Gene Wilder News

Charlie and the Chocolate factory” is big, extravagant and highly entertaining. The two leads, Peter Andreas Hjellnes (Charlie) and Fridtjof Sensæth Josefsen (Willy Wonka), carry the show splendidly on their shoulders. As a musical it has flaws, but the production 'almost' manages to conceal this through solid stage design, beautiful comstumes, solid direction and fun choreography.

Fifteen year old Ajibola Tajudeen, better known as Keeme, is the host of New Paradigm Theatre's web series here on BroadwayWorld. 'Konversations with Keeme' is show where Keeme interviews seasoned television and film professionals like Tamara Tunie of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Renee Lawless of Tyler Perry's The Have and the Have Nots, as well as Broadway veterans such as Emmy and Grammy winner, Paul Bogaev, and Broadway pros Christine Dwyer, Kelly Grant, Juwan Crawley and more.

The star of Mr Robot and ER is releasing a new CD called FOR ALL WE KNOW and brings her grown up, adult, sophisticated, swinging, sexy night of intimate vocals and guitar to 54 Below with FROM BALLADS TO BOSS

Usually when people hear the word Frankenstein one image comes to mind: the inarticulate groaning hulk. Opening this weekend and running through Halloween on Stagecrafters' 2nd Stage is A. S. Peterson's version of Frankenstein, where The Monster is unlike the popular film adaptions that comes to everyone's mind. The play doesn't feature a terrifying and unthinking creature, instead The Monster feels emotions and asks questions that all humans ask themselves a?" according to Peterson, a?oehis Frankenstein is not your mama's Frankenstein.a?? BroadwayWorld Detroit was able to have an in-depth interview with the play's director, Andrew Clements, and the man behind The Monster in the show, Michael Meike, to find out what makes this new version so unique and thrilling, yet still be inspired by the classic Frankenstein story by Mary Shelley that audiences have come to know and love.

NiteLite Promotions and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center are pleased to announce Alice Cooper will return with special guest Lita Ford for a performance Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Exclusive to Melbourne, a stage adaptation of one of the world's most iconic stories comes only to Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne for a strictly limited season from 23 May 2020.

Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) will present Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka KIDS on October 26 at 11am and 2pm, and October 27 at 2pm at The Colonial Theatre. This production is directed by Travis Daly, with music direction by Erin M. White and choreography by Kathy Jo Grover. This new annual fall KIDS production will be the first time BTG will feature exclusively 2nd through 7th grade students on the Colonial stage, in a production geared specifically for this age group. This new fall addition has allowed BTG to expand its wide-reaching and extensive year-round education program, BTG PLAYS!, which serves 13,000 school children in over 26 schools across 15 towns.

As the first familiar notes of 'The Candy Man' wafts across the audience in Carol Morsani Hall, I feel a strong sense of nostalgia. I grew up watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on television and am curious how a show with so many special effects could translate to the stage.

Keith Pinto is one of those fortunate stage actors who seems to work almost constantly. If you attend Bay Area theater with any regularity, chances are you've seen him, most likely in a role that showcases his energetic performance style and talent for movement. His latest role is the iconic a?oesweet transvestitea?? Frank-N-Furter in San Jose Stage Company's new production of a?oeThe Rocky Horror Show.a?? Mr. Pinto recently chatted with BroadwayWorld about his process while he was between rehearsals.

Who'd have ever thought a seven-foot-tall, dark, handsome and green chap a?' crafted from the bits and pieces of various fellows gone home to meet their maker, as it were a?' could prove to be so likable, charming and, we daresay, sexy? But leave it to Mel Brooks (and Gene Wilder, his co-writer on the 1974 film) to create such a protagonist and to surround him with memorable characters in a story set to music that's a wonderful homage to the very best of classic Broadway and silver screen musicals!

'It's a very fun time'

While Wonka's chocolates and candies can still be found in stores across the globe, the latest iteration of his now-classic story of succession tastes stale and a?' at times a?' lacks any taste at all.

Matt Lyle's A 3D ADVENTURE more than lives up to its title, providing audiences with a madcap rush of scenes filled with action and laughter. But much like a hastily edited fight sequence, the story often feels clunky and uneven, privileging easy gimmicks over dramatic development.

The California Premiere of Nick Dear's adaptation of Frankenstein features a heartbreaking performance by Michael Manuel as a creature born innocent but ugly, taught to hate and rebel against humanity. Manuel carries the production on his hulking shoulders, which becomes crippling due to a confounding script and unusually lifeless direction from Los Angeles star director Michael Michetti.

by Josh Stent

If you're like me, Dear Readers, you grew up with that indelible classic film, a?oeWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factorya?? starring the amazing Gene Wilder (and hopefully not that abomination with Johnny Depp). Or maybe you found yourself getting lost in the pages of the Roald Dahl novel, a?oeCharlie and the Chocolate Factorya??. Whichever it is you probably found yourself longing for an Everlasting Gobstopper, or wanting to meet an Oompa Loompa, or terrified of that nightmare infused boat ride in the original film. Whichever version you preferred, rest assured there's something for everyone in the current musical incarnation, bearing the same name as the novel, currently on tour and at the Paramount Theatre. There are a few sound issues, and they've taken a few liberties with the characters to punch it up to modern day, but the whimsy and yearning for a?oePure Imaginationa?? is still quite present.

It's a marvelous production of a so-so musical.

Charlie Bucket has been found and he has a Golden Ticket! Producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions today announced the five boys who will play the role of Charlie in the Melbourne season of the Helpmann Award nominated spectacular new musical Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl's delicious tale will begin at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre on 9 August following an outstanding six-month season at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

BWW Review: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY gets raves from Eight-year-old, first time Gammage attendee. Just into her Summer break between second and third grade, Adalyn 'Addy' Cable raved about the National Tour of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY currently playing at Tempe's Gammage Auditorium. She urges people to see it and after the show had these comments to share: