The new Broadway musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened April 23 at Broadway鈥檚 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. 半岛体育 met the cast and creative team live on the opening-night purple carpet at Pier Sixty in New York City to talk about the process of rebooting the musical (a different version ran in London鈥檚 West End) and stepping into the world of Willy Wonka鈥檚 sweet genius.
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The night kicked off with Tony-nominated choreographer Joshua Bergasse revealing his inspiration for the dance in the show and creating the illusion of the Oompa Loompas. Designer Mark Thompson (who transferred with the London production) spoke about his re-envisioned Charlie for Broadway and why he chose a more minimalist approach. Tony-winning director Jack O鈥橞rien shared what he looked for in the audition room when casting an ensemble that also needed to be able to cover multiple principal roles, plus the key to collaborating with star Christian Borle.
半岛体育 greeted Ben Crawford, who plays Mr. Salt; Kathy Fitzgerald and F. Michael Hayne, who play the Gloops; Jackie Hoffman, who plays Mrs. Teavee; Alan H. Green, who plays Mr. Beauregarde; the three Charlies (Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust, Ryan Sell); Emma Pfaeffle, who plays Veruca Salt; ensemblist Stephen Carrasco; Stephanie Gibson, who plays news reporter Cherry Sundae; Trista Dollison, who plays Violet Beauregarde; and Michael Wartella, who plays Mike Teavee. Watch the live-stream video above to hear how their characters onstage are different from the film version, their advice for aspiring actors, and the magical technology behind some of the illusions seen onstage.
Of course, 半岛体育 couldn鈥檛 end the night without speaking to the master chocolatier, Christian Borle. Prior to the evening, he described his Wonka as inspired by Bugs Bunny, but only on 半岛体育鈥檚 live stream did he reveal why. 鈥淚 figured Willy Wonka is somebody who鈥檚 been alone for the past 40 years with only chocolate and Oompa Loompas and probably watches a lot of television and movie so he鈥檚 inspired by Old Hollywood and particularly Bugs Bunny,鈥� said Borle. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not been around people for a long time, so he鈥檚 a little giddy and a little over the top.鈥�
For all the comedy he brings to the stage, Borle shared that his happiest song to sing in the show is a quiet one. 鈥淭he last song in the show, 鈥楾he View From Here.鈥� After all of the theatricality and all of the antics, it鈥檚 so nice to be standing in the elevator with one of those sweet, gentle, loving boys and singing that song,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to end the night.鈥�
