The Wizard of Oz tickets special offer: Save £22.50 on tickets to see this smash-hit show
December 22, 2011
SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to £22.50 on tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
At last, we present our first ticket offer on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s major production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Starring Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, Westendtheatre.com readers can save up to £22.50 off tickets to see the show this winter.
The multi-million pound production, which features songs from the Oscar-winning movie plus specially written new songs by Lloyd -Webber and Tim Rice, opened on 1 March 2011 and continues to delight audiences of all ages at the Palladium.
The show stars Danielle Hope, winner of the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow as Dorothy in the new production. Also starring in the show is theatre veteran Michael Crawford as The Wizard of Oz, Marianne Benedict (Crazy for You) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Keating (Tommy) as Scarecrow, Edward Baker Duly (Copacabana) as Tin Man, David Ganly (Chicago) as Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney (All the Fun of the Fair) as Glinda.
The cast also includes Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music has created the show, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
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SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to £22.50 on tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
Michael Crawford To Continue As The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz!
July 30, 2011
MICHAEL CRAWFORD is to continue in his starring role of The Wizard in ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Michael has been thrilling audiences since the show opened at the LONDON PALLADIUM on 1 March 2011 and now he will star in the iconic role until Sunday 5 February 2012.
In addition to the eponymous role, Michael also plays the characters of The Wizard in disguise as both the doorman and the tour guide in the Emerald City, as well as Professor Marvel, for whom a new song has been specially written, The Wonders of the World. This is one of several brand new songs by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and TIM RICE, which also include Red Shoes Blues, a solo for The Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy’s opening number Nobody Understands Me.
THE WIZARD OF OZ combines these new musical numbers, which mark the first time Andrew and Tim have worked together in over 30 years on a new production, with all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score.
MICHAEL CRAWFORD is internationally renowned for originating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera and loved by millions for his role as the hapless Frank Spencer in the classic British sitcom, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. His hugely successful career spans four decades, and includes his triumphant performance in the hit show Barnum at the London Palladium. He is a multi Olivier and Tony-award winning star whose acclaim encompasses theatre, television and film and he was appointed an OBE in 1988.
Michael stars alongside DANIELLE HOPE, the winner of the BBC smash hit talent show Over The Rainbow, who is Dorothy, EDWARD BAKER-DULY (Tin Man), DAVID GANLY (Lion), PAUL KEATING (Scarecrow), EMILY TIERNEY (Glinda) and HANNAH WADDINGHAM (as The Wicked Witch of the West).
The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, set and costumes designs by Robert Jones, and produced by Bill Kenwright and the Really Useful Group.
Release issued by: Target Live
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Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
West End Live 2011 timetable of performances announced
June 14, 2011
The timetable has been published for West End Live, the free annual theatre event that returns to London this weekend, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2011.
This year the event will be held in Trafalgar Square whilst renovations continue in its traditional home of Leicester Square and promises to be a spectacular celebration of West End shows.
West End musicals taking part in the weekend include Rock of Ages, Betty Blue Eyes, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical, Lend Me A Tenor and the Open Air Theatre’s new production of Crazy For You. Also new this year will be performances from the madcap The Flying Karamazov Brothers, CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Potter and ZooNation’s Some Like It Hip Hop.
They will be joined by long-running shows including Stomp, War Horse, Legally Blonde The Musical, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, Chicago, Wicked and We Will Rock You.
Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent, including Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Lee Mead (Legally Blonde) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes).
There will also be performances from Free Run, the West End Gospel Choir, The Gleeks and the London Gay Men’s Chorus and exhibits from the Science Museum, London Film Museum and National Gallery.
This year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 18 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 19 June.
WEST END LIVE 2011 TIMETABLE
SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2011 |
|
| 11.00 | Million Dollar Quartet |
| 11.20 | Free Run |
| 11.35 | Wicked |
| 11.43 | Love Never Dies |
| 11.50 | Billy Elliot |
| 11.55 | War Horse |
| 12.00 | Lend Me a Tenor |
| 12.15 | Legally Blonde |
| 12.30 | Betty Blue Eyes |
| 12.45 | Chicago |
| 13.00 | We Will Rock You |
| 13.20 | Jersey Boys |
| 13.45 | Mamma Mia |
| 14.00 | Thriller Live |
| 14.25 | Flying Karamazov Brothers |
| 14.40 | Ghost The Musical |
| 14.55 | Rock of Ages |
| 15.10 | Crazy For You |
| 15.25 | West End Kids |
| 15.40 | Bob The Builder |
| 15.55 | Rock of Ages |
| 16.10 | Mark Jermin Stage School |
| 16.20 | West End Gospel Choir |
| 16.35 | London Gay Men’s Chorus |
| 16.55 | Dan and Laura Curtis |
| 17.10 | Helena Blackman |
| 17.20 | Some Like It Hip Hop |
| 17.35 | Priscilla Queen of The Desert |
| 17.50 | Stomp |
| 18.00 | SHOW CLOSES |
SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2011 |
|
| 12.00 | Stomp |
| 12.15 | All Join In And Other Stories |
| 12.30 | The Wizard of Oz |
| 12.40 | Thriller Live |
| 13.05 | Disney’s The Lion King |
| 13.20 | Shrek The Musical |
| 13.35 | Rock of Ages |
| 13.50 | West End Gospel Choir |
| 14.10 | Mamma Mia! |
| 14.25 | Potted Potter |
| 14.40 | The Gleeks |
| 14.55 | Bob the Builder |
| 15.10 | Jersey Boys |
| 15.35 | Rock of Ages |
| 15.50 | Helena Blackman |
| 16.00 | Julie Atherton |
| 16.15 | EverYoung |
| 16.30 | Sylvia Young Theatre School |
| 16.50 | National Youth Music Theatre |
| 17.15 | Congo Faith Healers |
| 18.00 | EVENT CLOSES |
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Free event West End Live back for 2011 featuring Betty Blue Eyes, Shrek, Rock of Ages and more
May 19, 2011
West End Live, the free annual theatre event, will return to London this summer on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2011, promising a spectacular celebration of West End shows.
