The full London cast album recording of The Wizard Of Oz is to be released on 2nd May 2011 on Polydor Records in association with Really Useful Group. The 24 track set includes all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg plus new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The Wizard Of Oz cast recording features the full London cast of performers including the multi-award winning Michael Crawford and Danielle Hope, the winner of the BBC One hit TV show Over The Rainbow. The superb supporting cast comprises of Edward Baker-Duly (Tin Man), David Ganly (Cowardly Lion), Paul Keating (Scarecrow), Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Hannah Waddingham (Wicked Witch Of the West) accompanied by a 36 strong ensemble.

Here’s the track listing from the show:

Tracklisting

ACT ONE

1. Overture
2. Nobody Understands Me
3. Over The Rainbow
4. Wonders Of The World
5. The Twister
6. Arrival In Munchkinland
7. Munchkinland / Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead
8. Follow The Yellow Brick Road
9. If I Only Had A Brain / We’re Off To See The Wizard
10. If I Only Had A Heart / We’re Off To See The Wizard
11. If I Only Had The Nerve / We’re Off To See The Wizard
12. We’re Outta The Woods
13. The Merry Old Land Of Oz
14. Bring Me The Broomstick

ACT TWO

15. Haunted Forest
16. Red Shoe Blues
17. Bacchanalia
18. Red Shoe Blues (Reprise)
19. Over The Rainbow (Reprise)
20. If We Only Had A Plan
21. The Rescue
22. Hail Hail! The Witch is Dead
23. The Wizards Departure
24. Finale

Read more: http://theatrebreaks.co/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz#The_New_Wizard_of_Oz_London_Cast_Recording#ixzz1IeYsvze4

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Well the consensus seems to be that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard Of Oz has been met with broadly positive reviews from theatre critics.

The show, which features Danielle Hope in the role of Dorothy after she won TV talent show Somewhere Over The Rainbow, was unveiled to the media and a star-studded audience including Sir Michael Caine and Barbara Windsor at the London Palladium on Tuesday night.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Quentin Letts said the Manchester teenager was “more than efficient” in the lead role, praising her for her “clear, strong voice and a broad-shouldered confidence”.

The Independent’s Paul Taylor gave it four out of a five stars, and gave a special mention to the “endlessly endearing” terrier in the role of Toto.

A host of big-name stars attended the opening night of the Wizard of Oz.

Re-worked for the London stage by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the newly-opened musical sees BBC talent show winner Danielle Hope take on the lead role of Dorothy, while West End veteran Michael Crawford plays the Wizard himself and Hannah Waddingham braves the wrath of the audience as the Wicked Witch.

If opening night reviews are anything to go by, then the show is likely to prove a hit with theatre-goers between now and September 17th, when its scheduled run at the Palladium Theatre is due to come to an end.

Following on from a glitzy press night, which saw the likes of Charlotte Church pick up Wizard of Oz tickets and pop into the capital to see the show, the London Evening Standard declared: “This is a family musical with a gorgeous sense of spectacle, as well as being a polished essay in escapism.”

Already, however, some critics are saying that Dorothy’s dog Toto, played by a well-trained West Highland terrier, is the real star of the new show.

Theatregoers – who also included Phillip Schofield, Rowan Atkinson, Michael Winner and Duncan James – strolled up the rainbow-coloured carpet as they arrived to see the production at the historic Palladium theatre in London.

They were joined by several of the runners-up of the television talent show and Lloyd Webber himself, who looked somewhat like the Wizard of Oz in his green velvet jacket.

Jodie Prenger, who was Lloyd Webber’s Nancy in Oliver! after winning BBC show I’d Do Anything and helped in the nationwide search for a dog to star as Toto, said she could relate to any first night nerves Danielle might be feeling.

Speaking before the cast took to the stage, she said: “She’ll be petrified right now. But when she walks out on that stage you’ll see that they made such the right decision, because she’s just going to shine. She was just fabulous. And I can’t wait to see the dog.”

The show received a standing ovation after wowing the audience with spectacular technical effects, including a revolving stage, a fantasy tornado and monkeys flying through the stalls.

