James Young News

The 2004 prize-winning novel by Andrea Levy, who sadly passed away earlier this year, has been beautifully translated to stage by adaptor Helen Edmundson and NT head honcho Rufus Norris, using thrilling theatrical solutions to honour Levy's epic - and still urgent - tale.

Andrea Levy's epic, Orange Prize-winning novel bursts into new life on the Olivier Stage. A company of 40 tell a story which journeys from Jamaica to Britain through the Second World War to 1948, the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury.

The producers and Segerstrom Center for the Arts are pleased to announce casting for the national tour of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which will play Segerstrom Hall May 28 - June 9, 2019. As previously announced, Broadway veteran Noah Weisberg (South Pacific, Enron, Elf, Legally Blonde) will star as the extraordinary chocolate maker, Willy Wonka, with Henry Boshart (age 10), Collin Jeffery (age 11) and Rueby Wood (age 11), alternating in the title role of Charlie Bucket.

On Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 8:00pm, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series presents James McVinnie and Darkstar at Northrop, University of MN, Minneapolis.

Andrea Levy's epic, Orange Prize-winning novel bursts into new life on the Olivier Stage. A company of 40 tell a story which journeys from Jamaica to Britain through the Second World War to 1948, the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened at the Pantages Theatre earlier this week!

What an incredible week this has been! First Matilda the Musical and now Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, both based on Roald Dahl's books. It most definitely is a world of pure imagination for kids of all ages. Currently at the Hollywood Pantages through April 14, The Chocolate Factory is a uniquely mesmerizing tale of little Charlie Bucket, who, like Matilda, is a genius who can create something out of nothing. Willy Wonka (Noah Weisberg) desperately wants an heir to his Chocolate Factory, so

National Theatre has announced its listings for May - October 2019. Check out the full lineup below!

IRISH MUSIC WILL FILL THE AIR....performed by Anthony Kearns, World Renowned Tenor and Member of the Irish Tenors accompanied by David George benefitted the Julia's Butterfly Foundation on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the West Side Presbysterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood NJ.

It was a week full of candy and sweets for me personally. First my work life was full of a sugar high with the grand opening of Candytopia at Mall of America - shameless plug but it's incredible so you should go check it out - and then it was the opening night of a new musical. The adaptation of Roald Dahl's story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has arrived in Minneapolis and will be here for nearly two weeks.

Sometimes a show completely defies expectations. And in the case of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, that's a good thing. I settled into my seat at the Durham Performing Arts Center Tuesday night and drew forth my pen, my weapon choice, completely prepared to obliterate this production. Then the music started. Cue the ensemble. "Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew…" Suddenly there I was, smiling, strangely finding comfort in the familiar, when I heard a sound that would completely disarm me. A nine-year-old kid behind me named Blake laughed, an infectious sort of laugh that served as a bit of a wake-up call that this show wasn't calculated for me. This show, this moment, and this performance belonged to him and every other dewy-eyed kid in the audience.

James Young has been singing and dancing in Broadway shows for over 40 years. These days, he spends his time playing Grandpa Joe in the national tour of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. The show plays the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) next week. Hear what Young has to say about the production, the importance of exposing kids to the theater, and the excitement he still feels taking a show on the road.

As the Candy Man himself said, "come with me, and you'll see a world of pure imagination." It seems the writers and creatives behind CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY playing at the Hippodrome took this phrase to heart. On the basis of pure creativity and theatre magic, this show is a hit for young and old. These days, it's fun to have at least a singular moment of "I don't know how they managed to do that", however in this show particularly from the magic of a soaring paper airplane, to a child gobbled into a television set, there are many of these moments of amazement. And I'm sure the numerous children in the audience were completely taken by the sheer wonder of it.

The National Theatre has announced its upcoming lineup for the first half of 2019.

The Boston premiere of the US National Tour of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY opened at the Boston Opera House this week, just a year after the Broadway production closed. The core of the Broadway creative team brings in a 36-member cast, including the beguiling candy man Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas, his odd little troupe of orange-haired factory workers.

The Warner Theatre will welcome GRAMMY-Award nominated group, ELI YOUNG BAND, to the Main Stage on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 8 PM. Tickets will go on sale to Warner Members on Tuesday, November 13 at 10 AM and to the General Public on Friday, November 16 at 10 AM.

The tour opened last month in Buffalo, NY to rave reviews and set a new record as the highest grossing and attended tour launch in Shea's history. Just finishing its third week in Chicago, the tour continues to delight audiences. Get a look at the tour below!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is gearing up to take the show on the road! Watch the cast perform three numbers from the upcoming tour!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is gearing up to take the show on the road! Hear what the cast and creatives have to say about what makes this musical so delicious!

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: we took you inside opening night of Gettin' The Band Back Together, and more!