Displaying items by tag: Roald Dahl

Beloved children’s author Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the quirky and mysterious candy-maker looking for his heir apparent comes to life in an energetic and magical performance in the Theatre for Young Audiences’ musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now on stage at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

The 70-minute-long performance is a wonderful mix of old and new. Older members of the audience appreciated the familiar tunes from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, such as the iconic “The Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” and “Pure Imagination” while the younger audience was captivated with the “Queen of Pop” (and next “It Girl”), Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee’s all-things techno obsession, and the very spoiled and demanding antics of Veruca Salt.

Upon entering the theatre, with the centerstage bathed in cool purple lighting and musical tributes featuring candy playing in the background, the audience is immediately transported to another place and time, where “pure imagination” reigns. The magic continues as the show opens with a flash news report from “Cherry Sunday” (Megan Long) about the famed candy-maker’s search for a suitable replacement to take over his workshop.

A delightful chorus of Oompa-Loompas, bedecked in colorful multi-patterned coats, jaunty bowler hats, and oversized sunglasses, appear in every aisle, allowing the young audience to feel part of the show, as they introduce us to the main man himself. Willy Wonka, wonderfully played by George Keating, brings just the right amount of quirkiness, charm, and empathy to his character.

The story continues as Mr. Wonka announces a worldwide contest, hiding five golden tickets in his chocolate bars. The lucky “finders” will be invited to visit his famed factory and be eligible for the grand prize. We meet young Charlie Bucket, played by the very talented Kai Edgar, who lives for Willy Wonka chocolate bars and dreams about winning a ticket. But his family is so poor that they can only afford to buy Charlie one candy bar on his birthday.

Charlie shares his dreams for helping his family and writes a letter to Mr. Wonka, telling him about the many wonderful candy confections he would invent for each family member, then sends it sailing out into the world, knowing there is little chance that he would ever win.

And, as the four golden tickets are quickly won by an assortment of spoiled, ill-mannered kids from around the world – the sausage-consuming Augustus Gloop (Elias Totleben), the foot-stomping demanding Veruca Salt (Elin Joy Seiler), the gum-chewing social-media queen Violet Beauregarde (Avelyn Lena Choi), and the techno-obsessed Mike Teavee (Gordon Henry Heisler) -- Charlie’s hopes dim. And when he, at last, does receive a Wonka bar, alas, no golden ticket. Charlie is distraught.

Yet, the kindly candy-story shopkeeper, who is unbeknownst to Charlie is Mr. Wonka himself, drops a dollar bill, and with it, Charlie buys the very last Wonka bar in the world. To his amazement, Charlie wins the last golden ticket. The audience broke into delighted applause as Charlie and his grandfather cavort around the stage in celebration.

Under the skillful direction of Amber Mak, who also choreographed the show, the magical world of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory comes to life through a combination of artful staging, colorful costumes, and confectionary props that looks almost good enough to eat. Throw in some bubbles and the clever use of large lighting panels that surround the stage and enhance the action on stage, and voilà – your imagination takes you right into the very heart of Wonka’s enchanted workshop.

The audience squealed in part dismay, part approval, as one by one the obnoxious cadre of children, brilliantly played by Totleben, Seiler, Choi, and Heisler, were eliminated from the competition because they crossed the line and broke the rules. And yes, thanks to an ingenious costume design, the gum-chomping Violet Beauregarde, does turn into a blueberry to the wonder of the crowd.

Finally, Charlie and his grandfather are the only ones left, and Mr. Wonka invites them into his sacred workshop where all the delicious designs are born. Leaving his book of creations behind, with a warning not to look inside it, Mr. Wonka and the grandfather go off to sign some papers for awarding the grand prize. As Charlie walks toward the forbidden book, the audience yelled at him to stop, but of course, he cannot help himself and opens the book.

When he discovered there were empty pages in the notebook, Charlie begins to sing again of his own dreams and visions for confectionary creations. When Mr. Wonka returns, rather than banishing Charlie from the factory as he did the other children for disobeying his rules, he tells Charlie that he indeed has won the grand prize because of his good heart and his pure imagination. Charlie is now the next “Candy Man” and inherits the factory.