Michael Billington of the Guardian writes

.. I came out feeling blitzkrieged rather than charmed.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the set and costume designer, Robert Jones. The Kansas cyclone that whisks Dorothy into a dreamworld is evoked through vorticist projections (the work of Jon Driscoll) that betoken chaos in the cosmos. The Yellow Brick Road is on a tilted revolve from inside which poppyfields and labyrinthine forest emerge. The Emerald City is full of steeply inclined walls suggesting a drunkard’s vision of the Chrysler Building lobby. And the Wicked Witch of the West inhabits a rotating dungeon that might be a Piranesi nightmare.

Not since 19th century Drury Lane melodramas can London have seen anything quite like it; one has to admire the director and co-adaptor, Jeremy Sams, for marshalling the effects. But the story and the people get swamped. Danielle Hope shows a natural, easy presence as Dorothy, but can’t hope to compete with the scenery. Even Michael Crawford, playing both Professor Marvel and The Wizard, seems slightly subdued, and misses a trick by not highlighting the latter’s resemblance to PT Barnum whom he once played. Only two of the cast transcend the spectacle. Hannah Waddingham makes the Wicked Witch a pointy-chinned ogre who at one point flies over the audience’s heads with an elan that Spider Man might envy. David Ganly notches up a first by making the Cowardly Lion explicitly gay and announcing “I’m proud to be a friend of Dorothy.”

Of course, there are the songs; it’s good to be reminded of such classics as Over The Rainbow, We’re Off To See The Wizard, and Follow The Yellow Brick Road. The additions by Lloyd Webber and Rice are also perfectly acceptable. Dorothy is given a good plaintive opening number, and Red Shoes Blues, sung by the Wicked Witch, has a pounding intensity. But, as a film scholar remarked to me, the movie was a story with songs rather than a full-blown musical. That delicate balance has been changed, and an essentially simple fable about the importance of individual worth seems overblown.

I suspect in the end the show will be critic-proof and people will go to see both the winner of the TV talent contest and to luxuriate in the sumptuous visuals. But the paradox of the evening is that it suffers the same dilemma as the Tin Man: it might have been so much more if it only had a heart.

Yet more Wizard of Oz reviews

Oh dear, they mostly seem to like the dog best!

The Daily Mail >> Dorothy’s pet pooch is a wizard of the stage

The Independent >> Dorothy delivers but a four-legged star steals Lloyd Webber’s show

The Telegraph >> Danielle Hope offers a thoroughly competent rather than an inspired performance

BBC >> it is undoubtedly the set design that is the real star of the show

Evening Standard >> a vindication of the TV casting show

Manchester Evening News >> Danielle’s sweet, crystal-clear voice, brings a tear to the eye

Herald, Scotland >> Big, brash, bouncy and boring.

Londonist >> delivers everything one might expect from such a show, and perhaps just a little bit more.

Here are some excerpts from pre-opening reviews:

Jenna Sloan The Sun:

The Wizard Of Oz doesn’t officially open until March 1 but The Sun attended a special preview last night. It was the first time the show has been open to the public – and it was truly spectacular. Witches sparkled and cackled, dropping in from the ceiling and rising from the floor. The yellow brick road dips and twists like a waltzer, and fire, smoke and steam effects create a dazzling atmosphere on stage. The majestic choreography is masterminded by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips. Kids may find the Wizard – played by West End legend Michael Crawford – a bit scary, but everyone will be terrified by the demonic flying monkeys. The London Palladium has had a £4million overhaul to make it a suitable home for the high-profile show – and it was money well spent. The incredible collapse of Dorothy’s home in the tornado is almost cinematic, as computer graphics make the winds whirl as the house spins into space. And Danielle’s performance is as impressive as the stage show.

Her rendition of Over The Rainbow made the spine tingle and earned her rapturous applause from the sell-out crowd. Her Kansas accent remained strong, and at the end of her faultless performance she received a well-deserved standing ovation. Danielle, from Urmston, Gtr Manchester, beat more than 9,000 hopefuls to land the part, with Lloyd Webber saying she “acts from the soul”. She knows she has huge ruby slippers to fill, reprising the role made famous by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie classic. But judging by last night’s performance, Danielle will ensure the Lord has yet another smash on his hands.

