The Dorothy finalists
Tweet

Ten Dorothys & Wild Card Battle Over the Rainbow

The ten finalists in Over the Rainbow, the Andrew Lloyd Webber-BBC One competition to cast a West End revival of The Wizard of Oz, have been announced. An 11th “wild card” contestant chosen by the public will go forward for the first “sing-off” next Saturday night.

The first two episodes of Over the Rainbow, which aired this past Friday and Saturday, covered the months of open auditions across the country, from which 20 potential Dorothys were put through their paces by Lloyd Webber and the celebrity judges Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and offered advice by West End leading ladies Sheridan Smith, Tamzin Outhwaite, Kerry Ellis and former Spice Girl Melanie C before being whittled down to the last ten.

The finalists selected by the judges are: Bronte Barbe (18), Stephanie Davies (17), Amy Diamond (22), Jenny Douglas (18), Sophie Evans (17), Steph Fearon (21), Danielle Hope (17), Dani Rayner (16), Jessica Robinson (18) and Lauren Samuels (22).

Several of the Dorothys have experience in youth theatre and local drama groups. Diamond had a small part on TV’s Hustle, while Davies has appeared in programmes including Doctors and Holby City. And Fearon hails from a family of performers; her mother is Baby D, who had a 1990s hit with “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”, and her father was a member of the 1980s band Galaxy. Evans competed in the 2008 series of The X Factor, making it as far as the boot camp stage.

For Over the Rainbow, a new “wild card” element has been added to the BBC competition formula. Viewers can vote for their 11th Dorothy who will join the final ten and continue to compete for the role of Dorothy. The winner of the wild card will be announced during the first live show this Saturday 3 April 2010.

From now until the end of the series, the sing-off programmes will air live on Saturday nights, with the result shows, which are recorded immediately after the live episodes, transmitted on Sunday evenings. The first results show is broadcast this Sunday 4 April 2010 at 6.20pm.

In addition to casting Dorothy, Over the Rainbow comprises a hunt for a Toto for The Wizard of Oz, albeit only for a one-off gala performance. I’d Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger has been enlisted to aid Lloyd Webber and two animal trainers in the search, which will not be voted for by the public. The winning dog will be announced in the final show.

BOOKMARK THE PAGE: We’re tuning into each and every episode on our Over the Rainbow blog on Whatsonstage.com. To catch up now, click here.

Related Content

Booking Tickets & Show Listings
	The Wizard of Oz Listing Page

Internal Links
	BBC & Lloyd Webber Cast West End Wizard of Oz - 11th Sep 2009 News
	Lloyd Webber Searches for TV Dorothy from 26 Mar - 12th Mar 2010 News
	Des O'Connor confirmed as Wizard of Oz, show finishes in September - 9th May 2012 news
	O'Connor last wizard? Kenwright's Love Never Dies tours Jan? - 2nd May 2012 gossip
	Tim Rice to be honoured with Special Award at Oliviers - 16th Mar 2012 news
	Danielle Hope is new Les Mis Eponine, Tam Mutu plays Javert - 9th Mar 2012 news
	Russell Grant takes over from Michael Crawford as Wizard of Oz - 23rd Jan 2012 news
	Sophie Evans takes over from Danielle Hope in Wizard of Oz from 7 Feb - 20th Jan 2012 news
	Photos: Andrew Lloyd Webber's reality casting recruits - 18th Jan 2012 photos
	Musicals Extend: Wizard, Mamma Mia! & Thriller Live - 4th Oct 2011 news
	Cast: Tucker & Crawford Extend, Full CFT Sweeney - 2nd Aug 2011 news
	Cats Prowls Back to West End in 2013, Oz Tour??? - 28th Jun 2011 gossip
	WOS TV: Up Close With ... The Wizard of Oz's Danielle Hope - 6th Jun 2011 interviews
	Photos: Evans Wears Ruby Slippers, Oz Extends - 4th May 2011 photos
	Galas: Toto Winner in Wizard, Caird's Challenge - 19th Apr 2011 news
	Review Round-up: Are Critics Friends of Dorothy? - 2nd Mar 2011 roundup
	The Wizard of Oz - 2nd Mar 2011 reviews
	1st Night Photos: Caine & Co Off to Meet Wizard - 2nd Mar 2011 photos
	Show Pics: Hope & Crawford in the Emerald City - 1st Mar 2011 photos
	Opening: Million Dollar, Wizard of Oz & Sapphires - 28th Feb 2011 news
	Waddingham Heads for Oz, Evans Wicked Fiyero - 25th Nov 2010 news
	Palladium Marks Centenary, Renovations & Tours - 12th Oct 2010 news
	Hannah Waddingham Casts Another Spell in Oz??? - 27th Sep 2010 gossip
	Michael Crawford Returns to Stage as Wizard - 24th Sep 2010 news
	Vote in WOS Poll: Next Musical for TV Casting? - 17th Jun 2010 news
	Tim Rice Follows Yellow Brick Road to Oz??? - 25th May 2010 gossip
	End of the Rainbow for Lloyd Webber & BBC??? - 25th May 2010 gossip
	Danielle Wins Ruby Slippers in Rainbow Finale - 24th May 2010 news
	Top Ten TV Contestants & Where to Find Them - 18th May 2010 features
	Ex-Dorothy Steph Set Sights on Sister Act??? - 18th May 2010 gossip
	Final Three Dorothys Named in Rainbow Contest - 17th May 2010 news
	Public Booking Opens for Wizard with New Songs - 7th May 2010 news
	TV-cast Wizard of Oz Moves into Palladium, 1 Mar - 28th Apr 2010 news
	Lloyd Webber Searches for TV Dorothy from 26 Mar - 12th Mar 2010 news
	Church & Hancock Improve BBC Rainbow Expertise??? - 19th Feb 2010 gossip
	Can Lloyd Webber Find a Dorothy with 'Attitude'??? - 14th Jan 2010 gossip
	Want to Go Over the Rainbow with the BBC??? - 17th Nov 2009 gossip
	BBC & Lloyd Webber Cast West End Wizard of Oz - 11th Sep 2009 news
	Lloyd Webber Cancels Oz TV Casting Show??? - 20th Jul 2009 gossip
	Lloyd Webber & Slater Pen New Songs for Oz??? - 3rd Apr 2009 gossip