‘Smash’ Alum Christian Borle to Play Willy Wonka on Broadway
Two-time Tony winner is set to star in stage version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” starting in spring 2017
Thom Geier | May 9, 2016 @ 5:00 AM
Last Updated: May 9, 2016 @ 6:17 AM
Photo: Joan Marcus
“Smash” alum and two-time Tony winner Christian Borle will star as Willy Wonka in the Broadway musical version of “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” beginning next spring.
Borle, who won Tonys for playing a pirate in “Peter and the Starcatcher” and a pompous William Shakespeare in “Something Rotten!” will take over the role of the slightly creepy candyman that Gene Wilder made famous in the 1971 movie adaptation of Dahl’s children’s fantasy novel.
The production is set to begin performances in March 2017 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions are producing.
Tony and Grammy winner Marc Shaiman (“Hairspray”) wrote the music, and co-wrote the lyrics with Scott Wittman. The book is by David Greig, artistic director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum theater.
Three-time Tony winner Jack O’Brien (“Hairspray,” “The Coast of Utopia”) will direct the Broadway production, with Emmy winner Joshua Bergasse (“Smash”) choreographing.
“Christian was the first — and in truth, perhaps the ONLY person I could imagine to create the role of Willy,” O’Brien said in a statement. “His combination of child-like fantasy, edge, mystery, and sheer star power seemed destined for this role. I confess I prayed a lot! But this one, at least, was answered!”
On Monday, the producers also announced a new design team for the Broadway production, which opened in London three years ago to mixed reviews under the direction of Sam Mendes, with Peter Darling providing the choreography.
Mark Thompson (“A Raisin in the Sun”) will design the sets, Japhy Weideman (“Bright Star”) will do lighting design, Basil Twist (“The Pee-wee Herman Show”) will do puppet design and Tony winner Doug Besterman (“Aladdin”) will provide orchestrations.
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17. "Rent" (original production) Opened: April 29, 1996 Closed: Sept. 7, 2008 Gross: $274.2 million
16. "The Producers" Opened: April 19, 2001 Closed: April 22, 2007 Gross: $288.4 million
15. "Mary Poppins" Opened: Nov. 16, 2006 Closed: March 3, 2013 Gross: $294.6 million
14. "Miss Saigon" (original production) Opened: April 11, 1991 Closed: Jan. 28, 2001 Gross: $298.7 million
13. "Kinky Boots" Opened: April 4, 2013 Closed: April 7, 2019 Gross to date: $319.0 million
12. "Les Misérables" (original production) Opened: March 12, 1987 Closed: May 18, 2003 Gross: $406.3 million