Neil from London Theatre Articles:

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz started its preview run on 7th February at the London Palladium, with the official opening due on 1st March. I anticipate that during the remainder of February there will be some tinkering with the show, particularly in view of its mechanically technical nature. In fact when I attended the show last night it had to pause half-way through the second act due to a technical problem, which thankfully only caused a stop of a minute or two. I was pleased to see that co-producer Bill Kenwright was on hand to speak with the musical director Graham Hurman prior to the commencement of proceedings highlighting that personnel at all levels are keen to make the musical a fantastic success.

From my own perspective I thought that the musical followed fairly closely to the storyline of the 1939 film version starring Judy Garland, and together with the original story being written over 100 years ago by Lyman Frank Baum, it has certainly stood the test of time.

Danielle Hope as Dorothy

I cannot say that I like the whole process of ‘reality tv’ but if it gives an opportunity to an unknown performer to become a star then so be it, although isn’t that then detracting from all of the other professional actors that have worked for years?

That said, I thought that the performance by Danielle Hope as Dorothy was super and she deserves every success that comes her way. She performed admirably throughout and together with Toto warmed the hearts of the audience.

When watching The Wizard of Oz musical I could not help but initially think of Judy Garland and her portrayal of Dorothy in the film, and I think that it is to Danielle’s credit that she projects the image and personality of Dorothy exceedingly well, and over time for many, her face will be the one recognised for the role.

Edward Baker-Duly (Hickory/Tin Man), David Ganly (Zeke/Lion) and Paul Keating (Hunk/Scarecrow) were all superb. It would be unfair of me to quote from their performances as it might spoil it for others, but fair to say that they add some very good humour to the musical and their acting was first class.

With her natural beauty and elegance, Emily Tierney portrays the part of Glinda wonderfully and the role is perfect for her. In her long-flowing shiny silver dress Emily moves gracefully around the Land of Oz and with a lovely voice to match she will surely endure herself to The Wizard of Oz fans.

Michael Crawford as The Wizard

Michael Crawford is of course fabulous and his various parts in the musical are performed in the professional manner that we have grown to expect from him. For me personally, having seen him as Frank Spencer many years, memories came flooding back when Michael smiled his cheeky smile.

The only ‘criticism’ I would have of Michael, is that when his character of Professor Marvel sings, the ‘Kansas’ accent seemed to conflict with Michael’s natural singing voice. As a leading actor in the musical, he plays his various parts brilliantly with his enthusiasm very much appreciated by an audience that will have seen him in numerous roles.

Hannah Waddingham is outstanding as The Wicked Witch of the West (and Miss Gulch) and her performance throughout really was first class. I am sure that many in the audience will find Hannah their favourite character, although with the makeup required for the Wicked Witch of the West, they will probably find it hard to recognise her out of costume. Well done Hannah, you are brilliant!

The rest of the cast that made up the swing and ensemble all performed professionally. Well done to the choreography team, who have put together a mixture of traditional and modern dance making the scenes both entertaining and fresh.

To conclude the cast, mention must be made of the dogs that played the part of Toto. They all appeared to be very well behaved although I am not sure that some of the recorded growling came from a small dog. The nonchalant expressions made by ‘Toto’ at certain times, were quite amusing and altogether Toto helps the feel-good factor of the musical.

The musical is technically excellent with modern technology being utilised to add to the various scene/set changes, and there are several ‘wow’ moments in the musical that make the audience gasp.

Overall, this is a musical that I am sure will capture the hearts of many, especially as it has a secure and traditional storyline, is adapted with modern technology and is suitable for the whole family. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright should be congratulated on what will undoubtedly bring them a successful run with The Wizard of Oz.

Debby on our Wizard of Oz Facebook Page:

Wow!! Thank you for a wonderful evening on Friday. The show was ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC!! Couldnt fault a thing – even Toto was perfectly cast!! We laughed, we cried, we oohed and aahed and we even jumped out of our seats at one point! Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in this spectacle. (Thanks too to my husband for the wonderful Xmas present that was the tickets!) XX

EVERYONE should go see it!! I cant wait til next time-may be we’ll even be able to figure out how a certain something changed colour in the blink of an eye XXX (Dont want to give anything away!)

