Michael Crawford To Continue As The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz!

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

LINKS

Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

New Stiles and Drewe musical Soho Cinders to get West End premiere

The writers of Betty Blue Eyes to present their new musical Soho Cinders in a one-off charity concert.

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, whose recent work includes Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre in London, are set to premiere a brand new work at the venue.

Soho Cinders will get its world premiere in a one-off charity concert at the Novello Theatre on Sunday 9 October 2011, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

An all-star cast of West End big-hitters has been announced to star in the show including Kerry Ellis, Hannah Waddingham, Beverly Rudd, David Bedella and Sandi Toksvig, and the concert will be directed by Jonathan Butterell.

Soho Cinders, which is billed as “Cinderella remixed”, is a modern musical satirical comedy about the love life of prospective Mayoral candidate James Prince, his fiancée and his law-student lover, Robbie.

LINKS

Book tickets for Soho Sinders

Book tickets to Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre

Betty Blue Eyes and The Wizard of Oz extend booking periods

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.

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

 

Photos: The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

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

A round-up of reviews of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

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

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

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.

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.

Olivier Audience Award short list announced

The short list for this year’s Olivier Audience Award was announced today by Elaine Paige on her BBC Radio 2 show.

The short list of shows are Billy Elliot the Musical, Jersey Boy, Les Misérables and We Will Rock You. They received more votes than the 14 other eligible shows in the Audience Award category, and were voted for by members of the theatregoing public.

Voting has now reopened to choose the winner, until 9 March 2011. The winner will be announced at the Olivier Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 March.

Queen musical We Will Rock You and Billy Elliot both made it on to the short list last year but were beaten by Wicked as the Audience Award winner 2010. Wicked was not included in the awards line-up this year. The nomination of Les Misérables follows the show’s recent win at the Whatsonstage Awards for its 25th anniversary O2 concert and UK touring production. Jersey Boys is the biographical musical telling the story and featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which opened at the Prince Edward theatre in 2008.

Also on Elaine Paige’s show this Sunday, a new song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the new London Palladium production of The Wizard of Oz was given its world premiere. Red Shoes Blues was sung by Hannah Waddingham, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West in the show alongside Danielle Hope as Dorothy and Michael Crawford as the Wizard.

LINKS

Olivier Awards microsite

Olivier Awards – nominations

LISTEN: Red Shoes Blues from The Wizard of Oz, sung by Hannah Waddingham

LISTEN: Elaine Paige announces the Olivier Audience Award short list

Second chance to see Into The Woods

Download service Digital Theatre has released filmed performances of a number of acclaimed West End shows.

The web service is offering theatregoers another chance to see some of the most talked-out and critically acclaimed West End productions of 2010, including Into the Woods, All My Sons and the RSC’s As You Like It.

The Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods proved a big hit for the Regent’s Park venue last summer and starred The Wizard of Oz’s Hannah Waddingham as the Witch and Love Story’s Michael Xavier as the Wolf/Prince.

Howard Davies’ Apollo Theatre production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, which was recently nominated for Best Revival and Best Actor Olivier Awards, featured an all-star cast including David Suchet, Zoe Wanamaker, Stephen Campbell Moore (Clybourne Park) and Jemima Rooper.

Finally, the RSC’s production of As You Like It, which is Digital Theatre’s second collaboration with the RSC, is also available to download. Michael Boyd’s production starred Jonjo O’Neill and Katy Stephens.

Digital Theatre, which charges £6.99 per download,  films live stage performances using multiple camera angles and high-definition technology, and has forged partnerships with a number of major theatre companies including the Almeida Theatre, the English Touring Theatre, the Royal Court, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic.

MORE INFO

ALL MY SONS

Directed by Howard Davies and designed by William Dudley, the universally acclaimed All My Sons which enjoyed a sell out season at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End last year, has lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Dominic Muldowney and sound by Paul Groothius. The Laurence Olivier Award winning All My Sons was produced in the West End by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions, Eric Falkenstein, Robert G. Bartner and Norman Tulchin, Simon Meadon, Dan Frishwasser. Earlier this month it was announced that All My Sons has received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations – Best Revival and Best Actor for David Suchet.

The cast is led by David Suchet as Joe Keller and Zoe Wanamaker as Kate Keller. They are accompanied by Stephen Campbell Moore as Chris, Olivia Darnley as Lydia Lubey, Steven Elder as Dr Jim Bayliss, Claire Hackett as Sue Bayliss, Daniel Lapaine as George Deever, Jemima Rooper as Ann Deever, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Frank Lubey and Ted Allpress as Bert.

AS YOU LIKE IT

Directed by Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Michael Boyd, As You Like It is designed by Tom Piper, lighting by Wolfgang Göbbel, music by John Woolf, sound by Andrew Franks, movement by Struan Leslie and fights by Terry King.

