David Greig, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman Working On Willly Wonka Musical

Playwright David Greig and the songwriting team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are developing a stage musical based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, according to published reports. Sam Mendes and Caro Newling’s Neal Street Productions are on board to produce the project for Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures. No timeline or creative team has been announced for the show.

Dahl’s novel about a poor boy who wins a tour of a mysterious chocolate factory from the eccentric Willy Wonka has been translated into two movies that have prominently featured music. The first, 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory , won an Oscar for best original score and featured hits such as “The Candy Man Can.” The second, Tim Burton’s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featured music written and performed by Danny Elfman.