As the young crowd applauded its approval and left the theatre thoroughly satisfied and entertained, the words to “The Candy Man” came back to me, “Who can take tomorrow and dip it in a dream?” The Candy Man can, and for one magical hour, the accomplished cast of the Marriott’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did as well.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Theatre for Young Audiences is running through March 28 at the Marriott Theatre, located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire. Performances take place on most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances. Visit www.marriotttheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary.

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.

The Roald Dahl Story Company today announces its first production in Chicago, the wickedly funny, family musical based on Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile.  Following the all-ages, smash-hit productions in the UK, Minneapolis and Los Angeles, the production runs at historic Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave, in partnership with the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, from January 29 to February 21, 2026.

Tickets, $20-$54 for children and $30-$68 for adults, are currently on pre-sale and will go on sale to the public on October 6, 2025. Kicking off the Chicago premiere during the final week of the Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival, tickets for the first week of performances, January 29- February 1, 2026, will be available through the festival box office at https://chicagopuppetfest.org/event/the-enormous-crocodile/. The production will continue through February 21, and those tickets will be available at  enormouscrocodilemusical.com/chicago

Tuesday-Thursday morning performances, reserved entirely for student audiences, are available at a subsidized ticket price. Requests can be submitted here: https://bit.ly/CrocodileStudents or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Group discounts for all performances are available by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

'For my lunch today I would like... a nice juicy little child!'

The Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle with his tummy rumbling ... Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks, but they're going to have to find a large amount of courage to stop this greedy brute. From Trunky the Elephant to Muggle-Wump the Monkey, get to know the menagerie of creative puppets in the U.S. premiere tour of this smash U.K.-hit production. You'll go from the jungle into outer space and back again, just in time for a wild dance party! 

This mischievous musical based on Roald Dahl's snappy book has toe-tapping tunes by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, a rib-tickling book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, and additional music and lyrics by Tom Brady. Developed and directed by Emily Lim, it features a menagerie of puppets by co-director and puppetry designer Toby Olié, with set and costume design by Fly Davis, puppetry co-designed and supervised by Daisy Beattie, casting by Annelie Powell, choreography by Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun and sound by Tom Gibbons.

Originally co-produced by Roald Dahl Story Company, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and Leeds Playhouse.

The Enormous Crocodile the Musical was developed by Roald Dahl Story Company, Emily Lim, Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, Suhayla El-Bushra and Tom Brady.

Gabrielle Leadbeater, Producer at the Roald Dahl Story Company comments, "We couldn't think of a better place for The Enormous Crocodile's next stop on tour than Chicago. The city and Studebaker Theater are as steeped in creativity as Roald Dahl's stories, and we're proud to have this major new production amongst the world's very best puppetry at the Chicago International Puppet Festival."

"The Enormous Crocodile is a lusciously designed, family friendly jungle musical with an excellent musical score," said Blair Thomas, Founder and Artistic Director, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. "The wit and humor of the puppetry matches that of Roald Dahl. Don't miss it."

The creative team for The Roald Dahl Story Company's production of The Enormous Crocodile The Musical includes Suhayla El-Bushra (bookwriter and lyricist), Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab (composer and additional lyrics), Tom Brady (additional music and lyrics, orchestrations, arrangements and music supervisor), Emily Lim (direction and development), Toby Olié (co-director and puppetry designer), Fly Davis (set and costume designer), Daisy Beattie (puppetry co-designer and supervisor), Tim Blazdell (digital designer and production draughting), Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu (choreographer), Jessica Hung Han Yun (lighting designer), Tom Gibbons (sound designer), Phij Adams (music technology and ableton programmer), Ben Kubiak (musical director), Annelie Powell CDG (casting director), Aundrea Fudge (voice coach), Tina Thomas (singing coach), Ann Barnard (copyist), Tash Holway (associate director), Blythe Stewart (associate director), Michael Jean-Marain (associate puppetry director), Lucy Adams (associate lighting designer), Johnny Edwards (associate sound designer), Shanelle Clemenson (associate choreographer), Màth Roberts (music associate), Rebecca Gunstone (costume supervisor), Bethan Owens (wigs hair and make-up supervisor), and Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn (casting associate).

About Roald Dahl Story Company 

The Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) is the home of Roald Dahl's much-loved stories and characters. With over 300 million books sold globally and translated into 68 languages, our stories have entertained generations of kids and adults with their unique mix of mischief, dark humor and irreverence.