In a break with tradition, the seventh annual event will be held in Trafalgar Square whilst the renovations continue in its traditional home of Leicester Square.
A host of major London shows have signed up to take part in the live showcase, including new musicals Rock of Ages, Betty Blue Eyes, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical, Lend Me A Tenor and the Open Air Theatre’s new production of Crazy For You. Also new this year will be performances from the madcap The Flying Karamazov Brothers, CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Potter and ZooNation’s Some Like It Hip Hop.
They will be joined by long-running shows including Stomp, War Horse, Legally Blonde The Musical, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, Chicago, Wicked and We Will Rock You.
West End Live 2010
Rock of Ages, which does not open until September at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, is flying some of the stars of its Broadway cast over to London especially for the event. Rock of Ages is currently being made into a big-budget Hollywood movie starring Tom Cruise.
Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent, including Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Lee Mead (Legally Blonde) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes).
There will also be performances this year from Free Run, the West End Gospel Choir and the London Gay Men’s Chorus and exhibits from the Science Museum, London Film Museum and National Gallery.
This year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 18 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 19 June.
LINKS
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos from past West End Live events. Photos by Roy Tan.
Betty Blue Eyes and The Wizard of Oz extend booking periods
May 5, 2011
Two of London’s major new musicals – Cameron Mackintosh’s Betty Blue Eyes and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz – have both announced new booking periods, extending their runs into 2012.
Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sophie Evans, who is starring as Dorothy this week
Betty Blue Eyes, which opened at the Novello Theatre on 13 April 2011, is now booking to 28 January 2012. The show, which is adapted from Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray’s film A Private Function, features a score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and the cast includes Sarah Lancashire and Reece Shearsmith.
The Wizard of Oz opened on 1 February 2011 at the London Palladium and stars Danielle Hope as Dorothy, Michael Crawford as the Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch. The show is now booking until 15 January 2012. This week has seen Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans cover the role of Dorothy across all performances whilst Danielle Hope is on holiday. Sophie also plays the role every Tuesday.
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
Book tickets to Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre
Read more news and reviews on Betty Blue Eyes and The Wizard of Oz
More presenters announced for Olivier Awards
March 4, 2011
The Society of London Theatre has released more details of the presenters at this year’s revamped Olivier Awards, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 13 March 2011.
Benedict Cumberbatch, one of the presenters at this year's Olivier Awards
Showbiz stars who will be presenting awards include:
- Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, current stars on Frankenstein
- Anne-Marie Duff, star of the Old Vic’s Cause Celebre
- Elisabeth Moss (Peggy from Mad Men), currently appearing in The Children’s Hour at the Comedy Theatre
- Actor Rupert Everett
- The League of Gentlemen and the National’s Season’s Greetings star Mark Gatiss
- Amanda Holden from Shrek The Musical
- Elaine Paige
- Tamara Rojo, Royal Ballet star
- Star of The Wizard of Oz, Danielle Hope
- Wicked’s Rachel Tucker
- Actor Patrick Stewart
They will join already announced stars that include Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams, the star of In A Forest, Dark and Deep at the Vaudeville Theatre, and Alfie Boe, opera and musicals leading man, who will play Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Miserables this summer.
Also the first musical number presenters have been confirmed as legendary singer / songwriter Barry Manilow, who will be performing a number alongside West End star Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Oliver!).
Photos: The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
March 2, 2011
Production photos of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s major new production of The Wizard of Oz has openedat the London Palladium, starring Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford.
The multi-million pound production, which features songs from the Oscar-winning movie plus specially written new songs by Lloyd -Webber and Tim Rice, stars Danielle Hope, who won the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow to become Dorothy in the new production.
