Matt Wood News

In a limited run on October 8-13, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the beloved childhood tale of five lucky children with magic tickets, hits The Straz Center to delight kids of all ages. The story is a lesson in have and have-nots, centering around Charlie Bucket, a poor, kind-hearted boy whose family is on the brink of starvation. Charlie, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, and Augustus Gloop, have found a golden ticket inside a Wonka bar and have gained the privilege of visiting the chocolate factory. Unlike Charlie, the four are sorely lacking in traits of kindness and appreciation.

'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.

In his editorial New Rule last night, Bill encourages President Trump to become an eco-warrior and take up the fight against climate change.

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.

You might think you've seen the tale of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory enough, but the musical stage adaptation now playing at the Denver Center's Buell Theatre has got plenty of fresh treats to offer.

Join the 'world of pure imagination' as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays at the Orpheum Theatre Nov. 5-10, 2019.

Despite its general pleasant nature, many cute moments, and a plethora of genuine talent on stage, this stage musical adaptation of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY---Roald Dahl's beloved 1964 children's novel about a sweet, affable kid who wins a meet-and-greet (and more!) with an eccentric Candy Man named Willy Wonka--- comes off less magical and whimsical than one would hope it would be considering its source material. Is this national tour production---now continuing performances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts through June 9---joyful enough for kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy? Sure. But, overall, something about it feels just slightly under-baked, as if all the additional necessary ingredients that would have made this musical extraordinary didn't quite make it into the mix.

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.

Pack up the kids and head to San Francisco's Golden Gate Theater, now thru May 12, to see Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." It's like winning your own golden ticket.

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

It is always exciting when a beloved story from one's childhood receives new life on the stage. It is especially thrilling when it's a piece with such sweet potential as Roald Dahl's classic tale, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. With the original book, the classic Gene Wilder film (and other film adaptations) and recent London and Broadway musical productions setting the stage, this fun new musical will take the Bushnell stage in Hartford, CT from February 19 - 24.  Playing Augustus Gloop, one of the nasty children who finds a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, will be Matt Wood, who sat down with me to talk about this entertaining, family-friendly show.

EAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 17th season FRIDAY, FEB. 8 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), with a replay at midnight, exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists and interviews with guests. Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie is the top-of-show interview guest. Actor Eric Idle is the mid-show interview guest. The roundtable guests are political analyst Jonathan Alter, journalist Natasha Bertrand and former Ga. Rep. Jack Kingston.

EAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 17th season FRIDAY, FEB. 8 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), with a replay at midnight, exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists and interviews with guests. Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie is the top-of-show interview guest. Actor Eric Idle is the mid-show interview guest. The roundtable guests are political analyst Jonathan Alter, journalist Natasha Bertrand and former Ga. Rep. Jack Kingston.

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 Producers Guild of America has announced the nominees for its 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards, to be presented at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Audiences are taking a trip to a world of 'Pure Imagination' with Cincinnati's 2018-2019 Broadway Series opener, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, running now through Nov. 4! Based on the beloved children's novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie tells the story of a young boy who dreams of one day becoming a chocolatier.

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!

Celebrating 25 years of pioneering political comedy talk shows on TV, including 15 years on his current weekly HBO series, REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER: ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL debuts this FRIDAY, OCT. 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. The special looks back at highlights of Maher's irreverent run on TV, featuring archival footage from both “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “Politically Incorrect,” as well as appearances by such notables as Salman Rushdie, Maureen Dowd, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short, Woody Harrelson and Barbra Streisand, among others.