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Tag: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1-2 of 2)

Jun 18 2012 03:13 PM ET

'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' musical sets London premiere

Tags: British Things, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Musicals, Stage, Stage/Theater - DO NOT USE, Things That Are British

Image Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Nearly four years after it was first announced, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical helmed by Sam Mendes (pictured) has set a date for its London debut. EW has confirmed that the show will premiere at the London Palladium in June 2013. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning partners who wrote the music and lyrics for Hairspray and Smash, will create new songs for the stage production.

Scottish playwright David Greig will take inspiration from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novella to write the book. One Man, Two Guvnors‘ Tony-nominated designer Mark Thompson will create costumes and sets, and Peter Darling (Billy Elliott, Matilda) will choreograph.

Tickets go on sale in October.

May 8 2012 04:24 PM ET

Johnny Depp's inspiration for Willy Wonka: An incredibly stoned George W. Bush

by Jeff Labrecque

Tags: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dark Shadows, George W. Bush, Johnny Depp, Politics, Tim Burton, Movies, TV

Johnny Depp visited The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the first time today, revealing the inspiration for some of his most iconic characters and his greatest personal terror — dancing. While Dark Shadows costars Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloe Grace Moretz hoofed it as they were introduced to the audience, Depp resisted. “I fear it more than anything in the world,” he told Ellen when she asked him why he refused to dance. “I’d rather swallow a bag of hair.”

Later, the star discussed some of his more famous creations, including Edward Scissorhands, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Willy Wonka. “Certain ingredients you add to these characters — Willy Wonka, for example, I imagined what George Bush would be like…incredible stoned,” he said, as the crowd began laughing at the mention of Bush and Wonka in the same sentence. ”Anywhere that you can find a moment of irreverence or absurdity, I’ll stick it right in there — sometimes to the dismay of the director.” Watch the exchange below: READ FULL STORY »