Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical) producers announced that production would close on 14 January 2018 after 27 previews and 305 performances. The US tour premiered on 21 September 2018 in Buffalo, New York at Shea's Performing Arts Center. It is a replica of the Broadway production and stars Noah Weisberg as Willy Wonka, James Young as Grandpa Joe and Amanda Rose as Mrs Bucket, with the role of Charlie being alternated between Henry Boshart, Collin Jeffery and Rueby Wood. The Australian premier of the musical will be held at Sydney's Capitol Theatre on 5 January 2019. The musical will be a replica production of the
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) sexually transmitted disease. Burton immediately thought of Johnny Depp for the role of Willy Wonka, who in August 2003 joined the film, his fourth collaboration with the director. Lurie's script received a rewrite by Pamela Pettler, who worked with Burton on "Corpse Bride", but the director hired "Big Fish" screenwriter John August in December 2003 to start from scratch. Both August and Burton were fans of the book since their childhoods. August first read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" when he was eight years old, and subsequently sent Dahl a fan letter. He did not see the 1971 film prior