 |
| The film of The Wizard of Oz |
|
| Share |
TV-cast Wizard of Oz Moves into Palladium, 1 MarDate: 28 April 2010
PLEASE NOTE: SINCE THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN, THE PERFORMANCE DATES HAVE CHANGED
As previously tipped, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s forthcoming revival of The Wizard of Oz, which will star the winner of his current BBC One competition Over the Rainbow, will follow Sister Act into the London Palladium, where it is due to start performances on 7 February 2011, with press night on 1 March.
Producers have struck an exclusive deal with the Sun and News of the World newspapers whose readers have been given advance access to tickets, ranging from £25 to £62.50. Public booking will open on 9 May 2010.
L Frank Baum wrote the first 1903 stage version of his 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story is best known from the 1939 Hollywood film. The stage musical version, adapted by John Kane from the Warner Bros movie, was premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican in 1987, with a young Imelda Staunton as Dorothy. It has music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and EY Harburg.
The Wizard of Oz last had a major London outing at the Royal Festival Hall in summer 2008, when Sian Brooke played Dorothy in a cast that also featured Gary Wilmot, Adam Cooper and Roy Hudd. No further casting or creative details have yet been announced for The Wizard of Oz though it’s expected to be directed by The Sound of Music’s Jeremy Sams and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with some new songs specially written for it by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater.
Following the formula of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything - which found Connie Fisher, Lee Mead and Jodie Prenger for West End productions of The Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Oliver! - Over the Rainbow has been searching for Dorothy (and Toto) for The Wizard of Oz since 26 March.
Since the audience attended studio shows began on 3 April, the format has been for the publicly voted sing-offs to be aired live on Saturday evenings with the results shows broadcast on Sundays. Currently, seven finalists remain. The winner will be crowned at the end of May. Lloyd Webber’s judging panel for Over the Rainbow consists of Charlotte Church, John Partridge and Sheila Hancock, whose own current show, Sister Act, will close at the London Palladium on 1 January 2011 to make way for The Wizard of Oz (See Today’s Other News).
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.
- by Terri Paddock
Related Content
| Internal Links |
 | Sister Act Confirms Closure for 1 Jan, Webbe Joins - 28th Apr 2010 News |
| Ten Dorothys & Wild Card Battle Over the Rainbow - 29th Mar 2010 News |
| Lloyd Webber Searches for TV Dorothy from 26 Mar - 12th Mar 2010 News |
| BBC & Lloyd Webber Cast West End Wizard of Oz - 11th Sep 2009 News |
| Church & Hancock Improve BBC Rainbow Expertise??? - 19th Feb 2010 Gossip |
| Want to Go Over the Rainbow with the BBC??? - 17th Nov 2009 Gossip |
| 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 |
| Ten Dorothys & Wild Card Battle Over the Rainbow - 29th Mar 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 |
 and Richard Griffiths (Al Lewis) in The Sunshine Boys at the Savoy Theatre.jpg)
