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January 10, 2026 | 3:09pm
MANILA, Philippines — "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" resident director Drew Cipillone says the Filipino people's love of spectacle and all things grand will draw them to the musical when it debuts in the Philippines later this year.
Drew was in Manila last January 8 to promote the production's July arrival alongside Willy Wonka actor Daniel Plimpton and Charlie actor Cohen Toukatly, the latter two visiting the country for the first time.
The stage director credited the original source material by Roald Dahl to allowing people to use their imagination, leading to numerous adaptations from the big screen to theater.
"I think what live theater brings to the experience now and the overall story is a lot more imagination, it is very, very innovative with new technology," said Drew as he also mentioned the music and set design involved.
The tour version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" coming to the Philippines is based on the show's short Broadway run, albeit with different pacing.
One major element different from the Broadway show, Drew shared, is the use of magic and illusion.
"The Filipino audience are very familiar with spectacle," said Drew as he recalled past productions of "Cats," "Wicked," and "The Sound of Music" — all of which ran at the Theater at Solaire where "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" will be too. "I think our production picks up the antics just one notch higher."
Drew teased illusions created by LED screens as well as projection and mapping to be screened inside the venue, creating a very unique, immersive feel to the production.
"You're not just sitting there in the audience just waiting for things or just looking at the stage," Drew added without spoiling. "What we've actually accomplished on this brand new production is the immersive feel so you actually feel like you're part of it."
He reiterated the use of innovative technology and pure imagination (a reference to one of the musical's best-known songs), "In regards to spectacle and scale — bigger, better and wonderful. Honestly, I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised."
"What the team has created is so wonderful, so magical, and it's really enabled the audiences to feel that love and storytelling, to be a part of what we've created," Drew ended.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" runs at the Theater at Solaire from July 8 to 26, 2026.
