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 (franchise) to the events depicted in the books and films. However, Warner Bros claims that this movie will not be an origin story. In February 2018, Paul King entered final negotiations to direct the film. In June 2018, the producer confirmed it would be a prequel film, which would explore the adventures of Wonka before he opened the chocolate factory. "Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka" is a musical that combines elements of both Roald Dahl's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and of the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" with newly created material. The musical has several versions: the