The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical): Difference between revisions

2011 musical based on the 1939 film

The Wizard of Oz is a 2011 musical based on the 1939 film of the same name in turn based on L. Frank Baum‘s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The musical uses the Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg songs from the film and includes some new songs and additional music by Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice. It is the third stage musical adaptation of the film following the 1942 version for the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny) and the 1987 version for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

After previews in the West End from 7 February, the musical opened on 1 March 2011, directed by Jeremy Sams, and closed on 2 September 2012. The roles and original cast included Danielle Hope as Dorothy Gale, and Sophie Evans as alternative Dorothy, Michael Crawford as the Wizard, Paul Keating as the Scarecrow, Edward Baker-Duly as the Tin Man, David Ganly as the Cowardly Lion, Helen Walsh as Aunt Em, Stephen Scott as Uncle Henry, Emily Teirney as Glinda the Good Witch of the North, Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch of the West, and four different West Highland Terriers alternated in the role of Toto. The role of Dorothy was cast through the 2010 reality television show Over the Rainbow, in which Hope won and Evans was the runner-up. After a similar Canadian reality TV search show, a Toronto production (starring Danielle Wade as Dorothy) began in December 2012 and closed in August 2013, and was followed by a North American tour. In April 2017 an Australian tour was announced including season at the Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, and at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. The cast includes Anthony Warlow as the Wizard, with Lucy Durack as Glinda the Good Witch and Jemma Rix as Wicked Witch of the West.^[1][2][3]

Background[edit]

The Wizard of Oz is a 2011 musical based on The Wizard of Oz 1939 original film, as well as L Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.^{[citation needed]}

The Wizard of Oz was first turned into a musical extravaganza by Baum himself. A loose adaptation based on his 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (there is no Wicked Witch or Toto, and there are some new characters) first played in Chicago in 1902, and was a success on Broadway the following year. It then toured for nine years.^[4] The 1939 film adaptation bore a closer resemblance to the storyline of Baum’s original novel than most previous versions. It was a strong success, winning the Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Original Score, and continues to be broadcast perennially.

The Wizard of Oz, 2011 musical, is the third stage musical adaptation of the film, following the 1945 version for the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny) and the 1987 version for the Royal Shakespeare Company.^{[citation needed]} In 1945, the St. Louis Municipal Opera (MUNY) created a version with a script adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the novel, but it is influenced in some respects by the motion picture screenplay. It uses most of the songs from the film. This was followed, in 1987, by a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) adaptation designed to more closely recreate the film version. The book by John Kane closely follows the film’s screenplay, and it uses nearly all of the film’s music.^[5] Both the MUNY and RSC adaptations were successes and have been revived numerous times in the US and UK.^[6]

The Wizard of Oz is Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s 18th musical.^[7] Tim Rice first collaborated with Lloyd Webber in 1965, together writing The Likes of Us. Their next piece was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, followed by two more concept albums that became hit musicals, Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) and Evita (1978). Except for a special collaboration for Queen Elizabeth’s 60th birthday celebration, the musical Cricket in 1986, after Evita, each man turned to other collaborators to produce further well-known musical theatre works.

To create the new musical, Lloyd Webber and director Jeremy Sams adapted the 1939 film’s screenplay, and Rice and Lloyd Webber added several new songs to the film’s score.^[8]

Production history[edit]

London (2011-12)[edit]

After previews beginning 7 February,^[9] the musical opened in the West End, at the London Palladium, on 1 March 2011. The role of Dorothy was originated by Danielle Hope, who was selected through the reality television show Over the Rainbow,^[10] and the title role of the Wizard was created by Michael Crawford.^[11] Over the Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans performed the role of Dorothy on Tuesday evenings and when Hope was ill or on holiday.^[12] Hannah Waddingham originated the role of the Wicked Witch of the West^[13] and was replaced in September 2011 by her understudy, Marianne Benedict.^[14] Hope and Crawford left the production on 5 February 2012.^[15] Evans replaced Hope in the role of Dorothy full-time in February 2012,^[16] and Russell Grant took…