The Wizard of Oz (1987 stage play)

The Wizard of Oz was originally adapted for the stage in 1945 by Frank Gabrielson. It was produced for the St. Louis Municipal Opera. This version has its own script, but incorporates the film songs. There was even a solo written for Dorothy in the Emerald City called "Evening Star". In 1987 John Kane adapted it for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The script has almost the same dialogue with a few minor changes and additions. The scoring was done by Larry Wilcox. You are able to hear a lot of the same underscoring as the film. The score included the famous songs in the movie, but it restored "The Jitterbug", "Over the Rainbow (Reprise)", and "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead (Reprise)", three songs that were cut from the final film. For costuming it was decided to combine the book's original artwork along with the style of the popular musical The Wiz. The original cast featured Imelda Staunton. When the same production was reproduced in 1988, Gillian Bevan played Dorothy. The production was an immediate succes in London when it opened at the Barbican Theater.

Other notable productions

The Wizard of Oz Live!

In 1989, in celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of the film, it was the RSC script and score adapted into a touring company in the U.S. called The Wizard of Oz Live. This production was not well received by audiences and had a short run.

The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True

This version used the same score and script as the RSC version and it was filmed for television on the TNT Network. "For more on The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True", visit .

The Wizard of Oz- Madison Square Garden Production

This production used once again the same script and score. They did however cut almost thirty minutes from the show so that the younger audience would be able to withstand sitting for a longer amount of time. The most notable cast member was Roseanne Barr from the T.V. show Roseanne. She played the Wicked witch of the West. Her performance however was not raved at by the reviewers. Most of the cast from the MSG cast was the same and it was this cast that made the cast recording associated with this version.

The Wizard of Oz- 1998 Tour

This was the same production as at the Madison Square Garden. It began in 1998 and ran until 1999. It featured Mickey Rooney as the Wizard and Eartha Kitt played the Witch. She was later replaced by JoAnne Worley.

The Wizard of Oz- 2008 Tour

Not much information has been released yet but the tour is currently scheduled to run in Orlando, Cincinnati, Washington D.C., Madison, and Huston. More information can be found on the show's website. [http://www.wizardofozontour.com]

References

1. ^ a b Raymond, Kurt. "We're Off To Stage The Wizard of Oz [http://www.beyondtherainbow2oz.com/stagethewizard.html] ". "Beyond the Rainbow to Oz website". Retrieved on 2008-08-10.