People waiting in anticipation to watch Dorothy click her heels three times and dance down the yellow brick road will be able to book tickets for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s forthcoming production of The Wizard Of Oz from tomorrow.
Booking over 10 months in advance, the stage adaptation of the legendary film is initially booking at the London Palladium from 29 March 2011.
Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard Of Oz will include all the original songs made famous by the gingham clad Judy Garland in the original 1939 film, including Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road, If I Only Had A Heart and We’re Off To See The Wizard, as well as a selection of new songs by the theatre impresario.
The Wizard Of Oz centres on the young farm girl Dorothy and her adventure in the magical land of Oz. In her search to find her way home she encounters new friends the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, as well as a pair of very different witches, helpful Munchkins and of course, the frightening Wizard of Oz. The role of Dorothy is currently being cast in the BBC’s reality talent show Over The Rainbow, which is also searching for a talented dog to take on the role of Dorothy’s canine friend Toto.
Speaking about the project, Lloyd Webber said: “We are incredibly excited to be adapting The Wizard Of Oz for the stage and re-telling this all time classic family story. I have long been a huge fan of the original movie, the songs and characters and am really looking forward to bringing it to life again.”
The London Palladium stage is due to be revitalised for the musical, with a planned restoration of the revolving stage once used on the long-running television programme Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
There have been no announcements as to the future of Sister Act, which is currently playing at the London Palladium and booking until 18 December 2010.
CM