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For more than 50 years, Roald Dahl’s story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has captured imaginations around the world. And now for the first time, Broadway audiences are invited to experience Willy Wonka’s delightful and semi-dark chocolate world first-hand. What are you waiting for? Get your golden ticket now!
Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous—and mysterious—factory is opening its gates…to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for exquisitely nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
Broadway Adaption
The Broadway company of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is led by two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Willy Wonka) in a cast of 35. Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with the three young men cast for the part of Charlie Bucket; Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust, and Ryan Sell. The young men are some of the youngest faces on broadway at the moment with all three making their Broadway debut as Charlie.
“The first time I was introduced to the story of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory was when I was 4 years old. My parents own a dance studio in my hometown, and I was cast as an Oompa Loompa in the summer musical!” explained Ryan Sell about his first run in with the story.
“Who knew that the first musical I was cast in would be the same show that I would be making my Broadway debut in a few years later?” Sell added.
Ryan Foust on the other hand remembers it only from 3-4 years ago, when he saw the movie version with Gene Wilder.
“What I loved was that [Director] Jack O’Brien kept telling me to use my personality to create my character. Even though the story is basically the same, I got to be my own Charlie and play off of John Rubinstein (Grandpa Joe) and Christian Borle (Willy Wonka). I love that I can play a character that everyone knows, but do it my way,” Foust explained about his favorite part of making the rendition.
“It is really fun that we get to put our own spin on this classic story. I really like that Charlie and Willy have a relationship before entering the factory even though Charlie does not know it is Willy Wonka,” said Jake Ryan Flynn.
Rewarding Moments
When asked about the most rewarding part, the three had no doubt. The cast, the creative, the audience – and of course Broadway!
“The most rewarding part is being on that stage and performing on Broadway. I have wanted to be on Broadway since I was 5 years old!! That’s half my life!!” said Flynn with enthusiasm.
“I love that I work with the smartest and hardest working people on Broadway. I got to learn from Jack O’Brien and all of the teams about how to think about the entire story,” explained Foust.
“Being able to share our story with new audiences at each performance. It’s a magical story of hope and imagination, that appeals to both kids and their parents too!” said Sell and added, “I am proud to be a part of so many other kid’s first Broadway experiences.”
Masterworks Broadway will release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory digitally on Friday, June 2, 2017 and in-stores Friday, June 23, 2017. The album will be produced by Scott Riesett and is available for pre-order via Amazon now.