And Google has a special google logo thing on their search page just for Wizard of Oz

Google – Wizard of Oz

Who would have thought that the film was that old? According to the Internet Movie Database ( IMDB) The Wizard of Oz was released on 25 August 1939 (USA) but I’m sure Google has a good reason for celebrating early. Ah yes, the premiere was in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on the 12th August 1939, so that’s the day to celebrate a birthday in 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

Drew Barrymore

Barrymore has been developing the project for years, and at one point appeared set to play Dorothy’s great-great-granddaughter, who learns to use the ruby slippers’ power when the Wicked Witch unexpectedly returns to take over Oz and the earth. It’s unclear if Barrymore will still take the role or just direct.

Now “Surrender Dorothy” is just one out of five “Oz” films that have been reported as being in development recently, following the big box-office success of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

Possible films include “Oz the Great and Powerful,” a Disney project that would show how the Wizard came to Oz. There may also be a film version of “Wicked“, the musical prequel to Wizard of Oz. Wicked the musical has been fabulously successful on Broadway and in the London West End.

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

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

From Monday May 31st, the charity single will be available as a physical CD, complete with The Wizard of Oz Medley, as performed by all three finalists and other Dorothy contenders from earlier episodes of the Over The Rainbow show, as a bonus B-side to the titular track. The medley will consist of some of the classic Wizard of Oz songs sung throughout the competition by the Dorothys including:

• Follow The Yellow Brick Road
• We’re Off To See The Wizard
• It Really Was No Miracle
• Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead
• The Merry Old Land Of Oz
• If I Only Had A Heart

For the three remaining Dorothys Lauren, Sophie and Danielle there is just one more live show left in which to convince the nation that each has the necessary qualities to win.

The three finalists will sing a range of songs including their own favourites from the series, as well as performing an exclusive group performance with the eight Dorothys who have already left the competition, all back on the Over the Rainbow stage set for the last time.

Over The Rainbow – Dorothys

He said:

This is the most difficult show I’ve had to cast. Joseph, Oliver and Maria all came from established theatre productions which are huge hits.

The Wizard Of Oz has been done before, but it’s never worked properly because they’ve tried to recreate the movie too closely.

I’m essentially writing a whole new musical with some of the greatest songs ever written and composing completely new music for it.

There’s at least half a dozen new songs.

So that’s a tantalising insight into what the forthcoming London production at The Palladium promisies. A new musical with half a dozen new songs, a fantastic Dorothy (no matter who wins) all based on but not recreating the original American story.

This trailer is from the mid-50s when they tried to edit the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie for widescreen, but the colour is orginal I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-ZULpr8m5o

What a remarkable film it was for its time, and how appropriate to be making a stage revival in 2010 of all years.

The Wizard of Oz musical is due to open in London sometime in 2010, based on the original classic MGM film from 1939, starring Judy Garland.

Yes, The Wizard of Oz is coming to London and the person to play part of Dorothy will be chosen by another reality TV style competition with Andrew Lloyd Webber and the TV audience making the final decision.

The Wizard of Oz is a famously familiar story with most people believing they have read the original book although this is probably because they saw the MGM Film with Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow” but it speaks directly to people of all ages either as a childlike fairy story or else as some kind of parable for the American dream. Who hasn’t realised they made some silly mistake and remarked ” If I only had a brain” quoting directly from one of the most popular songs in the film. The film is a musical film so stage versions have often been produced and performed at all levels from schools to amateur dramatics right up to full blown professional big time Broadway and West End shows. This time it’s guaranteed to be a huge spectacular in London because the production company behind it is none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber’s with massive successes like The Phantom of The Opera, Cats, and Joseph to their name along with the anticpated Love Never Dies Phantom continuation which launches next March.

Over The Rainbow

The other factor ramping up the likely popularity of the Wizard of Oz in London will be the TV show which is planned to cast Dorothy. Following on the tradition now established by previous TV contests we know this will bring new audiences and added interest particularly during the vital first few months of the stage show in the West End. Whilst “Big Brother” may have reached the end of its useful life the great British public is showing no sign of getting fed up with celebrity talent competitions such as Strictly Come Dancing” and these casting shows like “Over The Rainbow”

Jodie Prenger is still going strong in Oliver after winning the part of Nancy in I’d Do Anything last year. Lee Mead has gome on to other great things after winning teh part of Joseph in “Any Dream Will Do” and the other show was to find a Maria for The Sound of Music.

The Tin Man the lion and the scarecrow will be accompanying Dorothy along the yellow brick road some time in 2010 at an as yet unspecified theatre in London’s West End and I know that I for one cannot wait to see it!