A team of top film, television and stage songwriters have joined forces to create a musical satire inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knockoff fiasco in Glasgow, Scotland that became a social media phenomenon.
Produced by Kraft-Engel Productions, WillyFest – A Musical Parody is to premiere in late 2024.
The creative team behind the parody musical is comprised of Emmy-nominated Riki Lindhome Emmy winners Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell Broadway songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner First Date, ABC’s Once Upon a Time) and TikTok songwriter Daniel Mertzlufft.
“From Broadway to street corner pop-ups, audiences have become obsessed with immersive experiences that enable them to be a part of the story,” said a statement from songwriters Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. “But it takes a special...
Produced by Kraft-Engel Productions, WillyFest – A Musical Parody is to premiere in late 2024.
The creative team behind the parody musical is comprised of Emmy-nominated Riki Lindhome Emmy winners Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell Broadway songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner First Date, ABC’s Once Upon a Time) and TikTok songwriter Daniel Mertzlufft.
“From Broadway to street corner pop-ups, audiences have become obsessed with immersive experiences that enable them to be a part of the story,” said a statement from songwriters Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. “But it takes a special...
- 3/14/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
A new musical is hoping to turn a disastrous Willy Wonka experience into a golden ticket.
Willy Fest: A Musical Parody will take inspiration from a Scottish event that went viral last month for all the wrong reasons. The event was billed as an “immersive experience” that would put Willy Wonka fans into a “magical realm.” Its organizers used lush AI-generated photos to attract customers, who upon arriving, found themselves in a drab wearhouse customers compared to a meth lab.
Willy Fest is planned as a live event for late 2024, and hails from producer Richard Kraft, known for ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live, who will produce via his Kraft-Engel Productions. He has assembled a team of writers and musicians to bring the project to fruition.
“While it is quite common for there to be writers’ rooms in television, taking that approach with theatrical songwriters is fairly unique and likely...
Willy Fest: A Musical Parody will take inspiration from a Scottish event that went viral last month for all the wrong reasons. The event was billed as an “immersive experience” that would put Willy Wonka fans into a “magical realm.” Its organizers used lush AI-generated photos to attract customers, who upon arriving, found themselves in a drab wearhouse customers compared to a meth lab.
Willy Fest is planned as a live event for late 2024, and hails from producer Richard Kraft, known for ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live, who will produce via his Kraft-Engel Productions. He has assembled a team of writers and musicians to bring the project to fruition.
“While it is quite common for there to be writers’ rooms in television, taking that approach with theatrical songwriters is fairly unique and likely...
- 3/14/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Joshua Bassett is now an Emmy award-winning songwriter!
The 22-year-old entertainer picked up his first major award win for Outstanding Original Song for a Children’s or Young Teen Program for his song “Finally Free” at the 2023 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards on Saturday night (December 16).
Along with Joshua, his co-writers Doug Rockwell and Tova joined him on stage to accept the award at the ceremony.
“First, I want to [say] thank you so much to Disney for betting on us. I want to [say] thank you to Tim Federle for believing in us when no one else did. I want to [say] thank you to my family for cheering me on from the sidelines. To Doug and Tova, for being such beautiful hearts and such a safe space to write this song. To Jesus Christ for saving my life,” Joshua said in his acceptance speech.
“I also want to say, while...
The 22-year-old entertainer picked up his first major award win for Outstanding Original Song for a Children’s or Young Teen Program for his song “Finally Free” at the 2023 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards on Saturday night (December 16).
Along with Joshua, his co-writers Doug Rockwell and Tova joined him on stage to accept the award at the ceremony.
“First, I want to [say] thank you so much to Disney for betting on us. I want to [say] thank you to Tim Federle for believing in us when no one else did. I want to [say] thank you to my family for cheering me on from the sidelines. To Doug and Tova, for being such beautiful hearts and such a safe space to write this song. To Jesus Christ for saving my life,” Joshua said in his acceptance speech.
“I also want to say, while...
- 12/18/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The Loud House is coming back for another go-round. Nickelodeon has ordered a 26-episode sixth season of the hit animated series. The renewal comes ahead of the Season 5 premiere, which airs Friday at 7 p.m. as a one-hour special followed by the international rollout later this year.
The Loud House currently ranks as the No 1 animated show across all television with kids 6-11 year-to-date.
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Season 6 finds the Loud family embarking on even more wild adventures packed with heart and humor including musicals, birthday celebrations, gatherings with the Casagrandes, and high jinks featuring all of the lovable characters who inhabit Royal Woods.
In the series’ first one-hour special, “Schooled!” Lincoln and his friends are now in middle school, facing new challenges and adventures as they acclimate to the new school’s hierarchy. Each sister has also moved up a grade, making Leni the oldest in the house,...
The Loud House currently ranks as the No 1 animated show across all television with kids 6-11 year-to-date.
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Season 6 finds the Loud family embarking on even more wild adventures packed with heart and humor including musicals, birthday celebrations, gatherings with the Casagrandes, and high jinks featuring all of the lovable characters who inhabit Royal Woods.
In the series’ first one-hour special, “Schooled!” Lincoln and his friends are now in middle school, facing new challenges and adventures as they acclimate to the new school’s hierarchy. Each sister has also moved up a grade, making Leni the oldest in the house,...
- 9/9/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Dove Cameron was "Born Ready" to sing the Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors theme song. Before it debuts on Disney Music Vevo's YouTube later tonight, E! News is giving fans a sneak peek at the multitalented actress recording the power anthem. E! News can also exclusively reveal the television film will be simulcast Sunday, Sept. 30, on Disney Channel and Disney Xd. Tova Litvin co-wrote "Born Ready" with Doug Rockwell, who mastered, mixed and produced it. "So, if it takes forever / We'll save the world together / We were born ready / We were born ready / Yeah, yeah, yeah / And if your heart surrenders / We'll hold it out together / We were born ready / We were born ready," Cameron...
- 8/24/2018
- E! Online
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