Sep 28, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Scooter MacMillan, marketing director
Springer Opera House
706-256-0955
smacmillan@springeroperahouse.org
Columbus, GA--September 28, 2016: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” one of the world’s most loved children’s books opens at the Springer Children’s Theatre Friday, Oct. 9.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a wildly popular book by the wildly popular author Raold Dahl.
When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he's always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.
The stage adaptation is a wonderful experience for the whole family and many adults will fondly remember it as one of their favorite books.
Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, fighter pilot – and spy. During World War II, he was an RAF pilot who crashed in the desert after his plane ran out of fuel. He was injured and after he recovered he suffered terrible headaches and was posted to Washington where he worked on getting the United States behind the war effort and met Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels and “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car (the film adaptation of which was written by Dahl).”
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has been adapted into two movies: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” in 1971, featuring the recently deceased Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in 2005, directed by Tim Burton and featuring Johnny Depp.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a production of the Springer Children’s Theatre Series and will be in the McClure Theatre, the Springer’s second theatre right behind the State Theatre of Georgia with its entrance on 1st Avenue. Public performances are at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 14-15) and 2 p.m. Sundays (Oct. 9 and Oct 16).
Dahl’s books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide and include “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda,” “The Witches,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The BFG.” The stage adaptations of “James and the Giant Peach” and “The BFG” have been produced by the Springer Children’s Theatre previously, but this is the first time for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”