(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The newly renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory for four performances from Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15. It tells the story of Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, who 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 Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper!
The hit Broadway musical features songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I've Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters from Hairspray.
Leading the cast as the extraordinary chocolate maker, Willy Wonka, is Cody Garcia, with Jackson Greenspan, William Goldsman, and Coleman Simmons (from New Jersey) alternating in the title role of Charlie Bucket. They will be joined by Steve McCoy as Grandpa Joe, Claire Leyden as Mrs. Bucket, Audrey Belle Adams as Mrs. Gloop, Zakiya Baptiste as Violet Beauregarde, Katie Fay Francis as Mrs. Teavee, Scott Fuss as Mr. Salt, Branden R. Mangan (from New Jersey) as Mr. Beauregarde, Angela Palladini as Veruca Salt, Nic Mains as Augustus Gloop, and Jacnier as Mike Teavee.
Rounding out the cast, David Nick Alea, Bernie Baldassaro, Gina Daugherty, Anthony DaSilva, Nico DiPrimio, Nicole Hale, Camryn Hampton, Joe Hornberger, Fiona Claire Huber, Domanick Anton Hubbard, Melissa J. Hunt, Collin O'Neill, PJ Palmer, Jenna Brooke Scannelli, Lauren Soto, Luis Villar, and Nicole Zelka.
Performances take place Friday, May 13, 2022, at 8:00pm; Saturday, May 14 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sunday, May 15 at 2:00pm. Tickets range from $40-$98. For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 5pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory features direction by Matt Lenz, based on the national tour’s original direction by three-time Tony® Award-winner Jack O’Brien.Original music by Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony® Award-winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Grammy® and Tony® Award-winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, a book by Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre David Greig, based on original choreography by Tony® Award nominee and Emmy® Award-winner Joshua Bergasse and includes additional songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 Warner Bros. motion picture.
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory features original scenic and costume design by five-time Tony® Award nominee Mark Thompson, which has been recreated by Christine Peters; lighting design by four-time Tony® Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Andrew Keister, projection design by Jeff Sugg, puppet and illusion design by Obie and Drama Desk Award-winner Basil Twist, hair & wig design by Campbell Young Associates / Luc Verschueren, and orchestrations by three-time Tony® Award-winner Doug Besterman.
Golden Ticket Contest with Thomas Sweet in New Brunswick - In celebration of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory coming to town, State Theatre has partnered with Thomas Sweet in New Brunswick for a special Golden Ticket contest for a chance to win for 4 free tickets to the show on May 13-15. From now until the show opens, Thomas Sweet will be including a flyer with all orders, and some of them include a magical Golden Ticket giving the bearer four free admissions to the magical world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. To enter, just place an order at Thomas Sweet or ask for a free flyer. Thomas Sweet is located at 55-57 Easton Ave.
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is produced by NETworks Presentations.
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian, and medical inventor. He was also the author of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and many more brilliant stories. He remains the world’s number one storyteller.
Sitting in a hut at the bottom of his garden, surrounded by odd bits and pieces such as a suitcase (used as a footrest), his own hipbone (which he’d had replaced) and a heavy ball of metal foil (made from years’ worth of chocolate wrappers), he went on to write some of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. His first children’s story, James and the Giant Peach, was published in 1961, was a hit and every subsequent book became a best-seller.
Today, his stories are available in 58 languages, and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wes Anderson’s acclaimed Fantastic Mr Fox, the multi-award winning Matilda The Musical from the RSC with music by Tim Minchin, and Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster The BFG. The latest adaptation is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical which opened on Broadway in April 2017 following three Golden years on London’s West End.
After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey has reopened and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater including newly renovated lobbies, all new restrooms, upgraded HVAC systems, a new elevator for access to all levels, and brand-new theater seats. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of 2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed online.
Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six million people through its doors since reopening as a non-profit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
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