The cast includes Charles Aitken as Oliver, David Carr as Charles the Wrestler, Dyfan Dwyfor as William, Christine Entwisle as Phoebe, Geoffrey Freshwater as Adam/Corin, Mariah Gale as Celia, James Howard as First Lord, Ansu Kabia as Le Beau, Richard Katz as Touchstone, Debbie Korley as Hisperia, Forbes Masson as Jaques, Sandy Neilson as Duke Frederick, Jonjo O’Neill as Orlando, Dharmesh Patel as Lord Amiens, Peter Peverley as Jacques Du Boys/Dennis, Sophie Russell as Audrey, Clarence Smith as Duke Ferdinand, Katy Stephens as Rosalind, James Traherne as Sir Oliver Martext and James Tucker as Silvius.

INTO THE WOODS

Celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, the 2010 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre closed with Sondheim and Lapine’s 1987 musical Into the Woods co-directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel. With designs by Soutra Gilmour, movement by co-director Liam Steel, musical supervision and direction Gareth Valentine, lighting by Jon Clark, orchestrations by Chris Walker and sound by Mike Walker, Into the Woods became the highest selling single production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Earlier this month it was announced that Into the Woods has received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations – Best Musical Revival and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Michael Xavier.

The cast (in order of appearance) comprises Eddie Manning as the The Narrator, Helen Dallimore as Cinderella, Ben Stott as Jack, Mark Hadfield as Baker, Jenna Russell as Baker’s Wife, Gaye Brown as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Amy Ellen Richardson as Florinda, Amy Griffiths as Lucinda, Marilyn Cutts as Jack’s Mother, Beverly Rudd as Little Red Ridinghood, Hannah Waddingham as Witch, Gemma Wardle as Cinderella’s Mother, Billy Boyle as Mysterious Man, Michael Xavier as Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince, Valda Aviks as Grandmother, Alice Fearn as Rapunzel, Simon Thomas as Rapunzel’s Prince, Mark Goldthorp as Steward, Sophie Caton as Snow White/Harp, Marc Antolin as Woodsman, with Judi Dench as the voice of the Giant.

LINKS

VIDEO: Watch a trailer for As You Like It

Digital Theatre

Digital Theatre: William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Stephen Sondheim And James Lapine’s Into The Woods, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons Now Available To Stream And Download

Digital Theatre today (14 February 2011) announces William Shakespeare’s As You Like It – their second collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company; the critically acclaimed Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into The Woods, and the sell out West End production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons as their next three downloadable productions which will also be available to stream from £6.99 at www.digitaltheatre.com. As You Like It will be available from today followed shortly by Into The Woods and All My Sons.

Digital Theatre’s partner theatres are the Almeida Theatre Company, the Bush Theatre, English Touring Theatre, the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic.

AS YOU LIKE IT

Unable to act on their feelings and forced into exile in the Forest of Arden, lovers Rosalind and Orlando become entangled in a beguiling game of love, lust and mistaken identity. One of Shakespeare’s great comedies, As You Like It subverts the traditional rules of romance. Gender roles nature and politics are confused in a play that reflects on how bewildering yet utterly pleasurable life can be.

Directed by Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Michael Boyd, As You Like It is designed by Tom Piper, lighting by Wolfgang Göbbel, music by John Woolf, sound by Andrew Franks, movement by Struan Leslie and fights by Terry King.

Michael Boyd said: “After completing sold out seasons at Stratford-upon-Avon and the Roundhouse, I am delighted that, with Digital Theatre’s input, the life of As You Like It can be extended. It’s great that audiences who were not able to purchase tickets in the UK will now be able to access our production to watch at their leisure.”

The cast comprises Charles Aitken as Oliver, David Carr as Charles the Wrestler, Dyfan Dwyfor as William, Christine Entwisle as Phoebe, Geoffrey Freshwater as Adam/Corin, Mariah Gale as Celia, James Howard as First Lord, Ansu Kabia as Le Beau, Richard Katz as Touchstone, Debbie Korley as Hisperia, Forbes Masson as Jaques, Sandy Neilson as Duke Frederick, Jonjo O’Neill as Orlando, Dharmesh Patel as Lord Amiens, Peter Peverley as Jacques Du Boys/Dennis, Sophie Russell as Audrey, Clarence Smith as Duke Ferdinand, Katy Stephens as Rosalind, James Traherne as Sir Oliver Martext and James Tucker as Silvius.

