Christian Borle Will Play Willy Wonka on Broadway

The rumors are true! Confirmed this morning, Borle will headline Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in March 2017 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, where the quickly closing Finding Neverland played. The production will be directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Josh Bergasse.

Broadwayworld.com writes:

“”Christian was the first — and in truth — perhaps the ONLY person I could imagine to create the role of Willy,” O’Brien said in a statement. “His combination of child-like fantasy, edge, mystery, and sheer star power seemed destined for this role.”

“Featuring a book by David Greig with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the musical is based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 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 chocolate waterfalls, exquisitely nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.”

Who would you cast in the other roles? Tell us in the comments!

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