See 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' In New Brunswick

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The newly renovated State Theatre, located in New Brunswick, presents Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" for four performances on Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 14 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $40-$98. Anyone over 12 must still show proof of being vaccinated to enter State Theater, or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours.

For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre is located at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.

For a special twist, the theater is also partnering with Thomas Sweet ice cream shop in New Brunswick for a "Golden Ticket" contest:

From now until the show opens, Thomas Sweet in New Brunswick will be including a flyer with all ice cream orders, and some of them include a magical Golden Ticket giving the bearer four free admissions to the magical world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. To enter, just place an order at Thomas Sweet or ask for a free flyer. Thomas Sweet is located at 55-57 Easton Avenue in New Brunswick.

Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" tells the story of Willy Wonka, world-famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, who has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous — and mysterious — factory is opening its gates … to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper!

The hit Broadway musical features songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I've Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters from Hairspray.

Dahl (1916-1990) was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. He was also the author of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and many more brilliant stories. He remains the world’s number one storyteller.

Sitting in a hut at the bottom of his garden, surrounded by odd bits and pieces such as a suitcase (used as a footrest), his own hipbone (which he’d had replaced) and a heavy ball of metal foil (made from years’ worth of chocolate wrappers), he went on to write some of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. His first children’s story, "James and the Giant Peach," was published in 1961, was a hit and every subsequent book became a best-seller.

Today, his stories are available in 58 languages, and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wes Anderson’s acclaimed Fantastic Mr Fox, the multi-award winning Matilda The Musical from the RSC with music by Tim Minchin, and Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster The BFG. The latest adaptation is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical which opened on Broadway in April 2017 following three Golden years on London’s West End.