Borle to play Wonka in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

Two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle has gotten the golden ticket: He'll star as Willy Wonka in the musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" when it comes to Broadway in the spring of 2017.

The show, which has songs by "Hairspray" writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, opened in London in 2013 starring Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. The adaptation of Roald Dahl's much-loved children's novel got mixed reviews but has done good box office business.

It will start performances in March 2017 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre under the direction of Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien.

Borle currently is starring as William Shakespeare in "Something Rotten!" His other Broadway credits include "Peter and the Starcatcher" and "Legally Blonde." He's due to star in "Falsettos" this fall.

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