INTO THE WOODS

Into the Woods takes the stories of the Brothers Grimm and gives them a dark and humorous twist. The popular tales of Red Ridinghood, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Cinderella and Rapunzel are interwoven with that of the Baker and his Wife and their quest to have a child. However this re-telling goes beyond ‘happily ever after’ as the familiar characters find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances and hopes and dreams are questioned and revisited.
Celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, the 2010 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre closed with Sondheim and Lapine’s 1987 musical Into the Woods co-directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel. With designs by Soutra Gilmour, movement by co-director Liam Steel, musical supervision and direction Gareth Valentine, lighting by Jon Clark, orchestrations by Chris Walker and sound by Mike Walker, Into the Woods became the highest selling single production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Earlier this month it was announced that Into the Woods has received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations – Best Musical Revival and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Michael Xavier.
The cast (in order of appearance) comprises Eddie Manning as the The Narrator, Helen Dallimore as Cinderella, Ben Stott as Jack, Mark Hadfield as Baker, Jenna Russell as Baker’s Wife, Gaye Brown as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Amy Ellen Richardson as Florinda, Amy Griffiths as Lucinda, Marilyn Cutts as Jack’s Mother, Beverly Rudd as Little Red Ridinghood, Hannah Waddingham as Witch, Gemma Wardle as Cinderella’s Mother, Billy Boyle as Mysterious Man, Michael Xavier as Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince, Valda Aviks as Grandmother, Alice Fearn as Rapunzel, Simon Thomas as Rapunzel’s Prince, Mark Goldthorp as Steward, Sophie Caton as Snow White/Harp, Marc Antolin as Woodsman, with Judi Dench as the voice of the Giant.

ALL MY SONS

All My Sons tells the story of Joe Keller, a successful, middle-aged, self-made man who has done a terrible and tragic thing: during World War II, rushing to meet an order from the Army, he knowingly sold them defective airplane parts which later caused the planes to crash and killed 21 men. He framed his business partner for this crime and engineered his own exoneration; now, his son is about to marry the partner’s daughter, the affair is revisited, and his lie of a life is unravelled.

Directed by Howard Davies and designed by William Dudley, the universally acclaimed All My Sons which enjoyed a sell out season at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End last year, has lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Dominic Muldowney and sound by Paul Groothius. The Laurence Olivier Award winning All My Sons was produced in the West End by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions, Eric Falkenstein, Robert G. Bartner and Norman Tulchin, Simon Meadon, Dan Frishwasser. Earlier this month it was announced that All My Sons has received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations – Best Revival and Best Actor for David Suchet.

The cast is led by David Suchet as Joe Keller and Zoe Wanamaker as Kate Keller. They are accompanied by Stephen Campbell Moore as Chris, Olivia Darnley as Lydia Lubey, Steven Elder as Dr Jim Bayliss, Claire Hackett as Sue Bayliss, Daniel Lapaine as George Deever, Jemima Rooper as Ann Deever, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Frank Lubey and Ted Allpress as Bert.

CATALOGUE OF DIGITAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS:

English Touring Theatre’s Far From The Madding Crowd, an adaptation by Mark Healy from Thomas Hardy, directed by Kate Saxton with a cast including Rebecca O’Mara, Phil Cheadle and Stephen Billington.

The Container, presented in association with The Young Vic and Amnesty International, highlighting the plight of illegal immigrants coming to the UK, written by Clare Bayley, directed by Tom Wright, designed by Naomi Dawson.

Jez Butterworth’s Laurence Oliver Award nominated Parlour Song, directed by Ian Rickson at the Almeida, with a cast comprising Amanda Drew, Andrew Lincoln and Toby Jones.

Kathryn Hunter’s acclaimed one woman show Kafka’s Monkey by Franz Kafka, in an adaptation by Colin Teevan, directed by Walter Meierjohann, which enjoyed a sell-out season at the Young Vic.

Mark Ravenhill’s Over There, part of the Royal Court Theatre’s 2009 Off The Wall season, written by Mark Ravenhill and directed by Ravenhill and Ramin Gray, with a cast of twin brothers Harry Treadaway and Luke Treadaway.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and Told by an Idiot’s The Comedy of Errors, created for schools and family audiences, directed by Paul Hunter. In addition Digital Theatre offer a behind the scenes documentary to download.

Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw launched Digital Theatre in 2009 and to date the site has users from over 120 countries worldwide. With the support of Equity, BECTU and the Musicians Union; Digital Theatre produces theatre productions filmed in front of live audiences for users to stream or download and keep at www.digitaltheatre.com

Digitaltheatre.com has been built with a variety of technologies to provide the user with the best platform for delivery. The entire application is hosted in a secure and scalable environment with servers running the latest Windows and Adobe software. Adobe Rights Management ensures top level digital copyright protection. SSL site encryption provides high-level security guaranteeing the privacy of customer and payment information.

GULF STAGE
In addition to the newest downloads, Digital Theatre is also pleased to announce Gulf Stage, a unique digital project with the British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (Qatar), and The Cultural Development Centre – a member of the Qatar Foundation. Six original theatre productions from the participating countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council Youth Theatre Festival (GCCYTF, Doha, Qatar 2010) – UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait – were digitally captured alongside a professional development workshop in digital film making, in a pioneering initiative to preserve contemporary Gulf cultural heritage.
The six productions, subtitled into English, along with an accompanying documentary are available to view online for free at digitaltheatre.com/gulfstage
Gulf Stage, Digital Theatre’s first international project, was facilitated by the British Council.

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Digital Theatre

The Wizard of Oz starts tonight

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.

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.

LINKS

Photos: The Wizard of Oz rehearsals

Over The Rainbow fan pages

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