Together with our parent company Netflix, and united by our love of these great stories, we're working with some of the world's best storytellers and creative minds to bring them to life in bold new ways that will surprise and delight existing and new fans. This includes animated and live action films and series, publishing, theatre, immersive experiences, games, consumer products, brand partnerships, and more.

About the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival 

Two weeks every January, Chicago turns into the "Puppetry Capitol of the World" when the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival returns with its annual, 12-day winter flurry of more than 100 puppet shows and events featuring artists from around the globe.

The festival was originally founded in 2015 as a project of Artistic Director and Founder Blair Thomas's puppet theater company. Since then, the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival has introduced audiences to artists from Belgium, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Puerto Rico, Poland, Scotland and South Africa, as well as the U.S. and Chicago, with the goal of promoting peace, equality, and justice on a global scale. Already the largest of its kind in North America, last year's 7th Chicago Puppet Festival attracted a record 22,000+ audience members who enjoyed a wildly entertaining and eclectic array of traditional and contemporary puppet styles from around the world at dozens of theaters and community spaces throughout the city.

From January 29-February 1, The Enormous Crocodile will be one of the highlights of the 8th Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, January 21- February 1, 2026. Stay tuned for the full 2026 Festival line-up, including even more performances by puppet artists from around the world, the U.S. and Chicago. This year's festival will also present 22 puppetry workshops, four symposium panels, three book talks, free exhibitions, late-night puppet cabarets, and the always popular Free Neighborhood Tour. Tickets go on sale later this fall. For more, visit chicagopuppetfest.org. 

Follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram or Vimeo, hashtag #ChiPuppetFest. Sign up for the Puppet Festival's e-news to receive first alerts of festival news, ticket on-sales, added special events and festival merch. 

FACT SHEET

The Roald Dahl Story Company's production of 

The Enormous Crocodile
The Musical 
Book and Lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra 
Music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab 
Additional Music and Lyrics from Tom Brady 

Directed and developed by Emily Lim, it features a menagerie of puppets by co-director and puppetry designer Toby Olié, with set and costume design by Fly Davis and puppetry co-designed and supervised by Daisy Beattie.

Location: The Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago

Dates: January 29 to February 21, 2026.

Tickets: https://chicagopuppetfest.org/event/the-enormous-crocodile/ (for performances January 29-February 1, 2026)

enormouscrocodilemusical.com/chicago (for performances February 2-February 21, 2026)

Recommended for all ages.

Running time: 60 minutes

The Enormous Crocodile was originally co-produced by Roald Dahl Story Company, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and Leeds Playhouse. The Enormous Crocodile musical was developed by Roald Dahl Story Company, Emily Lim, Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, Suhayla El-Bushra, and Tom Brady.

US Tour General Management

Doreen Sayegh for Pemberley Productions

Rosie Bross-Rice, Associate

Creative Team
Bookwriter and Lyricist | Suhayla El-Bushra
Composer and Additional Lyrics | Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab
Additional Music and Lyrics, Orchestrations, Arrangements and Music Supervisor | Tom Brady
Direction and Development | Emily Lim
Co-Director and Puppetry Designer | Toby Olié
Set and Costume Designer | Fly Davis
Puppetry Co-Designer and Supervisor | Daisy Beattie
Digital Designer and Production Draughting | Tim Blazdell
Choreographer | Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu
Lighting Designer | Jessica Hung Han Yun
Sound Designer | Tom Gibbons
Music Technology and Ableton Programmer | Phij Adams
Musical Director | Ben Kubiak
Casting Director | Annelie Powell CDG
Voice Coach | Aundrea Fudge
Singing Coach | Tina Thomas
Copyist | Ann Barnard
Associate Director | Tash Holway
Associate Director | Blythe Stewart

Associate Puppetry Director | Michael Jean-Marain
Associate Lighting Designer | Lucy Adams
Associate Sound Designer | Johnny Edwards
Associate Choreographer | Shanelle Clemenson
Music Associate | Màth Roberts
Costume Supervisor | Rebecca Gunstone
Wigs Hair and Make-up Supervisor | Bethan Owens
Casting Associate | Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn

Follow The Enormous Crocodile at enormouscrocodilemusical.com/.

