Dangerous Dave from Over the Rainbow
Tweet

Galas: Toto Winner in Wizard, Caird's Challenge

Calling all dog lovers. “Dangerous Dave”, the miniature Schnauzer who won the canine competition on last year’s Over the Rainbow, will make his West End debut this Thursday night (21 April 2011) in a special gala performance of The Wizard of Oz held in aid of Comic Relief at the London Palladium.

Dangerous Dave was chosen personally by Andrew Lloyd Webber in the reality TV contest. At the gala, he’ll play Toto alongside the publicly-voted Over the Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Dorothy in a cast that also features Michael Crawford, Hannah Waddigham, Paul Keating, David Ganly, Edward Baker-Duly.

The Wizard of Oz, best known from the 1939 Hollywood film starring Judy Garland, has been “totally reconceived” and includes new songs written by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice. The production is helmed by the same creative team behind Lloyd Webber’s Whatsonstage.com Award-winning revival of The Sound of Music starring his first reality TV winner Connie Fisher – director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.

Tickets for Thursday’s performance of The Wizard of Oz can be booked online via See Tickets.

In other gala news, Whatsonstage.com blogger and Off-West End deputy editor Jo Caird will be making her own West End debut, also for charity and for one-night-only, in this year’s Showtime Challenge performance of Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday 8 May 2011 in aid of the Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts.

The Showtime Challenge, care of Eyebrow Productions, is to present a full West End musical after only 48 hours’ rehearsal – so Jo will be working very hard indeed on her assignment.

Previous Showtime Challenge performances have included Crazy tor You, Me and My Girl and Sweet Charity.

The Whatsonstage.com team will be cheering Jo on – and tweeting – from the event on 8 May.

Tickets for The Boy Friend range from £19 to £39.50, with all proceeds going to the charity, and can be booked via www.eyebrowproductions.com or via See Tickets.

Whatsonstage.com will also be tweeting on Thursday night from this year’s West End Eurovision competition – hosted by Gabby Roslin, judged by Graham Norton, Sheridan Smith and Justin Lee Collins and held in aid of TheatreMAD, The Make A Difference Trust. In advance, you can view all the hilarious videos from competing shows - including Billy Elliot, Wicked, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Wizard of Oz - on Whatsonstage.com here.

Tickets for West End Eurovision, which is almost completely sold out, can be purchased through Ambassador Tickets or in person at the Piccadilly Theatre box office.

- by Terri Paddock

Related Content

Booking Tickets & Show Listings
	The Wizard of Oz Listing Page
	West End Eurovision Listing Page

Internal Links
	Galas: Fry Fronts Perfect Pitch, Mead Joins Boys - 1st Mar 2011 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
	Live Tweeting: Your 2011 West End Eurovision - 21st Apr 2011 news
	WOS TV: Vote for West End Eurovision Videos - 18th Apr 2011 tv
	Galas: Shrek, West End Eurovision & Ghost CD - 6th 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
	End of the Rainbow for Lloyd Webber & BBC??? - 25th May 2010 gossip
	Tim Rice Follows Yellow Brick Road to Oz??? - 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
	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