Jack O'Brien Reportedly to Head B'way Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Playbill

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News Jack O'Brien Reportedly to Head B'way Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Joshua Bergasse have joined the creative team for the Broadway debut of the musical version of Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory — featuring a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman — according to London's Daily Mail.

No official announcement about the Broadway creative team has been made.

Sam Mendes directed the musical's London debut, which featured choreography by Peter Darling. Mendes' schedule is too busy to allow him to repeat his work for Broadway, and Darling will be occupied with another new musical, Groundhog Day, which will arrive at the Old Vic later in the year.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is currently scheduled to open on Broadway in spring 2017.

Multiple Tony winner O'Brien's Broadway credits include Hairspray, The Coast of Utopia, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and last season's It's Only a Play.

Choreographer Bergasse, an Emmy Award winner for his work on "Smash," made his Broadway choreographic debut last season with the American classic On the Town, earning a Tony nomination for his work.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory began London performances May 22, 2013, at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It officially opened June 25 of that year. 

Read what critics thought of the production here.

Directed in London by Tony, Olivier and Academy Award winner Mendes (Cabaret, "American Beauty"), the show has a book by David Greig (Damascus, Outlying Islands), with music and lyrics by Shaiman and lyrics by Wittman – the Tony Award-winning songwriters of Hairspray and "Smash." It has choreography by Tony and Olivier winner Darling (Matilda, Billy Elliot).

Tony and Olivier winner Douglas Hodge (La Cage aux Folles, Cyrano de Bergerac) originated the role of Willy Wonka in the stage production.

According to the creators, "When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he's always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems... A chocolate garden, an army of squirrels and the curiously peculiar Oompa-Loompas must be believed to be seen in this spectacular new musical that is choc-full of fantastical treats to dazzle your senses."



The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting by Paul Pyant and sound by Paul Arditti. Video and projections are by Jon Driscoll, with puppet and illusions by Jamie Harrison. The musical director is Nicholas Skilbeck.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is produced in London by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick.

Visit CharlieandtheChocolateFactory.com.

 
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