For anyone familiar with children’s literature, Roald Dahl is a household name. Since the 1960s, Dahl has entertained and enchanted his young readers with fantastical tales of witches, giants, talking animals, magical chocolate factories, and yes, even a giant peach.

So, it is more than appropriate that the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire has added to its children’s theatre repertoire for the 2023-2024 season a lively and imaginative adaptation of Dahl’s classic James and the Giant Peach. During the 70-minute run time – perfectly suited for the younger audience – the gifted and energetic ensemble bring to life the magical adventures of James Henry Trotter and his intrepid insect friends – Earthworm, Green Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Ladybug.

In this adaptation of the musical, which premiered in 2010, with a score composed by the Tony Award-nominated team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) and book by award-winning playwright Timothy Allen McDonald (who also adapted Dahl’s most well-known work, Willy Wonka), the charm and quirky characters of Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach are introduced once again to a new generation of fans.

The audience is guided through James’ adventure under the skillful musical narration of Ladahlord, a mysterious magical man, capably played by Chicago theatre veteran, Alex Goodrich. As he informs the audience, magic is going to unfold “Right Before Your Eyes” in the opening number. And then it does, as spiders, earthworms, grasshoppers, ladybugs, centipedes, charging rhinos, ravenous sharks, and comical seagulls all come brilliantly to life through the creative combination of puppets and actors and innovations of costume and wig designers Amanda Vander Byl and Ray Sanchez and gifted props master Leo Bassow.

For those unfamiliar with the story, James becomes an orphan after his parents are eaten by a rhino (see above!) who has escaped the London Zoo. He falls into the hands of his wicked aunts, Aunts Sponge and Spiker. After being given a magical potion of crocodile tongues by Ladahlord, James trips and scatters the potion before he can use its power. What does result, however, is a gigantic peach!

While the aunts try to make money off charging people to see the giant peach, James enters the peach itself, finding himself in the company of human-sized insects. After the peach drops from the tree and rolls into the ocean, James and his companions use their wits and abilities to battle sharks and other obstacles to voyage across the ocean. Eventually the peach lands on the Empire State Building. When it drops to the ground, it crushes the two wicked aunts who have followed the peach across the ocean, and James and his newfound family are home at last.

From the beginning, the audience is captivated by the music, puppets, and the talented cast. James is wonderfully played by 12-year-old Kai Edgar, who made his acting debut at age 8 in the title role of Oliver at the Marriott Theatre. Edgar brings an energy and poise to his performance that is well beyond his age. His amazing performance alone is reason enough to see the show.

He is joined onstage by an equally experienced and gifted ensemble. The dour and doubting Centipede is brilliantly played by Garrett Lutz, who has appeared on numerous Chicago stages, including numerous Marriott productions. Andrés Enriquez also returns to the Marriott stage and delights as the near-sighted and fearful Earthworm. Enriquez shines in his number “Plumb and Juicy,” one of the show’s more memorable tunes, as he breaks from his reserve and fears to help save his companions.

The ensemble is rounded out by veteran actor Christopher Kale Jones, who plays the wise and steady Green Grasshopper and undeniable leader of the group, with an understated elegance and humor. He is joined by Elizabeth Telford, as the kind and motherly Ladybug, who brings a sweetness and tenderness to her role. Juwon Tyrel Perry, who most recently appeared in Marriott Theatre in its Carole King tribute musical, Beautiful, who plays Spider, with a hip and stylish vibe.

And of course, no Roald Dahl story is complete without its villains, which are wonderfully played by Lucy Godinez and Leah Morrow, as the delightfully wicked aunts, Sponge and Spiker, respectively. The pair’s oversized personalities and outlandish antics are crowd favorites, but that doesn’t stop the audience from cheering when their evil designs are finally crushed after the peach drops on them.

Under the direction of Tommy Rapley, who also choreographs the performance, Dahl’s classic tale entertains and captivates the audience with its fast-paced action, nonstop comedy, and innovative set. Marriott’s signature theatre is the perfect venue and James and the Giant Peach is the perfect production to introduce your children and grandchildren to the wonderful world of theatre.

You can catch James and the Giant Peach at the Marriott through March 30th.