Following the excitement of BBC TV’s smash hit Over the Rainbow, we are delighted to announce a special gala performance of the family musical, The Wizard of Oz, coming to the London Palladium on Tuesday 15th of February 2011.

This enchanting adaptation of the much-loved classic has been completely reconceived for the stage by the award-winning creative team behind the recent revival of the Sound of Music. The new production contains all of your favourite songs from the Oscar winning movie score, all the characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including breathtaking scenery and a revolving stage, and some new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Spectators will get a chance to see Danielle Hope, the winner of Over the Rainbow who captured the hearts of the country, playing the role of Dorothy. Danielle will also be joined by Michael Crawford as the Wizard. Crawford is internationally renowned for originating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera and loved by millions for his role in the classic British sitcom, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.

via We’re off to see the Wizard of Oz Charity Gala… and Michael Crawford is the Wizard! « Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.

Theatres for Theatres is an exciting three-year initiative to raise £4 million to make a dramatic difference to the lives of our young patients requiring specialist brain surgery. The initiative will help to fund two new state-of-the-art operating theatres to be used by the Neurosciences team. The theatres will be used to treat children with complex and often life-threatening neurological and craniofacial conditions.

Theatres for Theatres will create world-class facilities which could allow treatment of up to 20 per cent more children in the next ten years.

Whilst The Wizard of Oz waits until December to begin rehearsals with Danielle Hope as Dorothy, the public’s eventual favourite, an interesting picture is building up of the various activities from news surfacing from the rest of the Over The Rainbow Contestants. So if you were wondering, “Where are They Now?” Let’s take a look :

Sophie Evans

Sophie Evans, the runner up to Danielle will be Dorothy after all, she gets to play understudy for Danielle Hope’s holidays and also every Tuesday night at The London Palladium. Sophie has had some high profile appearances in Wales, particularly when the alternate Dorothy role was announced at the Cardiff Millennium Centre, at the big weekend festival in Pontypridd and helping to promote a new ice cream venture for the valleys.

Sophie Evans Will be Alternate Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz

Sophie is also joining some of her fellow Dorothies at the Arts Educational School (AES), on a musical theatre training course as funded by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Lauren Samuels

Lauren Samuels who came third, was the first Dorothy to appear on the West End Stage as a leading lady when she snagged the lead role as Sandy in Grease and she’s been working hard at it every night and twice on Saturdays since July. Well done Lauren!

Lauren Samuels in Grease

Steph Fearon

Steph Fearon rushed straight into a London theatre role in Smokey Joe’s Cafe at the tiny Landor Theatre off West End in South London. The show and Steph have met with much critical approval and there’s a good chance it will transfer sometime after finishing this week. Meanwhile Steph is going to be in “Wizz” a kind of motown version of “The Wizard of Oz” in Milton Keynes.

Stephanie Davis

Stephanie Davis was offered some musicals but chose to take up a regular part on Channel Four TV as a new character in Hollyoaks, her favourite TV soap. Stephanie plays 15-year-old Sinead O’Connor on Hollyoaks, part of a new family called the O’Connors.

Jessica Robinson

Jessica Robinson was called up to stand in for Steph Fearon in Smokey Joe’s Cafe for a few nights while Steph had an operation on her hand. Jessica has also moved down to London and will be attending the Arts Educational School alongside Danielle Hope and Sophie Evans.

Jenny Douglas

Jenny Douglas will be playing the prestigious part of ‘Meat’ in the touring version of ‘We Will Rock You‘

Emilie Fleming

As the Wild Card Dorothy, Emilie secured a place in the final eleven but, went out against Sophie Evans in week 4. Emile is now training at the Guildford School of Acting.

Bronte Barbe

Bronte was an early favourite for the top five but left in week two after finding herself in the sing-off against Lauren Samuels. Bronte is currently studying at Mountview Academy.

Dani Rayner

will be playing Jasmine in Aladdin at the Liverpool Empire this Christmas! With Pamela Anderson and Les Dennis. 10th December-2nd January.

