Peter Darling News

The hit West End production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes, announced today that it has extended its booking period by six months until 1 November 2014. The show had previously been booking until 31 May 2014. The production, which has so far been seen by almost 300,000 people since it began previews in May 2013, is extending its run due to popular demand, releasing almost 400,000 extra tickets.

The Book of Mormon is leading in many of the New Musical categories - but Once and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is running it close!

Big West End showstoppers Once, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Book of Mormon are leading the way, with the competition just as tight for the fringe categories - Chichester's The Pajama Game and Southwark Playhouse's Titanic are also garnering the votes at the moment.

Voting opened this week for the 2013 BWW:UK Awards - and we've already had a record number of votes in!

The original London cast recording of the new stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's celebrated children's novel CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is now available to purchase, featuring Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge in the notable role of Willy Wonka.

Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label's original Broadway cast recording of the Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL is now available for digital download and will be available at the Shubert Theatre beginning tomorrow, September 27, 2013. The CD will be available in stores on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The album can be pre-ordered at www.BroadwayRecords.com.

This week thirty young dancers will take to the stage at the Victoria Palace Theatre as Ballet Girls in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Earlier this month the show announced the release of over new 570,000 tickets taking booking to 16 May 2015 during which time the internationally award-winning production will celebrate 10 years in the West End. Check out the photos below!

The four girls who share the title role in MATILDA THE MUSICAL appeared on WLNY TV's "Live from The Couch" this morning. Watch Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro sing an a cappella version of "Naughty," and talk to hosts John Elliott and Elise Finch about their pre-show rituals and learning an English accent. Check out their appearance below!

The four girls who share the title role in MATILDA THE MUSICAL will be guests on WLNY TV's "Live from The Couch" tomorrow morning Wednesday September 18 between 8-9 AM. They are Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom makes her Broadway debut. WLNY TV is Channel 55 on Time Warner and Channel 14 on RCN. Please check your local cable listings for more information.

In honor of Roald Dahl Month, members of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL cast will be crashing Hangouts on Google+ Thursday, September 19. For a chance to video chat with Lesli Margherita, Gabriel Ebert, Ryan Steele and Samantha Sturm, follow the steps below.

Over 570,000 tickets are released for sale today, 6 September 2013, taking booking for Billy Elliot the Musical to16 May 2015 during which time the internationally award-winning show will celebrate 10 years in the West End. Check out the photos below!

The Tony Award winning Matilda the Musical welcomes today, September 3, Craig Bierko and Jill Paice to the company as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, respectively. Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward played their final performances in those roles on September 1.

Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward will play their final performances as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, respectively, in MATILDA THE MUSICAL at The Shubert Theatre today. The Tony-nominated pair originated their roles in the West End prior to making the trip across the pond for Broadway's production. Craig Bierko and Jill Paice will join the company on September 3.

The producers of the Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL announced today that the original Broadway cast recording will be produced by Michael Croiter and Christopher Nightingale for Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label and will be released digitally and be available at the Shubert Theatre beginning Friday, September 27, 2013. The CD will be available in stores on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The album can be pre-ordered at www.BroadwayRecords.com. Amazon.com pre-order coming very soon.

Go behind the scenes of the West End's biggest new stage spectacular, CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, based on the classic Roald Dahl's children's book, in a new series of backstage shots depicting the convivial company of the new musical.

Producers of the Tony Award winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL announced today that Craig Bierko and Jill Paice will join the company as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, respectively, on September 3. Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward will play their final performances in those roles on September 1.

This morning on 'LIVE with Kelly and Michael,' the four young actresses who share the lead in Matilda the Musical performed 'Naughty' all together, for the first time in the United States. Check out the appearance below!

Today, 17 July 2013, 10 year old Elliott Hanna from Liverpool, will become the thirty-fourth and youngest boy ever to play Billy Elliot in the West End. Also joining the cast will be 10 year old Demi Lee from Middlesborough, as Billy's dance teacher's daughter Debbie. Now in its ninth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy Elliot the Musical was recently awarded its fifth Olivier Award - the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award voted for by the theatregoing public. Earlier this year Billy Elliot the Musical welcomed its 4 millionth patron to the Victoria Palace Theatre where the show has now extended booking to 21 June 2014.

The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL, in collaboration with Penguin Young Readers Group, continues its monthly book club in celebration of Roald Dahl this Thursday, July 11. Fans can tune in at 7:00 PM EST to watch a Google+ Hangout video chat with Lucy Dahl, daughter of the best-selling author, and actress Missi Pyle, who starred in Tim Burton's film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Mrs. Beauregarde. They'll be discussing Dahl's book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and sharing stories of their own experiences with the novel. To watch the Google+ Hangout, visit www.MatildaTheMusical.com/bookclub.

The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL celebrated its 100th performance on Sunday, July 7, closing out another record-breaking week at the Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). The production broke a Shubert house record for the fourth week in a row, grossing $1,307,167 over eight performances for the week ending July 7, 2013.