Willy Wonka Question

Sadly I no longer live in NYC-but visit for big chunks of time. I will be in NYC for 3 weeks for the summer. My daughter really wants to see it. I am not a huge fan of the story but I am a Christian Borle fan. I am hesitant to buy tickets because with my luck that would be the day CB would be sick/on vacation. I know on these boards there are some very savvy Broadway people. Anyway to hedge my bets that at least the date I pick won't be when he's on vacation.

I am seeing if I can make it for when it's in previews since my thinking is he'd be less likely to go on vacation.

And yes I know if i got to the theater and he wasn't in it that day I could ask for a refund but my daughter doesn't really care, nor will the friends who will go with us so any help is appreciated since I plan to shell out for the best seats.

Do we know if they are rewriting the show?

qolbinau said: "Do we know if they are rewriting the show?"

Yes, they are...
http://www.playbill.com/article/secrets-of-broadways-the-front-page-and-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory

A slight side-step observation but would like to have seen Mr Borle offering those 2 tickets wearing his costume[if ready] from or similar in WW.

Even a back view with him looking over his shoulder so as NOT to reveal all and holding 2 tickets high-of course out of each to most.

So, that "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" teaser certainly made one think that the Broadway version might be more similar to the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". The license plate says "Candy Man" which is one of the songs from the film, and the whistle you hear at the end is....well, do I even need to say? Plus, director O'Brien referred to the character being more like the Gene Wilder character from that film. If they go more with the Wilder film they are more likely to have a hit here in the states.

I suppose it also depends on your definition of SUMMER.



He's highly unlikely to schedule vacation until after the Tonys.....but then it could be anything; although Kathy is right it is more likely to be in the fall or winter. No way to tell now. Right now, he's the ONLY reason I'm likely to see it, so I'm definitely waiting.



But to reiterate: you aren't likely to get a refund if Borle's name isn't above the title.

SarahNYC2 said: "I'm surprised his name wouldn't be. Who else is in it that's worth seeing? And requesting a refund wouldn't be possible. I'd be going with friends and our kids, and I am the only one who cares whether CB is playing Wonka. The rest just want to see the show because they love the story. So to them it wouldn't matter.





"

Jackie Hoffman is supposedly playing Ms. Tevee.

SarahNYC2 said: "I'm surprised his name wouldn't be. Who else is in it that's worth seeing? And requesting a refund wouldn't be possible. I'd be going with friends and our kids, and I am the only one who cares whether CB is playing Wonka. The rest just want to see the show because they love the story. So to them it wouldn't matter.





"

We'll, hopefully EVERYONE in it is "worth" seeing.

And you are the one that brought up asking for a refund.

brian1973 said: "

A few friends of mine are involved in this and it's a NEW production. Not a transfer. You don't get a director of Jack OBriens calibrate merely restaging Sam Mendes' production for New York. It's been totally rewritten and a completely new design. New songs. It was never really considered a great success in London and this is the perfectopportunity to retool it and make it work, which they have and are doing, from what I've heard it's really quite exciting and may surprise a lot of people with what a fresh take it is on the story. And no- it's not being based on the Willy Wonka film, more the original book and new elements too.

JBroadway said: "Since this thread exists, I've been wondering:

To what extent can we consider this production a transfer of the West End production? With these rewrites, and several new members of the creative team, will this be a whole new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Taking a quick look at the creative credits, it seems they have a new Director, Choreographer, lighting, sound and puppet designers. But the same costume/set designer, and the same orchestrator. It just seems like such a bizarre in-between state between being a West End transfer and being a separate incarnation of the material.



"

Oh wow, really? I knew it would be heavily rewritten and re directed and designed so yeah calling it a transfer in the purest form doesn't make sense. But new songs as well? It's still Shaiman and Whitman, I didn't think they'd write an entirely new score, but I guess they are...and I'm surprised it wasn't considered huge over in London, by the time it's closes it'll have ran for three and half years. However I didn't even know it existed until 6 months ago, so I suppose that's telling.

It does seem a good chunk of film songs will be used, I mean Pure Imagination is synonymous with that movie and the story in general, you can't do ANY adaptation of this anymore without it without anyone wondering where that song is, and it has been confirmed that it and Candy Man will be used, and considering they used Oompa Loompa even as just a whistle in those video ads, I can't see it not being used. The only film song I possibly wouldn't miss is Cheer Up Charlie.



I do wonder how going more book direction will work if they're going to use the film songs...I'd rather not have another Hunchback like identity crisis. I don't even mind WHICH direction O Brien will take as long as it's consistent.

But overall I'm getting more excited about this every day! I literally almost didn't care when I heard about it, but somehow since seeing the ads, my anticipation is shooting through the roof for it, especially since Borle was announced, that's the best casting idea I've seen a while, I can't think of anyone else offhand who'd do this as well as he could! If this doesn't get him his Leading actor Tony I'll be shocked.