Sam Mendes News

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will begin previews on May 17 instead of May 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Opening night is still set for June 25. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). Check out a just-released promo for the show below!

Today we are talking to the king of the modern musical and the most successful theatrical producer in history - the man behind the original productions of countless iconic musicals, among them: LES MISERABLES, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CATS, MISS SAIGON, STARLIGHT EXPRESS and MARY POPPINS - the one and only Cameron Mackintosh. Looking back at many of his most remarkable musicals to date and also some of his lesser-known success d'estime projects - such as THE FIX - Mackintosh reveals his dedication and passion for the performing arts and discusses many aspects of his legendary shows and displays the characteristic charm and insight that has gotten him to his enviable position over his forty years producing for Broadway, the West End and around the world. Most importantly, Mackintosh and I analyze the mega-successful feature film adaptation of LES MISERABLES, directed by Tom Hooper, and Mackintosh relates many fascinating insights as to the musical's original genesis and the journey of the film from page to stage to screen - such as working with original composer/lyricist team Claude-Michel Schoenberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer on creating new musical material explicitly for the movie, as well as the audition and casting process for the central characters. Looking ahead, Mackintosh shares thoughts on potential MISS SAIGON and OLIVER feature film adaptations in the future and gamely speculates on casting for each, while also giving us the scoop on a new stage production of BARNUM he is producing, set to star Christopher Fitzgerald, and the exciting enhancements being made to the well-regarded musical for this new revised and reconceived production. All of that, Mackintosh's thoughts on the enduring legacy of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the recent Royal Albert Hall 25th Anniversary Celebration and Broadway anniversary, as well as comments on the new touring productions of LES MISERABLES and PHANTOM coming later this year and next year, as well as the major 2014 LES MISERABLES and MISS SAIGON revivals set for the main-stage of the West End and Broadway - and much, much more!

According to the Daily Mail, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will begin previews on May 17 instead of May 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Opening night is still set for June 25. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet).

BoHo Theatre presents Hauptmann, an examination of truth and media indictment, by lauded Chicago playwright John Logan. The production runs tonight, March 22nd through April 21st at the Heartland Studio in Rogers Park.

Broadway and Hollywood superstar Daniel Craig has been officially confirmed to return as James Bond in the next installment of the iconic action film franchise, which now has been reported to be aiming for a pre-2016 release.

La actriz madrileña Mireia Mambo Bokele (High School Musical, Ragtime, A Midnight Summer Dream) sera uno de los miembros del nuevo musical 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' que se estrenare el proximo 25 de junio en el Drury Lane Theatre de Londres, con previas desde el 18 de mayo.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, March 17, 2013 - Sunday, March 17, 2013.

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25 June 2013. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). Click below to watch the show's creative team talk about the writing process!

Fasten your seat belt for 'a roaring ride that will take you up, up and away.' Previews begin on Thursday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m.; with the official opening on Saturday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. and running through May 5, 2013.

Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre - not a handsome prince - shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Shrek The Musical will be performed at Three Stages today, March 14, 7:30 pm; Friday, March 15, 8 pm; Saturday, March 16, 2 and 8 pm, and Sunday, March 16, 1:30 and 7 pm.

Today the Donmar Warehouse announces the cast for The Weir, which will be followed by the world premiere of a new play also by Conor McPherson this June. The casts for both shows represent a gathering of some of the finest exponents of McPherson's work and the back to back productions will allow audiences to see his latest work alongside his recognised masterpiece. Risteard Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon will star in The Weir, directed by Josie Rourke from 18 April to 08 June 2013. Following this, The Night Alive will make its world premiere on 13 June, directed by McPherson himself. The cast for The Night Alive are Caoilfhionn Dunne, Brian Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.

Dervla Kirwan will star as 'Valerie' in Donmar Warehouse's revival of Conor McPherson's The Weir, which begins rehearsals on March 11, directed by Josie Rourke. Kirwan is joined by Brian Cox, Peter McDonald, Risteard Cooper and Ardal O'Hanlon. The show will open on April 18, 2013.

Risteard Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon will star in The Weir, directed by Josie Rourke from 18 April to 8 June 2013. Following this, The Night Alive will make its world premiere on 13 June, directed by McPherson himself. The cast for The Night Alive are Caoilfhionn Dunne, Brian Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.

Announcing the cast and creative team for the comedic flight, Boeing Boeing. Fasten your seat belt for a roaring ride that will take you up, up and away. Previews begin on Thursday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m.; with the official opening on Saturday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. and running through May 5, 2013.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sam Mendes will not be returning to direct the next installment of the JAMES BOND franchise. The Oscar winner played a key role in breathing new life into the 007 film series with last year's box office smash 'Skyfall', but announced that he will not return to helm the next film.

According to the Daily Mail, Cameron Mackintosh wants to adapt Lionel Bart's OLIVER! for the big screen, following the success of Tom Hooper's LES MISERABLES film adaptation, which has officially surpassed the $400 million mark in worldwide sales, making it the second highest-grossing movie musical of all time. Rumors are that Mackintosh is eyeing Stephen Daldry as director for OLIVER! No solid timeline for production or casting has been revealed.

The theatre programme for the Manchester International Festival 2013 has been announced. MIF13 commissions include: The Machine, The Old Woman, Macbeth, The Masque of Anarchy and The Rite of Spring.