by Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman, and music direction and supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman, CSA.
The musical is described as such: “Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous—and mysterious—factory is opening its gates…to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for chocolate waterfalls, exquisitely nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman), Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick), and Neal Street Productions (Sam Mendes, Caro Newling).
Tickets range from $69–$160 and are available at Ticketmaster.com.
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The Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning London production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes and choreographed by Peter Darling, continues at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it has been seen by over 2.1 million people since it opened in June 2013.
