With the successful return of silent films to cinema with the recent award-winning The Artist, a stage play about actor Charlie Chaplin from the silent screen era will head to New York's Broadway theatre district.

Becoming Chaplin chronicles the life story of the icon known as The Little Tramp. It will open on Broadway in the 2012/13 season, reports The New York Times.

The original 2010 production, titled Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin, referring to his 1952 film, ran at the La Jolla Playhouse in California.

Producers include Bob and Mindy Rich and John and Claire Caudwell, who mounted the upcoming revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

The stage play is written by Thomas Meehan, who wrote Hairspray and The Producers. Warren Carlyle, the director/choreographer, is a veteran of Broadway and the Kennedy Centre.