Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical; music by Shaiman & Wittman and possibly directed by Sam Mendes

[Texas Yankee]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 8:58am

Boy Shaiman is busy these days.


'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' musical planned

[Texas Yankee]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 9:00am

This link has a little more detail.
The oompaloompas, live and in person

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 9:09am

Why?

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 11:26am

Interesting- this musical is going to be based on the recent Tim Burton movie version.

This means that there is now going to be a full musical version of both "Willy Wonka" and "Charlie" and their respective Chocolate Factories.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 11:35am

Where does it say it will be based off of the movie adaptation? They may try to hem closely to the original book.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 12:30pm

Since Warner Bros. is producing it and the entire article talks about the Johnny Depp movie, it's a reasonable assumption.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 1:10pm

I really did not care for that movie. Depp's Wonka character irritated the hell out of me. He was like an annoying man-child who sucked helium and forgot what his motivation for doing anything was.

I don't know if any of you watch the Nostalgia Critic, but his review of the movie hits the nail right on the head. It's creepy, and all the characters are annoying. Wonka because he's disturbing and awkward to watch, and Charlie because he's so perfect that, to quote the NC, he "could try out for Jesus".


Updated On: 10/2/09 at 01:10 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 1:26pm

Yes, yes Shaiman!

No, no Mendes!!

Remember when musical direction was strictly an American art form? Sorry, Brits. We do it better.

Oh, well. At least there will finally--finally!--be something for the children on Broadway.

[BrianS]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 2:51pm

Borstal, I'd put Sam's direction of Cabaret against Arthur Laurent's direction of West Side any day.

[Weez]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 4:02pm

I thought you liked Mendes's Cabaret? And your most recent Guys & Dolls revival - so I hear - wasn't a PATCH on ours. :P

And why do you steal all our patriotic music? I was watching The West Wing earlier and you had one of our brilliant patriotic tunes in the background (I cannot be wholly certain for it was a few episodes ago but I think it was 'Land of Hope and Glory'). And what's with appropriating the tune to OUR National Anthem dammit?!

And if anyone has any explanation for where all this British pride has sprung from all of a sudden, I'd be interested in hearing it. But our directors totally can direct musicals awesomely, so :P to you.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 4:53pm

"Hey Charlie welcome to the factory! Woah oh oh oh oh woah oh!"

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 5:53pm

Hopefully they base it more closely to the book. The team behind this sounds fantastic; I'd hate to have them make a mistake so early on in the process by choosing the wrong source material.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 5:58pm

Is there something wrong with the score by Leslie Bricusse? I can't imagine a stage adaption of this material not including "Pure Imagination" and "I've Got a Golden Ticket".

[Pgenre]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 6:13pm

Book by Arthur Laurents & Sam Mendes.



P

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 6:18pm

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is actually based on Laurents' childhood.

[James885]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 6:23pm

Book by Arthur Laurents & Sam Mendes.

Good one Pgenre!

Laurents is probably livid at the thought of Sam Mendes possibly helming another musical.

[philly03]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 7:49pm

"Is there something wrong with the score by Leslie Bricusse? I can't imagine a stage adaption of this material not including "Pure Imagination" and "I've Got a Golden Ticket"."

I agree!!!!!! If anything, why couldn't they pull an Andrew Lloyd Webber and just tack on a few new songs even.

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 8:35pm

Because that full-length stage musical already exists- "Willy Wonka."

However, it doesn't own exclusive rights to the Chocolate Factory Franchise...

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 10:03pm

My boyfriend was in the 1971 movie. Maybe he'll audition. Bwaaaa

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 12:16am

I'm actually astounded this hasn't happened before now...

[Kad]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 12:55am

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is not the same as the book/recent film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". They can do whatever the hell they want with this, and just simply say it's NOT based on the movie with Gene Wilder. Because it's not.

[Soliantu]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 12:56am

Um.. eww..

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 1:23am

In this darker retelling, the chocolate factory will slowly lift up from the stage to reveal itself to be a gas chamber.

[Timmer]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 1:44am

Ugh. I'm very partial to the old Newley-Bricusse movie score.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 10:15am

I can already envision little plush oompa loompa's being sold along with other shows souvenirs.