Amy Diamond

Amy Diamond has been cast in The Drowsy Chaperone so that’s another Dorothy in London, although not quite the West End.

Danielle Hope

While Danielle Hope waits to begin rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz in December, there is little else to report. She’s done a few chat show interviews and that kind of thing, finished off her exams, and has been going to see a lot of London theatre shows.

Danielle Hope is Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz

In a BBC interview, Tim Rice revealed that he would “likely” collaborate with Lloyd Webber on new songs he is writing for the production. The Rice and Webber team has previously produced ‘Evita’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ amongst others

‘The WIzard of Oz ’ will debut at the London Palladium in early 2011

So whilst Over the Rainbow could well have signalled the end of the partnership between Andrew Lloyd Webber and the BBC, the resulting production of The Wizard of Oz is likely to mark the start of a renewed collaboration between the composer and lyricist Tim Rice. Rice and Lloyd Webber had big hits in the 1960s and 1970s with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. In a recent BBC Radio 2 interview, Rice said the pair are likely to reunite for The Wizard of Oz, for which Lloyd Webber is writing four new songs. The production starts performances at the London Palladium on 7 February 2011.

Andrew Lloyd Webber with Tim Rice

From June 1st Wales’ leading amateur theatre company, Orbit, celebrates its 41st year with the opening night of a week-long run of its own version of The Wizard of Oz at the New Theatre in Cardiff.

Dorothy is sung by Nicola Caldwell and the Wales Online reporter Dave Owens spoke to her about the role:

Nicola Caldwell:

I’m 22 years old, I come from Penarth and I’ve just qualified from university as a primary school teacher.
Probably the biggest role I’ve done is Les Miserables in London’s West End for the 20th anniversary, which was fantastic. They chose 3,000 kids under 18 to apply, I was 17 at the time, and had done a school edition of the show. Out of the 3,000 who auditioned and sent tapes off, 35 got in. And I was one of the lucky ones!

It’s every little girl’s dream, to play Dorothy, isn’t it, to wear the red ruby slippers and sing Over The Rainbow? It’s such an honour. It’s the archetypal dream role.

On the runner-up, Welsh girl Sophie Evans, and the winner, Danielle Hope?

Nicola:

Actually I liked the girl who finished third, Lauren Samuels. She was my favourite. She was really bubbly and very magnanimous and gracious when she went out.

The Wizard of Oz is showing at the New Theatre in Cardiff from 1st 5th June

Orbit Theatre

Wizard of Oz – Orbit Theatre Company

By L. FRANK BAUM
With Music and Lyrics of the MGM motion picture score
by HAROLD ARLEN and E.Y. HARBURG
Background Music by HERBERT STOTHART
Book Adaptation by JOHN KANE from the motion picture screenplay

Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th June 2010
New Theatre
Park Place
Cardiff

Book Online via The New Theatre, Cardiff

Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to 2 charities, one for prostate cancer – Prostate UK and the BBC Performing Arts Fund

Danielle Hope – Over The Rainbow Single

Danielle is not guaranteed to play the following performances of Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium on:

Tuesdays.

The winner’s annual holidays have also been reserved as:

Week commencing 2nd May 2011
Week commencing 5th September 2011
Week commencing 12th September 2011

Of course nothing can really be guaranteed and in the event of illness etc the part of Dorothy will be played by an understudy but if you want the best possible chance of seeing Danielle Hope in the role then avoid booking Wizard f of Oz tickets or theatre breaks for a Tuesday or those three weeks in May and September next year.

Danielle Hope

One of the recent missions was about maintaining the Kansas accent and here you can see each of four contestants in a scene from Wizard of Oz that allows us to really evaluate their abilities as actors.

Now Andrew Lloyd Webber seemed to be bowled over by Danielle, so we get a clue here perhaps as to who he would like to see the public vote for tonight, but he also praises Lauren’s professionalism and wonders if she can pull out just a little bit more from inside her own emotion for us. Personally, I found the Danielle performance just a tad drawn out and over done, but there’s no doubt she would make a smashing Dorothy, as would any of them really.

Over the rainbow – Mission

After watching them each have a go at the real acting, who do you think comes out of this mission in the best position for tonight’s vote?