Also starring in the show is theatre veteran Michael Crawford, who is reuniting with Andrew Lloyd Webber 24 years after playing the original Phantom of the Opera to play The Wizard of Oz, Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Keating(Tommy) as Scarecrow, Edward Baker Duly (Copacabana) as Tin Man, David Ganly (Chicago) as Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney (All the Fun of the Fair) as Glinda.
The cast also includes Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music is creating the show, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.
The Wizard of Oz – Reviews Round-up
March 2, 2011
A round-up of reviews of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz cast, left - right Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Danielle Hope
Finally it’s here! The build-up to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz has been nothing but intense, from the BBC talent show Over The Rainbow to find a new Dorothy to star in the musical, to the return of Michael Crawford to the stage, to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice reuniting at last to provide four new musical numbers.
And the reaction from the critics is good, which must come as a relief to Lord Lloyd Webber, who has had a rough 12 months with a series of headaches over the launch of his new Phantom sequel Love Never Dies, his failed attempt to sell some of his theatres, and his personal battle with cancer. He deserved to have a hit, and with Love Never Dies taking 7 Olivier Award nominations last month, and a positive reaction from the critics about The Wizard of Oz, things are looking up!
Danielle Hope, who makes her West End stage debut as Dorothy, gives it her all and impresses the critics with a fine performance. And the new songs go down well, adding to the original score of the stage show and movie. But the real critical superlatives are reserved for Robert Jones and his lavish costumes and set, and Hannah Waddingham, who wows the critics with her performance as the Wicked Witch of the West.
See review round-ups below from the Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Evening Standard and Independent.
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz – News and features
New this week: Oz, Blithe Spirit, Flare Path
February 28, 2011
Some big-hitting West End shows open this week in London, including The Wizard of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Flare Path and Blithe Spirit.
Monday 28 February 2011
Million Dollar Quartet, the musical that recreates the historic day when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all made music together, opens tonight at the Noel Coward Theatre starring a multi-talented cast including Bill Ward (Coronation Street).
Tuesday 1 March 2011
The Wizard of Oz cast, left - right Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Danielle Hope
It’s the premiere tonight of the musical that has received more publicity, hype and good old-fashioned audience anticipation than any other show for years as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkly new production of The Wizard of Oz opens at the London Palladium. Rebooted by Jeremy Sams and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright, the show sees Over The Rainbow star Danielle Hope make her West End stage debut joined by Michael Crawford as the Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch.
Also today, tickets go on sale for the Olivier Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The 13th March ceremony is open to theatregoers for the first time and promises a starry night of West End celebs and excerpts from the shows.
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Noel Coward’s blissful comedy Blithe Spirit starts previews at the Apollo Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Hattie). The revival is directed by the award-winning Thea Sharrock (After the Dance).
Thursday 3 March 2011
Previews starts for Hurly Burly at the Garrick Theatre, featuring the luscious Miss Polly Rae in an all singing, all dancing burlesque-inspired revue with a contemporary twist.
Alison Steadman as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit
Also tonight, In A Forest, Dark and Deep starts previews at the Vaudeville Theatre with Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams (The Ghost Writer) in Neil LaBute’s new psychological thriller.
Friday 4 March 2011
Trevor Nunn begins his artistic directorship of the Theatre Royal Haymarket tonight with the start of previews for Flare Path. Terence Rattigan’s Second World War romance sees Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith star.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Kneehigh theare company, who scored a huge hit in London and on Broadway with their stage take on Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter, are back with a brand new production. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, based on the classic French film, begins previews at the Gielgud Theatre tonight starring Joanna Riding, Meow Meow and Andrew Durand.
Also on Saturday, A Flea in Her Ear closes at the Old Vic Theatre starring Tom Hollander and Ordinary Days starring Daniel Boys ends at the Trafalgar Studios.
The Wizard of Oz starts tonight
February 7, 2011
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s major new production of The Wizard of Oz starts previews tonight at the London Palladium, starring Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford.
Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, stars of The Wizard of Oz
The multi-million pound production, which features songs from the Oscar-winning movie plus specially written new songs by Lloyd -Webber and Tim Rice, gets its official opening night on 1 March 2011.
The show stars Danielle Hope, who won the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow to become Dorothy in the new production.
Director the show, Jeremy Sams, said earlier this week that newcomer Danielle Hope is “marvellous” as Dorothy and, “she makes total sense on the stage. She is the calmest professional I have ever worked with.”
Also starring in the show is theatre veteran Michael Crawford, who is reuniting with Andrew Lloyd Webber 24 years after playing the original Phantom of the Opera to play The Wizard of Oz, Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Keating (Tommy) as Scarecrow, Edward Baker Duly (Copacabana) as Tin Man, David Ganly (Chicago) as Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney (All the Fun of the Fair) as Glinda.
The cast also includes Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music is creating the show, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.
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Photos: The Wizard of Oz rehearsals
