Jane McMurtrie 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.

Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in the brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). The shows opened last night, June 25 and you can check out photos from the opening night curtain call and after party below!

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, the highly anticipated West End musical starring Olivier and Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, begins tonight, May 22, 2013. Opening night is set for June 25.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, the highly anticipated West End musical starring Olivier and Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, has been postponed. The first two previews - scheduled for May 17 and 18, respectively - have been cancelled and performances will now begin May 22 instead of May 23.

According to the Daily Mail, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will begin previews on May 17 instead of May 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Opening night is still set for June 25. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet).

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25 June 2013. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). Click below to watch the show's creative team talk about the writing process!

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick's production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013, directed by Sam Mendes. In the videos below, Mendes introduces the show and takes you inside the set design for this whimsical production!

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced further casting for Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013, directed by Sam Mendes.

The Laurence Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical is now taking bookings to 27 October 2012. Since its opening at the Savoy Theatre in December 2009, almost 600,000 patrons have now seen Jerry Mitchell's multi award-winning production, In the video below, the cast visits in to QVC studios for a live performance of 'So Much Better' from the award-winnning musical.

Today, 27 July 2011, a further quarter of a million tickets are released for sale for the Laurence Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical, taking bookings to 27 October 2012. Since its opening at the Savoy Theatre in December 2009, almost 600,000 patrons have now seen Jerry Mitchell's multi award-winning production.

Carley Stenson, Natalie Casey, Peter Davison, Siobhan Dillon, Lee Mead and Simon Thomas star in the Olivier Award winning show Legally Blonde The Musical, which is currently booking until 31 March 2012 at the Savoy Theatre.

Today, 20 June 2011, Lee Mead joins the West End cast of the Olivier award-wining Legally Blonde The Musical to play Emmett Forrest. He joins Susan McFadden as Elle Woods, Natalie Casey as Paulette, Carley Stenson as Margot, Nicola Brazil as Serena, Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne and Peter Davison as Professor Callahan.

From 11 July 2011 Carley Stenson will play college sweetheart Elle Woods in the Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical. Stenson, who is currently playing Margot in the West End production, steps up to play the leading role joining Lee Mead who joins the cast later this month (20 June) to play Emmett Forrest and Natalie Casey as ditzy beautician Paulette Buonofonté. Peter Davison continues in the role of Professor Callahan as well as Nicola Brazil as Serena and Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne.

From 26 April 2011 Natalie Casey will join the west end cast of the Olivier award-wining Legally Blonde The Musical to play ditzy beautician Paulette Buonofonté. She joins Susan McFadden as Elle Woods, Carley Stenson as Margot, Nicola Brazil as Serena, Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne and Peter Davison as Professor Callahan. Natalie Casey takes over the role from Denise Van Outen, whose last performance will be Saturday 23 April. From mid-June Lee Mead will join the west end cast to play Emmett Forrest.

From mid-June Lee Mead will join the West End cast of the Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical to play Emmett Forrest. He joins Susan McFadden as Elle Woods, Carley Stenson as Margot, Nicola Brazil as Serena, Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne and Peter Davison as Professor Callahan.

Tonight, 13 March 2011, as a further 180,000 tickets are released for sale, Legally Blonde The Musical celebrates at the 2011 Lawrence Olivier Awards winning Best New Musical, with Sheridan Smith collecting the Best Actress in a Musical Award for her critically acclaimed performance as Elle Woods and Jill Halfpenny picking up the award for and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

Susan McFadden, Denise Van Outen, Alex Gaumond, Siobhan Dillon, Susan McFadden, Carley Stenson, Simon Thomas and Peter Davison are now starring in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical, which is currently booking until 22 October 2011 at the Savoy Theatre. The first production shots have been released and appear below!

From 10 January 2011 Susan McFadden will play the leading role of Elle Woods in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical.

Susan McFadden will play the leading role of Elle Woods in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical. McFadden, an original member of the Legally Blonde cast who as well as playing the role Serena - one of Elle's sorority sisters - has also been wowing audiences as the show's alternate Elle since October. She joins Denise Van Outen, Alex Gaumond, Siobhan Dillon, Aoife Mulholland, Carley Stenson, Simon Thomas and Peter Davison in Legally Blonde The Musical which is currently booking until 22 October 2011 at the Savoy Theatre where it has been playing to packed houses since it opened in December 2009.

From 25 October 2010, Simon Thomas will join Sheridan Smith, Denise Van Outen, Alex Gaumond, Siobhan Dillon, Susan McFadden, Aoife Mulholland, Carley Stenson and Peter Davison in the West End hit Legally Blonde The Musical, which is currently booking until 22 October 2011 at the Savoy Theatre.