Are you a Gene Wilder or a Johnny Depp ‘Willy Wonka’ fan?

When my kids were little, they found the newer version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny Depp, a bit scary. Instead, they preferred the slightly less dark Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. As they got older that changed, but the appeal of both films (and of course the original book by Roald Dahl) has never waned.

Charlie and Wonka fans are in for a treat when the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical hits the stage for its world premiere at the London Palladium in June 2013.

Details about the production are being kept quiet although we do know that an impressive production team is set to do their magic to this well-loved story. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning partners who wrote the music and lyrics for Hairspray, will create new songs for the stage production; Sam Mendes will direct; Scottish playwright David Greig will write the script; Tony-nominated designer Mark Thompson will create costumes and sets; and Peter Darling (Billy Elliott, Matilda) will choreograph.

Australian fans, start crossing your fingers that this production is toured worldwide – I think it’s safe to say that with the mad Willy Wonka as the inspiration, a musical production will be fabulous.

(via Entertainment Weekly)